Religious Communities Research Articles

MAKNA SEMIOTIKA KAMPANYE MODERASI BERAGAMA PADA MASYARAKAT MILENIAL MELALUI KOMIK-KARIKATUR KARYA ABDULLAH IBNU THALHAH

This article discusses the semiotic meaning of the campaign for religious moderation in millennial society in the cartoon comic by Abdullah Ibnu Thalhah. This caricature comic media was created to make it easier for millennial people to gain the important values ​​of religious moderation. Because it can be seen that currently there are many violent conflicts betwee religious communities, this occurs due to a lack of education among the religious communities themselves. This research using semiotic analysis is to understand how the message of moderation is conveyed, through analysis that identifies symbols, icons and indices used in caricature comics for understanding and reflection for millennial society on the values ​​of religious moderation. Through this semiotic analysis, millennials receive education on religious moderation in an easy and practical way. The research method uses a qualitative approach with Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis. This semiotic analysis aims to make it easier to understand how the message of religious moderation is conveyed through the images in the cartoon comics. The data collection methods used were interviews, documentation, and semiotic analysis in the caricature comics. Keyword: Religious Moderation, Semiotics, Comic-Caricatures

The Tragedy of Humanity: Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta Revisited

Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta is a significant example of the transition from Morality Plays to a period of more developed and mature drama in the Elizabethan period. The themes that Marlowe handles and the protagonist he presents in the play emerge as aspects of a distinctive approach to dramatic representation and the concept of drama of that time. The play is set against the background of the struggle for economic, political, and military dominance between the Catholic Spain and Moslem Ottoman Empires and the Catholic administration and Jewish mercantile class in Malta. Religious conflicts and bigotry, intrigues, betrayals, and revenge plans committed by almost all characters representing different religious communities, ethnic prejudices that affect not only individuals but also the whole society, greed, and moral corruption emerge as the basic themes. Although the full title of the play was Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta, the play could not gain the status of a tragedy in the Aristotelian or Elizabethan sense of the word for many critics due to its dominant farcical characteristics. For a modern reader, however, The Jew of Malta can be considered as a satirical tragedy, the tragedy not of the protagonist Barabas, but of humanity that craves material benefits and political power, and for the sake of achieving these, commits all kinds of villanies including exploitation, theft, and murder, and as a result, socially experiences the fall of the tragic hero.

Jalaluddin Rumi's Thoughts Regarding the Concept of Love as a Basis for Religious Moderation

This article examines Jalaluddin Rumi's thoughts on the concept of love as the basis for religious moderation. This article originates from a literature review or literature review to explain descriptively and discuss Jalaluddin Rumi's thoughts on the concept of love as the basis for religious moderation. In this article, the approach used is the Philosophical-Sufistic approach to the thoughts brought by Rumi, namely the concept of love. Jalaluddin Rumi answered and thoroughly discussed the concept of love as the basis for religious moderation in the book "Diwan As-Shams al-Din at-Thabrizi, Matsnawi, and Fihi Ma Fihi". The findings are that the existence of religious moderation is to encourage healthy religious practices, mutual understanding, mutual love, mutual respect and respect, and promote peace missions among all people, regardless of differences in their religious beliefs. Then related to Rumi's thoughts about love can be connected with the concept of religious moderation through four perspectives, namely unity of purpose and religion of love, tolerance and respect, unity with God, and love as self-transformation. Based on these four perspectives, Jalaluddin Rumi's overall thoughts about love offer a strong philosophical foundation for religious moderation. Then, if linked in the context of moderation, Rumi's thought teaches that it is important to view religion as a source of inspiration in life to achieve unity, peace, and respect among religious communities.

