Perceptions of Culture in the Islamic Movement: An Indonesian Perspective

Abstract

Under the banner of Back to the Qur'an and Sunnah , which symbolizes an opening of the door to reason (ijtihad) and scientific enquiry (roh intigat), there has been an ongoing shift in some fundamental notions of Islam. This shift has contributed to the redirection of the Islamic movement in Indonesia since the 1930s. This essay attempts to survey recent developments in the endeavour to re-interpret Islamic notions within the Islamic movement in Indonesia an endeavour which centres around the issue of the relation between religion and culture, and goes beyond the issues posed by the East-West debate. The development of Muslim culture in the future y according to the author, will be shaped by two trends: the constant yearning for reformed Islamic values, and the critical awareness of development in the modern world, which is perceived to be going through a process of structural deformation.