| Title | : | Liberative Dialogue: a Comparative Analysis of the Proposals of Paul Knitter and Farid Esack for a Liberative Dialogue of Religions and Their Contribution to Muslim – Christian Relations in Indonesia |
| Author | : | Lidya Kambo Tandirerung (CRCS, 2004) |
| Keywords | : | liberative praxis, liberating hermeneutics, inter-religious solidarity, and potential laboratory |
| Abstract | ||
| The existence of those considered as poor, non-persons, marginalized and “victims of the world” has triggered the emergence of liberation theologies, which occupy a wide space within the discourses of liberative praxis of religions. An important example is the theology of liberation from Latin America, that was developed based on the existence of those dominated people, exploited social classes, despised races and marginalized cultures which are included in the very word of “poverty”. Also, liberation became a keyword for gratifying the rights and dignity of the human being. It voices that there is no single circumstance possible that respects human dignity except of being liberated from any sort of oppressive power. The struggle for liberation has been flowing significantly from century to century during human civilization. Much of the suffering inflicted on the poor and marginalized is committed in the name of religions. Christians and Muslims, in particular, are two of those world religions’ communities which consider liberation as a religious call based on the scriptural messages. Unfortunately, religious people fall sometimes into an exclusive understanding of the struggles they perform as for the sake of particular religious agenda or mission. Generally, the aim of this research is to recognize the development of liberative dialogue in Indonesia, although this term has not yet been utilized often in the ongoing discourses. By selecting Paul F. Knitter and Farid Esak, two prominent scholars who gives great concerns on dialogue and liberation, we are not abandoning the emergence and discussion of Indonesian scholars concerning dialogue. Indeed, this is intended to focus on how the proposal of Knitter and Esack, their basic concept of dialogue based on the “praxis of liberation”, might contribute to the dynamic of liberative struggle in Indonesia. Hence, there are two expected major contributions of this research. The first is the theoretical contribution which explains the content of the theological thought of Paul F. Knitter and Farid Esack on “liberative dialogue of religions“ and its particular dynamic of development. The second is the contextual-practical contribution of such a liberative approach to the Muslim-Christian relation in Indonesia, with particular elaboration to their social responsibility as religious communities struggling against many faces of injustice. |
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| Title | : | Zionist State Is Not Jewish State: Study on El-Messiri’s View Toward Zionism |
| Author | : | M. Nursaid Ali Rido (CRCS, 2006) |
| Keywords | : | Zionism, Imperialism, Jewish functional group, functional Zionist state. |
| Abstract | ||
| Conflict in the Middle East is always interested to be discussed. Before 1990th Israel, the more powerful country than its enemies used a militaristic way to end the conflict. In addition, after that period, to defeat the Arab strength, especially Palestine, Israel and its supporters stopped an economical and political support, stopped the distribution of food and medicine, and closed main streets. Why does this conflict continue without ending? Abdel Wahab El-Messiri, the modern Egyptian intellectual, tries to answer that question by using “Jewish functional group” and “functional Zionist state” paradigm which looks the phenomena of Jews and Zionism through social, economical, and political context where they emerged.For El-Messiri, Israel is the functional Zionist state, the reproduction of Jewish functional group in Europe since 16 century until the beginning of 20 century. That functional state is cultivated by western imperialism power without the root of history and culture, but its residents cultivated and unified by the ancient Jewish myth and modern technology. The functional Zionist state, according to El-Messiri, plays a certain role and duty which is now its role is to go war against the Arab strength. This role and duty might be changed based on situation in the conflict area. On the contrary, if that functional state can not play its role as the tool of imperialism, the existence of the state would be end; its residents would go out to others countries or assimilate totally with people surrounding Israel. South Africa is the very example of colonialist settler which finished its role when Apartheid system broke down. El-Messiri’s perspective faces a strong resistance from both Zionist community and Egyptian traditional ulama. In Zionist perspective, Israel is the state for all Jews in the world who are attached organically and religiously with the land of Palestine. To back to the Jewish homeland (Palestine) is the part of God’s teaching, therefore whoever stands against Israelite policy is anti-Semite (for non Jewish people) and or infidel (for those of Jewish people). Zionist success in defeating the Arab strength has tight correlation with God’s scenario. God, as written in the Bible, would give Palestine to Jews. There is no intervention from imperialist power in Jewish settling in Palestine as El-Messiri assumes. Resistance also comes from ulama who believe that Zionism is the manifestation