The Role of Islamic Religious Counselors in Strengthening Religious Moderation in Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Indonesia's vast population diversity includes various ethnicities, tribes, customs, cultures, languages, and religions. Religious moderation is a crucial agenda for every citizen to achieve peaceful coexistence among religious communities. As a fundamental value of every religion, strengthening moderation is a program to foster moderate attitudes and thinking in society. This research aims to explore the reinforcement of religious moderation values through the role of Islamic religious counselors in the Office of Religious Affairs in Mandailing Natal Regency. This research utilizes descriptive qualitative research, specifically field research, which collects data from the field. Data collection methods include interviews with 16 Islamic religious counselors, four heads of the Office of Religious Affairs, and one officer in charge of Zakat and Waqf management. Observations were conducted at 4 locations to observe Islamic religious counselors' routine religious guidance activities. Other data sources were obtained from relevant documents. Data were analyzed inductively through data reduction, classification, presentation, analysis, and conclusion. The results of this study indicate that Islamic religious counselors play a strategic role in strengthening religious moderation in the Mandailing Natal Regency. They are essential in strengthening the understanding of religious moderation among the community through guidance and counseling activities. The materials counselors deliver in guidance and counseling activities include worship and transactions, teaching good social life, understanding of wasatiyyah or balance, and practicing religious teachings correctly. Religious counselors play roles as informative and educational, consultative, advocative, mediative, and facilitative. Informative and educational roles dominate their role in strengthening religious moderation and instilling religious moderation values to realize a moderate society. Counselors play a strategic role through routine religious gatherings, Friday sermons, the guidance of study circles, large-scale religious gatherings, religious activities in correctional institutions, content creation on social media, and nurturing religiously moderate villages. This study recommends further research to measure public interest in religious moderation from different perspectives.

The Metaphysics of Religious Diversity: From Homogenizing Theological Agendas to Conceptual Justice

An increasing number of voices have been calling for philosophy of religion to expand beyond a preoccupation with the “rationality of theism.” Religious pluralist theories of religious diversity might be expected to exemplify a broader scope; in practice, however, such theories are often hampered by theological agendas that prioritize convergence over attention to differences. Focusing on approaches to the metaphysics of religious diversity, this article distinguishes between (a) approaches that prioritize the discovery of the fundamental truth behind specific forms of metaphysical belief and (b) approaches that foreground the variety of metaphysical beliefs held by diverse religious communities. Although these approaches need not be incompatible, the former is apt to emphasize homogeneity whereas the latter encourages awareness of nuance and variegation. Taking diversity among Hindu conceptions of the divine as a case in point, the article seeks to make conceptual space for a philosophy of religious diversity that is radically pluralist and critically descriptive.

Leadership and discursive mobilizing of collective action in the Jonestown mass killing.

We study a transcript of discourse recorded on an open mic during the mass suicide/murder of 909 members of a religious community in Jonestown in 1978. The 'Jonestown massacre' is often cited in psychology textbooks as a warning example of how powerful situations and charismatic leaders can lead ordinary people to extreme and destructive behaviours. These accounts suggest that individuals lose control of reason and will such that their behaviour becomes subject to outside control. We develop an alternative explanation of the mass killing as identity-based collective action. Our analysis shows how a shared understanding of the community's situation and the options available to them were constructed and contested in discourse. We demonstrate how Jim Jones served as impresario, entrepreneur and champion of identity, recognizing his followers' agency, initiating collective meaning-making and mobilizing action. Jones engaged his followers in jointly constructing the situation as hopeless, developing a shared view of their situated social identity and collectively formulating the identity-congruent solution of collective suicide as a hopeful act of collective agency. Our analysis points to the importance of addressing the conditions that sustain narratives of collective hopelessness and helping groups successfully choose non-extremist pathways out of hopelessness.

Kierkegaard, Social Media, and Despair

ABSTRACTThis essay offers a Kierkegaardian analysis of and response to the harmful effects of destabilization that can be caused by engaging with certain technological media. It argues that the intellectual technological ethic that is at work in social media platforms reflects two types of despair discussed in Søren Kierkegaard's Sickness Unto Death. It advises using a Kierkegaard‐inspired Socratic rhetorical strategy of communication that ironically employs technology for depicting this despair and awakening individuals to its presence in their lives. Moreover, this essay suggests that the edifying themes of “misery” and “guilt” can be communicated indirectly and thereby offer one intervention that could possibly help the current technological age move from the immediate aesthetic sphere of existence to the religious sphere. Considering the important role of upbuilding in Kierkegaard's oeuvre, the final portion explores how even someone who does not identify with a religious tradition or community may encounter what Kierkegaard terms the paradox of the eternal in time in ways that foster the development of authentic selfhood.

