Religious Multiculturalism Research Articles

Book Review

Multicultural Theology is an alternative theology in the 21st century in dealing with the fact of ethnic and religious multiculturalism which is always colored by the phenomenon of conflict due to differences in doctrine. Through the book Multicultural Theology, conflicts due to doctrinal reasons are dismissed by Gunaryo Sudarmanto, because through his description which departs from the Theocentric and Christocentric dimensions, it appears that multiculturalism has room to exist because God Himself proposed it. This book is a contribution to the practice of Christians in establishing relationships with fellow believers in a multi-religious and ethnic society without compromising the uniqueness of the Christian faith.

The Possibility of Applying Religious Multiculturalism Policy in Local Government in Indonesia

This study investigates local government’s opportunities for implementing religious multiculturalism policies, which refer to the regional autonomy system. The subject of this research is Tangerang City, Banten Province, which has an urban and pluralistic image of society due to its location as a buffer for the city capital. Data collection in this study used a qualitative method which refers to in-depth interviews of 15 respondents who came from representatives of the government and religious leaders. In addition, secondary data in this study relates to observations, field notes, documentation, and relevant literature. The result of this study indicates several indicators that lead to the possibility for Tangerang City’s local government to apply a religious multiculturalism policy: government institutions in strengthening harmony and handling religious conflicts. The Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) promotes religious harmony, a grant program to accommodate the needs of religious groups, a supportive and open-minded Mayor, cultural and religious festivals, successful resolution of religious conflict, and intensive dialogue between religious leaders.

DEVELOPMENT OF MULTICULTURALISM ON ETHNIC AND RELEGION IN INDONESIA

Multiculturalism is a phrase that refers to people's viewpoints on the world's diversity, as well as cultural policies that promote acceptance of difference. Diversity in life is an unavoidable condition, as proven by the facts mentioned above Indonesia. Hostilities had arisen across almost the whole territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia at this time, signifying a range of differences. To attain true peace, a modern-day paradigm of ethnic and religious diversity, with a focus on religious pluralism in Indonesia, must be constructed. Using a descriptive qualitative approach and library research methodology with data collection technique, this study will collect information about books important to core intercultural education principles. Indonesian society has existed from the dawn of time. During this multicultural nation's life, our nation is engaged in a large and long-term undertaking to reestablish the spirit of oneness in diversity. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika isn't just an abstract principle here; it's also a shared respect of togetherness and pluralism. Nationality is more than a combination of bloodshed and residence. The goal of this document format, which is a documentation research technique, is to collect numerous references in the form of books, articles, documents, and other materials related to the fundamental principles of ethnic and religious multiculturalism in Indonesia. Gaining cultural understanding and ethnic literacy does not always imply that attitudes of racism, prejudice, and discrimination are abolished, and this approach undervalues the huge significance of racism. Individuality and group diversity will be stressed in educational practices, which will be vulnerable and culturally sensitive, and will consider all points of view and values to be equal. The popular belief is that the saying "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" is only a slogan, but variety is a reality.

FACING THE RELIGIOUS MULTICULTURALISM IN INDONESIA: MULTICULTURALISM WITH A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

This study examines how multiculturalism has been theorized, implemented, and utilized in Indonesia as a policy, discourse, and practice. The post-Suharto (the 2nd President of Indonesia) democratic process has created fresh room for formerly suppressed identities to be expressed. While much of the research on multiculturalism concentrates on racial and ethnic differences, this article attempts to widen the term's definition to encompass religious differences, as well as assess the feasibility of "religious multiculturalism", especially in Indonesia. It responds to the following concerns: What are the perspectives on multiculturalism? What are the differences between multiculturalism and pluralism? How is diversity perceived and also implemented? What distinguishes the Western concept of multiculturalism from Indonesian concepts of variety, unity in diversity, and heterogeneity? This study uses qualitative research using library research and several scholars were used to enrich this study.