of bad Jewish attitude along human history. Al-Qur’an has written that Jews intended continuously to shatter Islam and its followers. Conflict is caused by different perspective between Arab and Zionist. In one side, Zionism refuses Arabic history and culture in Palestine because this land, according to Zionist, belongs to Jews. In another side, Arabic people have a very special and spiritual attachment with that of land. As long as Zionism refuses the right, history, and culture of Arab, the Intifada must be continued, it means that the conflict is still far from the road of peace. It is true that Zionism able to fulfill the religious ambition of Jewish people, and at the same time it finished Jewish social and political problem in Europe. But to settle a very populated area such Palestine is a difficult action, only if Zionism uses weapon in order to decrease the Palestinian reaction. To use weapon is the most effective ways to finish indigenous people. This way, according to El-Messiri, is the very feature of colonialist action is several countries. |
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| Title | : | The Ambiguity of Religion: A Study of the Ambon Conflict, 1999-2001 |
| Author | : | Marthen Tahun (CRCS, 2007) |
| Keywords | : | Ambon Conflict, Laskar Jihad, Conflict Resolution, Religion and Violence |
| Abstract | ||
| The aim of this thesis is to understand the major contributing factors of the Ambon conflict from 1999-2001, the influence of religion on the conflict escalation, and the contribution of religion to the process of conflict resolution.The Ambon conflict that started on January 19, 1999 is recorded as one of the great human tragedies in Indonesia happened after the economic crisis that hit Indonesia in 1997 and after the leadership transition from the Soeharto regime to the more democratic reformation era. The conflict started on the Islamic holy day when the Muslims in Ambon were supposed to celebrate the day of Idul Fitri peacefully. Only a few days after the conflict eruption, thousands of BBM (Bugis Buton Makasar) people leave Ambon in a massive exodus as response to rumors that the Ambonese indigenous would attack and destroy the BBM who for a long time took control over the trading sectors in Ambon city and the seashore areas. That exodus created more nervousness in the city while the uncontrolled mass of Muslim and Christian groups in amok attacking the facilities related to religious symbols. Thousands of peoples had to flee from their houses and lived as refugees in schools, the military or the police bases. The issue of religious conflict between Muslim and Christian in Ambon was amplified in a short period creating more religious segregation in that city. The discourse of this religious conflict was strong in Ambon. Many people outside of Ambon also perceived the Ambon conflict as a religious conflict between Muslim and Christian, especially when the Laskar Jihad from Java finally came to Maluku. The religious issue then empowered to be a separatist issue based on the assumption that RMS was behind that conflict. This issue was stronger at the declaration of the FKM (Forum Kedaulatan Maluku). There is a mix of issues such as ethnicity, religion, and separatism in the Ambon conflict. In the midst of all this background, this writing critically adopted the thought of three scholars: Scott Appleby, Charles Kimbal and Charles Selengut as a tool to understand the Ambon conflict. |
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| Title | : | Human Finitude and Interreligious Dialogue: A Discussion of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Thought on Human Finitude |
| Author | : | Mega Hidayati (CRCS, 2006) |
| Keywords | : | human limitation, interreligious dialogue, awareness of otherness |
| Abstract | ||
| In this plural world, in terms of religion, the encounter among people who have different religions is inevitable. Problems arise when someone views others based on his/her religious beliefs, meaning she/he does not realize that what she/he believes is truly limited, or in other words, humans are limited in their understanding of others’ beliefs. This becomes dangerous when people maintain their false prejudices towards others and do not want to obtain the clarification of the prejudices. In many times and places, religious issues are one of the significant factors which rapidly increase the state of conflict and violence. Interreligious dialogue is one measure to avoid such danger above. In an interreligious dialogue, people do not only talk about their religious teachings but also are concerned about the human problems of suffering. Thus, the understanding among followers of different religions and a clarification of prejudice are possible through interreligious dialogue. In this thesis, human finitude and interreligious dialogue are discussed by exploring Gadamer’s thoughts. Gadamer’s ideas of human finitude indeed help people to have the awareness of their finitude and of otherness. In addition, Gadamer conveys a model of dialogue by regarding this fact of human finitude. By exploring this, hopefully, people will be aware of the need for dialogue with others. This model of dialogue will be associated with Kniter’s four models of interreligious dialogue so that an immense contribution of Gadamer’s thoughts into interreligious dialogue can be obtained and the most adequate model of interreligious dialogue can be found. |
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| Title | : | A Case Study of Models of Inter-Religious Dialogue at Pesantren Al Muayyad Windan, Solo |
