Religious Tolerance to Adherents of Islam and Hinduism in Kongkong Village

Abstract

Background: Indonesia is well-known for its plurality of people, either in terms of ethnic cultures or religions and beliefs. The diversity of the Indonesian nation can be viewed as one of the means to strengthen the unity of the nation by always developing tolerant and respectful attitude toward each other. Currently, the diversity existing in Indonesia tends to cause many conflicts due to people are less able to view the existing equation and to appreciate the differences in society. In Semarang City, (Indonesia) there is a plurality of cultures and religions, precisely at the Kongkong Village, Ngadirgo District, Mijensub district. That most of the population is Hindu. By the occurred conflict, the urgent need to be noticed by the Indonesian people is to redefine the appropriate attitude of diversity within a plural society. One way that should be developed to foster harmony among plural religious adherents as in Indonesia is to develop tolerance among religious adherents. Religious tolerance is an attitude of accepting the presence of others which differ on faiths and respecting others’ beliefs even if he/she does not agree with them. Methodology: The population in this study is the citizens of Kongkong Village, Mijen Subdistrict, Semarang City, and Central Java, Indonesia who are Moslem and Hindu from 15-50 years of age. The samples of 157 people in this study were taken by using purposive sampling technique. The religious tolerance scale used in this study is partly an adaptation of the religious tolerance scale compiled by Walt et al in 2014 and partly compiled by researchers with a benchmark of religious tolerance dimensions by Walt (2014). Result: There is no significant difference in religious tolerance between Islamic and Hindu subjects in Kongkong Village.