Fachrul Razi Encourages Religious Moderation in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Religion Fachrul Razi has called for religious moderation to be developed by the community to maintain religious tolerance in the country. "I think in our current situation it is very important because our nation is full of diversity," Fachrul Razi said in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Religious moderation should be developed continuously because it is firm about each other's teachings but still full of tolerance, Fachrul stated.

The government through the Ministry of Religion is currently developing and strengthening religious moderation.

Moreover, the previous religious affairs minister had launched a book on religious moderation.

Quoting a speech from Prof. Muhammad Adlin Sila, religious moderation is an effort to present a middle path for two extreme groups between liberalization and conservatism in understanding religion.

"The aim is to bring harmony in our lives as fellow nation's children," he remarked.

In his speech, Muhammad Adlin called on all parties to be aware of the emergence of exclusive and intolerant religious groups who often claimed that their understanding was the best while others were not or were misguided.

Meanwhile, Prof. Muhammad Adlin Sila, one of the research professors inaugurated by the minister, said that factually the Indonesian people currently have strong attitudes on diversity.

It was marked by the tendency to present religion not only by its symbols but also by its teachings in public life.

"These symptoms are not only for Muslims but for other religious communities as well," Sila said.

Religious expressions in the public sphere, especially from Muslims, were already witnessed at the beginning of the reform era.

ANTARA