Mainstreaming Religious Moderation Through Islamic Literature

Abstract

Reading rooms filled with Islamic literature are one of the dominant factors causing the hardening of religious understanding in post-reform Indonesia. This research aimed to examine the roles played by the Gerakan Islam Cinta in mainstreaming religious moderation through popular Islamic literature. Based on interviews, participatory observations, and content analysis, we argue that popular Islamic literature is an essential instrument in the mainstreaming of religious moderation in Indonesia. The sustainability of this type of Islamic literature is important because it balances the massive conservative Islamic literature. It is precisely at this point that the Gerakan Islam Cinta plays a dual role as producer and distributor of dozens of books known as the Islamic Love series. This series of books has become a reference for the community, especially young people, in understanding a version of Islam which is friendly and peaceful. The Gerakan Islam Cinta also disseminates these books online and for free, conducts roadshows and book reviews in various cities, and initiates reading clubs in cooperation with various organizations, grassroots reading communities, and youth activists of peace in several cities in Indonesia.
 Keywords: religious moderation, Islamic literature, Gerakan Islam Cinta