Internet and Islamic Learning Practices in Indonesia: Social Media, Religious Populism, and Religious Authority

Dindin Solahudin,Moch Fakhruroji

doi:10.3390/rel11010019

Abstract

Like in many other developing countries, Indonesia’s population has been amongst the most enthusiastic ‘uptakers’ of the internet, especially of social media. Most Indonesians utilize the internet as an information source, including religious ones. Various groups and communities of Islamic studies have appeared on social media along with religious leaders who are also active on social media. Based on the various characteristics that have emerged, Islamic learning practices scattered across various social media platforms have increasingly illustrated the symptoms of religious populism. This is marked by the various socio-religious movements that have emerged from these practices. By using a digital religion perspective in order to observe Islamic learning practices on several social media platforms, this paper argues that social media has become a productive space for the development of religious populism in Indonesia. At first glance, religious populism on social media seems to challenge authoritative figures or religious institutions, but it can also be seen as a way for Islamic agents to convey Islamic teachings in a media-friendly culture.

Highlights

In early August 2018, social media users in Indonesia were shocked by a statement from a Bandung-based millennial and pop-stylish preacher, Evie Effendi
This article analyzes the Instagram accounts of @gustaqi, which presents Islamic learning practice on social media and is managed by Ustadz Yudin Taqiyudin, a preacher based in Jakarta and the surrounding area
Worries over religious populism have long been a concern of researchers, in digital religion studies, the relationship between the internet—as well as technology in general—and religion is essentially reciprocal and interconnected

Summary

Introduction

In early August 2018, social media users in Indonesia were shocked by a statement from a Bandung-based millennial and pop-stylish preacher, Evie Effendi. In a pengajian (Islamic lecture) circulated through his Youtube channel, Effendi mentioned that every human was misguided, including the Prophet Muhammad. Realizing his mistake, Effendi immediately apologized, but some had already reported Effendi for insulting the Muslim religion. Many religious leaders considered Effendi’s statement to not represent the views of an ustadz, who should have adequate religious knowledge, as Effendi cannot interpret the.

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Conclusion