Re-Imagining the Smiling Islam in Contemporary Indonesia: Some Reflection from Outsider

Abstract

In short, this paper is inspired by important previous research from Martin Van Bruinessen on the position of 'the smiling Islam' in contemporary Indonesia (2011). He had researched the position of what he called ‘moderate Islam’ both on religious movement and intellectuals figure in the context of social and political changes under reformation trajectories in Indonesia. This article will focus on two main part. The first section will analyze the clash within Islam, increasing violent society and the Caliphate movement as an important context in which Indonesia need moderate Islamic. The consistency of moderates Islamic in the context of this frightening phenomenon to be part of the question from many people outside Islam. The second part will discuss democracy and politics as two important domains in which Islam can show concrete responsibilities as the dominant group in Indonesia. Here, moderate Islam could demonstrate its existence as an agent of inclusive democracy and peaceful politics.