The Role of Teachers in Fostering Religious Multiculturalism

Conflicts that occur in the school environment as the dynamics of a multicultural society. Shaping the character of students' multicultural education is the main responsibility of a teacher. The objectives of the study are 1) To find and explain the role of Islamic Religious Education teachers in fostering religious attitudes in multicultural society in schools; 2) To find, understand, and explain the strategy of Islamic Education teachers in implementing multicultural values in schools; 3) To find, understand, and explain what are the obstacles faced by Islamic Religious Education teachers in implementing multicultural education in schools. This research is qualitative descriptive analysis with depth interview method. Data were obtained from interviews with 25 teachers from various subject areas at Cirebon 2 State High School, West Java, Indonesia. The positive role of the teacher can be seen in the attitude of fostering religious awareness and multicultural attitudes in schools by providing religious lessons. The strategy of Islamic religious education teachers in growing religious multiculturalism through sustainable character education learning. The obstacles faced by some education teachers are religious fanaticism, teachers cannot control the implementation of daily interactions and different levels of student awareness.

Internalisasi Nilai Multikultural untuk Memperkokoh Toleransi Umat Kristen Dan Muslim Di Kota Kupang

This paper aims to describe (1) the causes of the emergence of religious multiculturalism (Christian and Muslim) in Kupang City; (2) How are the efforts of Christian and Muslim families in internalizing multicultural values to each child to strengthen tolerance between religious communities in Kupang City; and (3) what is the result of the merger of multicultural societies in Kupang City. This research is a qualitative descriptive study and focuses on the social interactions of the Christian and Muslim communities in Kupang City. Data were collected using interview techniques, observation and literature study then analyzed qualitatively which includes data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. The results of this study conclude that (1) the emergence of religious multiculturalism (Christian and Muslim) is due to the fact that Kupang City is the center of government, economy, education for the people of NTT, and inter-religious and ethnic mixed marriages; (2) there are two steps by Christian and Muslim families in Kupang City in internalizing multicultural values to children, namely directly educating and practicing. First, educating, giving understanding to children to always have the spirit of mutual cooperation, communicative, tolerant, respect, respect and friendly to others; second, direct practice, namely being directly involved in social activities in the community such as celebrating joy and sorrow; and (3) “Beta Orang Kupang” is a new civilization that emerged as a result of the fusion of the people of Kota Kupang from various backgrounds

Memaknai Persatuan dalam Kehidupan Multikultural sebagai Penangkal Radikalisme

Indonesia as a country that stands on cultural diversity requires the importance of multiculturalism in nation building. With this multiculturalism, the principle of "unity in diversity" as stated in the basis of the state will be realized. The cultural diversity possessed by the Indonesian people will be an inspiration and potential for national development so that the ideals to realize a just and prosperous of Indonesian society as stated in the opening of the 1945 Constitution can be achieved. Various concepts which are relevant to multiculturalism such as democracy, justice and law, cultural values ​​and ethos, togetherness in equal differences, ethnicity, ethnicity, ethnic culture, religious beliefs, religious expressions, cultural expressions, private and public domains, human rights , community cultural rights, and others. The emergence of the concept of multiculturalism is often associated with religion, namely "religious multiculturalism" which emphasizes the non-separation of religion from the state, does not tolerate the existence of understanding, culture, and people who are atheists (Harahap, 2008). In this context, multiculturalism is seen as an enrichment of the concept of religious harmony that is developed nationally. By embodying the right multicultural concept, it is believed that it can counteract the understanding of radicalism that can threaten the divisions of the Indonesian nation.

Putting Religion into Multiculturalism: Conceptualising Religious Multiculturalism in Indonesia

This article examines the ways in which multiculturalism as a policy, discourse and practice has been conceptualised, implemented and applied in Indonesia. The post-Suharto democratisation process has allowed new space for the expression of previously oppressed identities. While literature on multiculturalism focuses mainly on ethnic and racial difference, this article endeavours to broaden the scope of the term to include religious difference, and evaluate the possibility of “religious multiculturalism”. It addresses the following questions: What are the different interpretations of multiculturalism? How is multiculturalism different from pluralism? How is multiculturalism understood and implemented in Indonesia? How is the Western discourse of multiculturalism different from Indonesian discourses of diversity (kebhinnekaan or kemajemukan), heterogeneity (keberagaman) and unity-in-diversity (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika)? And lastly, in what ways can the concept of multiculturalism be expanded to accommodate multi-religiosity?

CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION MODEL ON THE CHALLENGE OF INDONESIAN MULTICULTURALISM

This paper discusses the issue of religious education in relation to the challenge of religious multiculturalism in Indonesia. The focus of this paper is to find out the kind of religious education that is compatible with the challenge of religious multiculturalism. By employing the concept of religious multiculturalism and theory of religious education, this paper argues that to face the challenge of religious multiculturalism it is necessary to change the model of religious education from within , at and beyond the wall . Religious education “in” the wall contributes to shape an exclusive model of religiosity; while religious education “at” and “beyond” the wall contributes to shape an inclusive multiculturalistic model of religiosity. The last two models are applicable in Indonesia in order to face the challenge of multiculturalism, because both of them help students to accept, respect, and value religious differences. Religious education should show that the common enemy of religion is not people of different faiths, but poverty, corruption, violence, ignorance, and the like, and they have to stand together to fight against these true enemies.

Editorial introduction: “Malaya” reconstructed in contemporary discourse

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsAuthor's biographyNgoi Guat Peng [魏 月 萍] is Assistant Professor at the Division of Chinese, School of Humanities of Social Sciences of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She received her PhD degree from the School of Arts and Social Sciences at National University of Singapore. She is currently a researcher of the Inter-Asia School, and her research interest includes Chinese Intellectual History, Neo-Confucianism, and Religion Syncretism. She is also concerned about the knowledge production in Malaysian history, the literature and culture. Her recent publications are “I am not at Home: The Possibility of Building a Sinophone Malaysian Literary Citizenship,” “Youth, Revolution and History: He Jin's Novel and Singapore Leftist Chinese Literary” and “Ethnic Politics and Religious Violence: The Dilemma of Religious Multiculturalism Discourse Practice in Malaysia.”Notes on contributorsTranslator's biographyShow Ying Xin [蘇 穎 欣] is a PhD Candidate at the School of Humanities of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She received her BA in Foreign Languages and Literature from National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan. Her areas of interest include Modern Chinese and Sinophone literature, Anglophone literature, cultural criticisms, Asian thoughts and Southeast Asian studies.

A basis for and two obstacles in the way of a multiculturalist coalition

There is a deepening crisis between oppressed and disaffected religious groups such as Muslims in western societies and some of the principal sources of anti-oppression doctrines and movements.The centre-left seems not only to be dividing between those who see the contemporary minority–majority relations challenge to be the egalitarian inclusion of groups like Muslims, and those who see Muslim political claims as a threat to the legacy of the Enlightenment and to the Left itself; this division seems to be becoming one of the defining cleavages of contemporary European politics. One of the expressions of this dynamic are some of the uses of feminism; while it is mainly the Right for whom it has become a missionary ideology to express the supremacy of the West and the backwardness of the Rest, the tendency is not absent on the Left. Another manifestation of the above tensions on the Left is how the ‘war on terror’ and the problematizing of Muslims have become features of some of the Left as well as the Right. I am therefore in profound sympathy with Judith Butler’s contention that this growing cleavage must be reversed and in particular that we need to think of the coalitional possibilities between sexual politics and religious multiculturalism (Butler 2008: 1–23).

Constructing a group identity within the Syrian nation: Religious multiculturalism and music practices among Syrian Orthodox Christians

Constructing a group identity within the Syrian nation: Religious multiculturalism and music practices among Syrian Orthodox Christians

Religious multiculturalism and intercultural education: Reflections on the educational experiences at the Waldensian Collegio della Santa Trinità in Torre Pellice (Italy)

In this paper the author reflects on the educational experience of students attending the Waldensian high school in Torre Pellice (Italy), drawing on the findings of her own ethnographic fieldwork in the Waldensian valleys. The original research aim was to explore the meaning that education and schooling traditionally have for this religious minority group, and their relevance to the latter's identity construction as minority persons, as well as Italian citizens. But additional findings emerged which allow for an interpretation of the Collegio della Santa Trinità as a place where intercultural education has also been achieved. Fifteen fifth year high school students describe in in-depth interviews how this denominational high school is both open to diversity and attentive to a pluralism of views. As a consequence the school is perceived as providing its students not only with high quality education but also with a distinctive cultural perspective built around the common concerns of its students.