Hachan Markas Lavrinovičius’ commitment to the Karaim language Trakai dialect preservation and revitalisation

The paper introduces Markas Lavrinovičius’ most significant jobs in the Karaim cultural heritage preservation and revitalisation. Markas Lavrinovičius (1938–2011) was a Doctor of Science, Lithuanian Karaims’ Hachan, and the Chairman of the Lithuanian Karaims’ Religious Community. He was an active Karaim community member who made an important contribution to the language research and its revival. He described Karaim customs and traditions, compiled Karaim literary heritage, and prepared it for publication; he also described the Biblical stories in the Karaim language, translated relative Turkic-speaking nations’ folk fairy tales into Karaim, and compiled and computerised the Russian-Karaim dictionary. In addition, the article contains a review of the Karaim language coursebook titled 100 karaj tiliniń üriatiuviu. Troch karaj sioziu ([100 Karaim language lessons. Trakai dialect]) – one of his most significant works, containing a thorough research on the Karaim grammar, conducted by Markas Lavrinovičius and Diana Lavrinovič. Despite being surrounded by non-Turkic languages for 625 years, the Karaim language Trakai dialect has managed to preserve its purity and remain untouched throughout the centuries. Unfortunately, it currently faces the threat of extinction. Therefore, teaching the mother tongue was Markas Lavrinovičius’ ultimate goal.

RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER AND ANIMAL WELFARE: A COMPARATIVE LEGAL STUDY OF KAZAKH AND EUROPEAN LEGISLATIONS

n Kazakhstan, until recently, issues regarding the responsible and humane treatment of animals were unregulated. The first law, “On Responsible Treatment of Animals,” was adopted in 2021, defining the place of animals in the system of public relations and guaranteeing their protection. However, the law includes an exception regarding the slaughter of animals during religious ceremonies, which has caused discussions and disputes between public organisations for the protection of animals and religious communities. Impressive results of balancing animal welfare with religious freedom can be found in the EU. This article conducts a comparative legal study of Kazakh and some EU Member State legislations with regard to religious slaughter. Methods: This study employed various methodologies, utilising both theoretical and empirical approaches. These methodologies encompassed the comparative legal method, which allowed the authors to analyse and research foreign experience in animal rights protection to pinpoint the most important features applicable to Kazakh legislation. Statistical data was also collected to identify patterns and trends. Based on this, a forecast was made indicating a growing population, thereby suggesting an increase in animal consumption and utilisation. Therefore, this article on the protection of animal rights is a timely and relevant study. Moreover, the authors conducted an analysis of specific cases from foreign countries, aiding in the identification of the features and challenges of law enforcement practice. The dialectical method was central to examining the research problem. It enabled the identification of contradictions and interrelationships between classical and religious methods of mortification. Results and Conclusions: Based on the study’s results, several practical proposals are put forward to eliminate or regularise the existing legislative derogation in respect of religious slaughter. The present contribution concludes that the Kazakh legal framework on animal rights protection has shortcomings that require improvements by enshrining specific methods of animal slaughtering, which can be drawn on European experience.

Penerapan Model Dialog Sebagai Jembatan Pelaksanaan Misi

The study of dialogue in the context of pluralism of religions (multi-religious), which is also linked to the implementation of missions or preaching in religions, is not a new issue in the study of theology and the study of religions; considered by the author to be important to continue to study. The reason why dialogue linked to mission is being discussed at this time is firstly, dialogue that assumes acceptance between fellow religious believers displays the murky reality of harmonious relations between religious believers. Good dialogue to be developed by religious communities is dialogue of action and dialogue of life as a form of dialogue that is correlational and globally responsible. Second, Christian mission can be understood as an effort to lift humanity from its downturned reality.

Studi Living Hadis: Implementasi Moderasi Beragama di Tengah Masyarakat Muslim Kudus

This article aims to describe the implementation of religious moderation in Tanjung Karang Village, which consists of various religions, ranging from Islam, Christianity, Confucianism and Buddhism. In order to avoid conflict between communities, it is necessary to realize the principle of religious moderation. Religious moderation is a concept that emphasizes mutual respect and tolerance among different religious groups. This is as stated by the Prophet Muhammad Saw in a hadith about "ummatan wasathan" that the middle is fair and Allah made Muslims a middle people. This type of research is qualitative with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and literature studies. The results of this study show that the Islamic community living in Tanjung Karang Village builds a moderate attitude through leisurely walks, picnics, and choir activities involving youth from various religious groups. These activities are carried out without discriminating between religions so as to create harmony and good relations between religious communities. The harmony that existed among the community then made Tanjung Karang Village chosen as one of the Ministry of Religious Affairs programs as a religious moderation village.