| Author | : | Muhammad Ishom (CRCS, 2006) |
| Keywords | : | Pesantren – Interreligious Dialogue – Peace |
| Abstract | ||
| Pesantren Al Muayyad Windan (PMW) is situated at the village of Windan, Makamhaji – Kartosuro, Sukoharjo Regency. This pesantren is more commonly known as situated in the city of Solo because it is 3 kms away from the downtown. Another reason is that the activities of inter-religious dialogue conducted by PMW have greater impacts on the situation of the city of Solo rather than the city of Sukoharjo which is 17 kms away from the pesantren. Since the May Riot in 1998, PMW has played an important role in keeping peace in Solo through activities of inter-religious dialogues. These activities are important because the city of Solo has a big potential for conflicts between the Javanese and the Chinese ethnics. Inter-religious tensions between the radical Muslims and Christian fundamentalists have frequently occurred since the collapse of the New Order Regime in 1998. Kiai Dian Nafi’, the director of PMW, has become one of the most important figures in inter-religious dialogues in Solo to build and keep peace there. The involvement of PMW in inter-religious dialogue in Solo is also important to give balanced information due to the stigma that pesantrens are breeding grounds for terrorists. This research is aimed at answering the following questions: what background of thought underlies the activities of inter-religious dialogue conducted by PMW; and what models of inter-religious dialogue are applied by PMW in their interactions with group of people of different religions. To answer these questions, this research was conducted through theological approaches under Knitter’s theory of theologies of religions. The technique of collecting data was conducted with the technique of documentation toward the documents of PMW related to the activities of inter-religious dialogue, literary study on fiqh concerning inter-religious relations, interviews with Kiai Dian Nafi, santri-santri, inter-religious leaders, and grassroots non-Muslims regardless of whether they are involved or not. Interviews were also conducted with Muslim leaders of another pesantren (Pesantren Al Mukmin Ngruki), and the chairman of the Indonesian Board of Ulama (MUI) Solo Chapter. The results of this research are: first, the backgrounds of thoughts of inter-religious dialogue conducted by PMW are: (1) theological reason, i.e.: Quran, 29:46, 3:84 and 49:13, (2) sociological reason, i.e.: religious pluralism, the need for communication and mutual understanding, and (3) personal reason, i.e., the commitment of Kiai Dian Nafi to have an active tolerance and responsibility toward people of other religions. Second, the models of inter-religious dialogue applied by PMW are (1) the replacement model, (2) the fulfillment model, (3) the mutuality model, and (4) the acceptance model. Second, the models of inter-religious dialogue as proposed by Knitter which are based on Christian views are also applicable to analyze Muslim attitudes toward other religions, especially Christianity. |
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| Title | : | Ethnic Riot Fragility between Bugeese-Macassarese and Chinese in Makassar Municipality, South Sulawesi |
| Author | : | Mustamin (CRCS, 2006) |
| Keywords | : | ethnicity, conflict, riot |
| Abstract | ||
| The ethnically riotous incident of mass disorder in Makassar city which involved Bugeese-Macassarese and Chinese ethnicities commonly stemmed from a similar event, i.e. from a purely criminal event to a widely violent action. The ethnic violence is in fact a multidimensional accumulation of the problems ending up in an attack towards the Chinese ethnicity. Therefore, it is urgent to observe the phenomenon in order to give a broader understanding at the underlying factors of the conflict that it would reduce its occurrence in the future. The thesis is a descriptive-analytical research on the problem above based on literary sources and interviews with some respondents from both Bugeese-Macassarese and Chinese ethnicities in Makassar city that it is possible to have a common picture of the conflict from their respective points of view. The fundamental questions asked during the interviews included political, economic, religious and socio-cultural dimensions which have potential to give rise to a conflict in the relations between Bugeese-Macassarese and Chinese ethnicities. The sociological approach used during the research consists of inter-ethnic relations in the areas of trade, political representation, and cross-cultural appreciation. The research showed us that the ethnic violence was built upon structural conditions signified by the economic domination of the Chinese ethnicity which the Bugeese-Macassarese in Makassar city were incapable of copying with. On the other hand, the latter is dominant in the arena of politics which is very strategic for a public policy-making. The lack of a mass media which is able to be a melting pot for the two ethnicities is a fact behind the ethnic perceptions and prejudices. Moreover, some policies made by the government seem to strengthen and perpetuate their primordially ethnic symbols of identity and, in turn, help cause the potential violence itself. Based on the fact above, the research recommends a model of conflict prevention locally initiated through the establishment of cross-ethnic institutions. |
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