The Efficacy of Eco-Music in Interreligious Ecotheological Movement in Indonesia

Abstract

This paper deals with interreligious eco-theological studies on unique, creative, and courageous phenomena initiated by young people to protect the integrity of creation and environmental sustainability as a form of appeal regarding ethics and environmental values in the face of law violations. They are members of a musical group named the Kendeng Squad and use songs to express their concern for environmental injustice. The group is also called an interreligious ecotheological movement because its members come from various religious backgrounds, namely, Sedulur Sikep representing the indigenous religion and Muslim activists, and Catholic activists; and because those songs call for protest against the exploitation of natural resources. Using qualitative analysis, this study found that the movement was able to motivate farmers and indigenous peoples to care about their environment. It has even spread to other places outside Pati Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, and involved music artists of the country. In this sense, eco-music has significantly contributed to the interreligious ecotheological movement. This study initially described the role of eco-music in responding to the ecological crisis hitting the Earth and then related it to interreligious ecotheology. After the general analysis, it then examined the background of the Kendeng Squad and its struggle to express its concerns through eco-musics to protect the North Kendeng Mountains Region. Overall, this paper offered a new insight into how eco-music has been efficacious in encouraging the interreligious ecotheology movement to maintain the integrity of creation and environmental sustainability.