Disasters and Religious Resilience in Indonesia: A Review

Various disasters that occur in Indonesia are caused by several factors that can trigger casualties, environmental damage, property losses, and even adverse psychological impacts. The presence of such disasters causes pressure on disaster victims both from external and internal factors that can raise doubts or difficult situations that can threaten one's religious practice. This paper aims to show the role of religious communities towards disaster victims in Indonesia in order to increase the religious resilience of people affected by disasters. From the results of the research that has been done, it can be concluded that disaster victims in Indonesia will be able to go through the difficulties and pressures caused by disasters if they stick to religious practices and teachings socialized by religious communities. Religion teaches many important things concerning social benefit. Individuals and communities who feel pressure and sadness when faced with trials must hold fast to religious values in order to survive and find a way out of the complexity of the problem at hand.

Financial position of Islamic spiritual leaders in the Tobolsk Governorate in the second half of the 19th — early 20th century

In this paper, we analyse the material well-being of Muslim clerics who served in the Tobolsk Governorate. In 1912, there were 326 of them. Most of Islamic spiritual leaders were rural. They were rewarded in-kind and in cash. The in-kind form — grain, hay, food, etc. — prevailed. The factors affecting the material maintenance of Muslim clerics included the number of believers in the religious community, the level of the believers' income, and the presence of other occupations among the clergy. These factors resulted in different levels of material well-being of mullahs in the Tobolsk Governorate in the post-reform period. In times of natural disasters and crop failures, not all members of the religious community could reward imams and muezzins. Under these conditions, it was of great importance that the clergy had other occupations apart from religious activities. The degree of religiosity of the Tatar and Bukhara population also played an important role. The sources of subsistence of Islamic spiritual leaders in the Tobolsk Governorate included the deduction of zakat or public ploughing of land, payment for the performance of ritual rites, donations (Sadaqah, awqaf), tuition fees in denominational schools (maktaba and ma-drasah), funds from agricultural and other activities. Overall, Muslim clergy in the Tobolsk Governorate had a higher level of material support compared to the majority of believers.

Harmonization in A Multicultural Society in Padangpanjang City

This research examines "Harmonization in a multicultural society in Padangpanjang city". The purpose of this research is to see what values the community holds firmly in order to harmonize the harmonization. The writing method used by the presenter is a qualitative method. The theory of multiculturalism becomes a dissection of the problems used by the presenter. The findings of this study indicate that the harmonization of religious communities in the middle of the city of Padangpanjang is still maintained despite the pressure of the Islamic majority.

Religious Moderation

Indonesia has religious pluralism, therefore efforts are needed to maintain harmonious relations between religious communities. One way is through religious moderation. The principle of religious moderation is to be balanced on two things, namely understanding religious scriptures (holy books) which must be appropriate to the context, and upholding humanity as the core of religion itself. The aim of this research aims to describe and analyze the understanding and implementation of various moderation practices. Data sources were obtained from interviews and literature reviews regarding various moderations. The results show that although most GKE Kasongan members do not yet understand the term mixed moderation, in practice it has been realized. There is a need for socialization and awareness of religious moderation which can be started by every religious community in Indonesia.

Sufism Revisited: A Comprehensive Analysis of Emha Ainun Najib’s Philosophical Contributions to Modern Society

This research explores the significant impact of modern Sufi teachings spearheaded by Emha Ainun Najib, or Cak Nun, on the members of Jamaah Maiyah in Indonesia. As a charismatic Muslim intellectual, Cak Nun introduces the concept of Tasawuf into the reality of modern life, emphasizing human values, tolerance, and local cultural heritage. The research employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive method, involving in-depth interviews with members and key figures of Jamaah Maiyah, as well as participatory observation of religious practices in various community activities, such as Pandang Bulan, Bang-bang Wetan, Kedirian, and Kenduri Cinta, held in 2023 in East Java, Indonesia. The findings highlight the positive reception of modern Sufi concepts by Jamaah Maiyah, connected to positive changes in religious practices and daily outlooks. The social and cultural impact manifests in attitudes of tolerance, social concern, and awareness of human values. Cak Nun’s teachings encourage members to engage in personal introspection and achieve a balance between the worldly pursuits and the spiritual endeavors. This research not only demonstrates the relevance of Tasawuf in the modern era but also identifies its contribution in shaping the character and perspectives of religious communities. These findings provide a profound understanding and insights into how modern Sufi teachings can act as a positive force in fostering positive attitudes and values in the contemporary society.

