Michael Unit

            The dominant characteristic of state in a democracy system is plurality both cultural, ideology, ethnic and religious plurality. Plurality has became the integral part of Indonesia as a democracy state. Therefore, Indonesians have to cultivate pluralism attitude so we can realize our ideals, be a multi-religious and multi-cultural nation which is peaceful, harmonious and tolerant. Tolerant and harmonious society shows respect and appreciation towards reality of heterogeneous. Furthermore, this attitude face the mature of faith as a civil-religion which highlight glorious values of religious.

Historically, religiousness tolerant in Indonesia is endured in theorist level. An idea of plural nation which highlight tolerant, justice and harmonious based on the lofty values of  Pancasila. However, we cannot bring this concept of  ideal nation into reality. This concept contradicted with the tangible reality of religious practice in societies’ real life. The wars and persecutions which act on behalf of religion, have streaked Indonesia’s history and societies’ civilization.

            At the time of Orde Baru downfall, in dawn of Habibie, Abdulrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri’s goverment administration, there are many kinds of conflicts and persecutions which act on the name of religion, culture and ideology. Lately, religion has become something scary and worrying. Religion in the hands of its followers often appears with a violent face and seems to have lost its friendliness. In recent years, there have been a lot of conflicts, intolerances and violences in the name of religion and belief in various regions in Indonesia. In the context, it becomes reasonable when certain people call religion the source of the problem in the world.

Causal Factors of Inter-religion Conflict

In the context of decreasing inter-religion conflict and eliminating the  destructive aspects of religion, we have to find out the causal factors of conflict. After we find out them, we can reflect it, take part in providing an understanding of religion and should be capable to solve the problems, stop the conflicts and show the positive side of religions plurality. The next step is creating an environment that provides educational opportunities for our youth generations to construct harmonious social relations between the people of different religion, according to the high values of Pancasila; unity in diversity.           

            In a writing which is entitled Pendidikan Multikulturalisme dan Persoalan Integrasi Bangsa, Father Paul Budi Kleden summarized five causes of inter-religious conflict that seemed common across Indonesia:[i] 1) state government misuses it’s function and it is misused to protect the self-interest of certain religion. This case is caused by the procedure of decision making which is not based on the basic substance of democracy; 2) religion institutions fail to teach a firm basic of their theology. Harmony and tolerant attitude are only based on the pragmatic arguement and not based on their main doctrine; 3) the adherents of a religion are not understand well the concept of harmony and tolerant attitude. They understand those as a commiseration and a compulsion (let it be principle); 4) the majority societies indifferent to the conflicts and the bad situations; 5) the rise of religious institutions which have an inclination to restorative. Because of this inclination, they concentrate their attention on societies’ sins and failures. Therefore, their great attention will be pay for the searching failures and judge them, as a reconciliation activity.

            In the context of Nusa Tenggara Timur Province, Father Philipus Tule shows four main reasons of the conflict.[ii] First, the anonymous attitude of NTT’s societies. The majority of societies in NTT are rural christians and a little of urban environment which revere the genetic relationship, peace and harmonious life. However, recently there are many migrant of Muslims and the other adherents of another religion migrate to NTT. Their coming changes the life style of urban and rural societies into a anonymous life style in social, economy and religious aspect. This anonymous condition vagues togetherness values, communal culture and traditional habits. In the other way, this condition causes inter-religious conflict.

            The second, the changes of economic control. Since 17^th century, many NTT People make bussiness connection with the seaman from Bugis, Buton and Makasar. This connection influence the economic activities in NTT. Muslim from Bugis and Makasar dominate the economic aspect and this case causes social and religion envious. They, as the new migrant, build a exclusive community. This fenomen and condition causes inter-religious conflict.

            The thrid, islamic reform idea. In the reality, the indigenous Muslim hold high the local culture. They love and respect the other members of another religion. In this condition, the idea to reform islamist appear in many institutions of government and education institution of Islam. In the certain meaning, this idea tend to distinguish between “true Islam” and “ the deviate”, beetwen the devout and nominal.

            The last, reaction for the majority of Islam. The minority give a negative respond to the domination and majority operation of Islam in Indonesia. The example for this one is the burning many mosques and Muslim housing in Kupang on November/December 1998.

Pluralism Education

            Theoretically, Indonesia hold high plurality so much. In the efforts to solidify nation integrity, we have to apply the theory in the concrete reality of societies. For this aim, we need pluralism education. In Indonesia, pluralism education hold the central and important role to give some contributions for the integrity of our nation. Education system which takes care in pluralism will have meaning if this theory is applied in actual reality in societies life. As the gold generation of Indonesia, the youth have a significant role in the effort to socialize and practice the pluralism concept. The youth should show the good attitude in the context of pluralism according to tolerant principle as the wish of Pancasila and UUD 1945.

            Pluralism education concept is oriented on pluralism as the national and international problem. This concept is applied to respond the challenges of Indonesian societies in post modernism. The main idea which is increased is the inclusive comprehension and consideration. Through  the education system, pluralism education tries to socialize the pluralism attitude to the students. This system will make the students aware the importance of respect and cooperation with the other members of another religion. Therefore, our youth will be capable to respond the concequences of human civilization pasca modernism; reconstruct and growth the pluralism theology in societies life.

            The purpose of pluralism education is not construct to make sameness and uniformity among the societies, but to make a companionship while respect to the theology of each religion. Therefore, dialogue in this education system always rely on modesty to learn and accept the ideal concepts of the other religion. This attitude brings us to the awareness that plurality is the high values of Indonesia.

In the education world, there are many important matters which support the activity of knowledges and values transfer.[iii] We can mention here, 1) cultivate behavior and good attitude especially the high values of life, like love, wisdom, tolerant, considerate, ect; 2) use rational approach, so the students can understand the knowledges and values easily. In the other way, this academic approach places the religion education in objective orientation; 3) move the students’ feeling to understand the reality of culture and religion plurality, so they want to show considerate attitude and respect the others; 4) practice the good values of each religion espcially in case how to respect the doctrines and conviction of the other religion.

To realize the education ideal which develop the mentality of nation, education institution have to apply the teaching system which is oriented toward pluralism awareness. The systems, we can mention here; first, use the inclusive and  integral paradigm. The second, it proclaims education programme inter-religious to increasing social  relationship of the students’. The third, to understand the differents between the religions, education institution of religious organizes inter-religious road show. And the last is organize Spiritual Work Camp. All af the students live with the societies  from the other religion.

All of the mentioned approaches are the integral approach between the education system and the character and moral values. This approach brings us to ethics and aesthetics values through character building which very important for recent civilization. This system hold a significiant role to teach the moral integrity, justice, openness and make a mutual relationship. In addition, it can constructs the balance between conscience and rational calculation.

Mading Edisi Oktober 2016