Religious Moderatism versus Conservatism in Indonesia: Controversy of ‘Islam Nusantara’ during Joko Widodo’s Administration

Hamdani Hamdani

doi:10.33752/tjiss.v1i1.1221

Abstract

The current trend of social and political fracture among Indonesian people has permeated many aspects of life, including religious domain. While moderate Muslims are still majority, the voice of conservative and also element of radical Muslim groups has shown a great militancy in campaigning for their agenda. Rivalry among those groups in the public discourse is unavoidable. This study examines the contested idea of ‘Islam Nusantara’ in the effort to campaign for moderate and friendly Islam in the early of Joko Widodo’s administration. Since conservative and radical factions have rejected the idea of Pancasila state, accusing of other Muslims of being kafir (apostasy) and the spirit to eliminate local cultures, their counterparts use different agenda and approach. The moderate Muslims use the concept of Islam Nusantara to campaign for the concept of Islam and nationalism, respect for diversity and cultural approaches. This study reveals the different point of view of Muslim groups regarding the concept and practice of Islam Nusantara which has become a controversy since the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) used it as the main theme in the 33rd congress. Although ‘Islam Nusantara’ is not a new term in the discourse of Indonesian Islam, the contestation and consensus have produced a new fragmentation of religious opinions among Indonesian Muslims. This research aims to explore the sociology of knowledge among Indonesian Muslims whose inclination has been devided into two big streams of moderate and conservative wing.

Highlights

Since the New Order regime, the characteristic of Indonesian Muslims has been known moderate
This study examines the contested idea of ‘Islam Nusantara’ in the effort to campaign for moderate and friendly Islam in the early of Joko Widodo’s administration
This study reveals the different point of view of Muslim groups regarding the concept and practice of Islam Nusantara which has become a controversy since the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) used it as the main theme in the 33rd congress

Summary

Introduction

Since the New Order regime, the characteristic of Indonesian Muslims has been known moderate. Religious tolerance can be found in many parts of Indonesia in a peaceful coexistence. The Istiqlal mosque and Cathedral church in Central Jakarta is the national icon of religious tolerance. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah representing the dominant Muslim organization in Indonesia live together and respect each other. They were (and still are) the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia.[1]. In terms of political movement, both NU and Muhammadiyah share their common platform to maintain the Pancasila state where pluralism and multiculturalism are guaranteed by national constitution. Commitment of the NU to the Indonesia nation state (NKRI) has been declared in the 1984 NU Congress in Situbondo, while Muhammadiyah has strengthened its commitment to Pancasila in the 2015 Congress in Makasar

Objectives

Conclusion