Education on Religious Moderation in Entrop-Jayapura Subdistrict through the Moderation Village Assisted by STAKPN-Sentani

Religious-based conflicts arise in diverse societies and tend to be triggered by simpler issues that expand into large-scale conflicts in the name of religion. The aim of this community service is to build solidarity and tolerance among the community as a form of anticipation against religiously nuanced conflicts in Entrop, Jayapura City. This community service is framed in the form of a religious moderation village initiated by STAKPN-Sentani. The method applied in this community service has gone through several stages, such as observation and interviews, FGD (focus group discussions) as the core activity, the declaration of the moderation village, and the preparation of reports. The outcomes achieved from this initiative include the development of an understanding of religious conflict mitigation based on religious teachings, where this mitigation involves comprehension of quotes from each religion's holy scriptures. Additionally, the culmination of this activity is the establishment of the religious moderation village guided by STAKPN-Sentani in Entrop. Religious conflict mitigation in Entrop is closely related to the discourse in holy scriptures and the involvement of religious higher education, due to the framework of the community's condition. It is hoped that through this initiative, a sense of tolerance among religious communities can be fostered to create an always conducive atmosphere.

Strategi Mengatasi Ketakutan dan Prasangka Terhadap Islamophobia Bagi Umat Beragama

This research aims to be an effort to overcome fear and prejudice towards Islamophobia among religious communities. Islamophobia can be known as a phobia or fear or prejudice against the Islamic religion. This phenomenon has become a global problem that can threaten peace and harmony in a pluralistic society. Islamophobia is often triggered by a lack of understanding, negative stereotypes, and misleading narratives about Islamic teachings. This research uses a qualitative approach using library source methods and explaining verses from the Koran. The results and discussion of this research show that the Koran refutes Islamophobia. Islamophobia occurs because of a lack of understanding of Islamic teachings. This can be overcome by establishing mutual tolerance between religious communities and providing correct factual data to someone who is considered Islamophobic.

Construction of The Concept of Religious Moderation Institut Agama Islam Negeri Curup

This study aims to analyze the construction of the concept of religious moderation at IAIN Curup based on the perspectives of the academic community, religious leaders and community leaders of Rejang Lebong. This type of research is descriptive qualitative research. This research was conducted in October 2021 with research instruments in the form of questionnaire sheets, observation sheets, and interview sheets. The population taken in this study is the entire academic community of IAIN Curup and all religious and community leaders of Rejang Lebong. From the entire population, a sample of 200 people who are the academic community and 22 people who are religious leaders and community leaders of Rejang Lebong are taken. Sampling using purposive sampling technique. The results of this study indicate that the concept of religious moderation in IAIN Curup is returned to their respective lecturers through course licensing, maybe not 100% but the concept of religious moderation at IAIN Curup is still being pursued. Empirical experience of religious moderation at IAIN Curup has been felt starting from internal activities on campus as well as external activities in collaboration with parties outside the campus. The first strategy for implementing religious moderation in IAIN Curup is licensing in certain subjects and lecturer workshops, research on religious moderation, and thematic Community Service and Community Service. The understanding of religious moderation from the academic community, community leaders and religious leaders of Rejang Lebong is good. The direction of developing religious moderation within IAIN Curup by making activities from Real Work Lectures (KKN), lectures, research and others has the aim of leading to religious moderation. For further research on the construction of religious moderation in the IAIN Curup environment, it can be taken from even more perspectives.

Experiences of religious acceptance and rejection among currently religious and out transgender young adults in the United States

ABSTRACT Religious communities, across religious traditions, remain a source of support and community for many people in the United States. Despite reduced engagement in religious activity and historic exclusion of the wider LGBTQ+ community, a contingent of people, including young transgender people, are a part of religious communities. Based on data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey report, this study focused on transgender young adults (n = 769; aged 18–24) and their experiences in congregations. Reviewing race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, education level, and religious affiliation, this study investigated how sociodemographic identity is correlated with religious rejection or acceptance for transgender young adults. The findings highlight that race, educational attainment, and religious conservatism are most salient when assessing whether transgender young adults are accepted or rejected in their religious congregations.