Indonesia’s religious leaders
urge promotion of religious harmony
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| Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population (ANSA) |
Over 100 representatives of Indonesia’s religious
communities who attended a government-sponsored seminar this week in Jakarta,
said it is everyone’s responsibility to promote religious harmony.
By Robin Gomes
Not only civil and religious leaders but also all citizens
have the responsibility in promoting values such as tolerance, respect,
religious harmony, which strengthen Indonesians in their daily lives.
Leaders of several religions of Indonesia made the call on February 27 in
the capital Jakarta, during a seminar on “Harmonious and constructive religion
that strengthens national life”.
The event was organized by the People's Consultative
Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR), the legislative branch of the
Indonesian political system. Over 100 delegates, representing
various faiths, government officials and civil society groups, attended the seminar.
The Vatican’s Fides news agency reported Prof. Syafiq
Mughni, president of "Muhammadiyah", the oldest Islamic organization
in Indonesia, as saying that every citizen of the country must contribute to
religious harmony in a given situation and find ways to contribute to national
life. Only in this way, he said, can the whole country progress. No
religion can be used for "destructive purposes in any context and
time", he added.
In his speech, Fides said, Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur of
Bogor, the vice president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia
(KWI), said that "religious leaders and government officials must work
together to promote peace, love and solidarity between the different
communities".
Gomar Gultom of the Central Church Fellowship in Indonesia
said that it is the task of every community and every believer “to find ways
for religion and the practice of worship to contribute to the country's ideals
of peace and prosperity, opening the way to people's progress and the common
good".
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Hindu, Buddhist and
Confucian representatives.
The South-east Asian nation has long been an example of
peaceful harmony, tolerance and unity among its people, thanks to the
Pancasila, the 5 principles that form the philosophical and political ideology
of the Indonesian state, ensure unity amidst religious pluralism in an
officially secular system.
With over 85% of its some 267 million people professing
Islam, Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population. Christians
of all denominations make up some 12% of the population.
Most Indonesian Muslims are moderates but the nation’s image
as a tolerant nation has been undermined by Islamic radicalism and intolerance
in recent years, threatening its unity amidst its diversity. (Source:
Fides)
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