Integrative Studies of Science, Religion and Culture on Disaster

The rise of natural disasters in Indonesia in recent years ranging from tsunamis, earthquakes, erosion, floods, mudflows, volcanic eruptions, droughts, forest fires, tornadoes and others increase the need for a thorough review of the disaster. Natural science approach that has been dominant in the view of disaster is considered not sufficient to help us understand and act appropriately in disaster prevention and mitigation. Thus, it takes a more holistic approach in assessing disaster than from the perspective of science that is religion and culture.

Dalam perjalanan eksistensialnya, manusia berusaha menguak berbagai misteri jagad raya hingga mempertanyakan “Realitas”. Termasuk di dalamnya usaha keras seorang Albert Einstein yang terobsesi merumuskan teori relativitas untuk menyingkap kehendak Tuhan atas penciptaan. Namun, kecanggihan indera dan rasio manusia memiliki batas-batas tertentu. Realitas tidak pernah terengkuh secara mutlak, apalagi Tuhan.

Karlina Supelli membuka buku ini lewat pemaparan bahwa pengetahuan dipengaruhi sangat kuat oleh dimensi antropologis. Mengangkat kajian kosmologi yang telah digelutinya sekian tahun, Guru Besar Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Driyarkara ini menunjukkan disparitas antara Kosmos (dengan k besar) dengan kosmos (k kecil). Yang pertama adalah hasil rengkuhan manusia, para ilmuan. Sedangkan yang kedua adalah pengetahuan absolut akan Sang Mutlak yang tak terpermanai (terjangkau). Konflik timbul karena “kegagalan manusia menjalin pemahaman tentang k dengan pengalaman akan K” (hal. 70). Sehingga sikap rendah hati dalam menjelaskan realitas menjadi penting.

Indigenous Affirmation of Harmony among Dayak and Banjar

Paperback: 96 pages
Language: Indonesia
ISBN: 978-602-96257-4-5
Publisher: CRCS

In the era of political freedom following the end of Soeharto regime, identity politics goes strong in Indonesia. Ethnicity and religion often intertwines by which identity negotiation and accommodation sometimes ended in displease. This resulted in the outbreaks of communal violence in the recent years that demonstrated the prominent roles of religious and ethnic identities. This poses a question about the affectivity of diversity management in Indonesia.

Endi Saputro

Research coordinator of CRCS

Since two years ago, “nikah sirry or secret marriage” has been hotly debated in Indonesia. Interestingly, reactions come not only from various muslim scholars who argue for/against nikah sirry, but also from policy makers who sought to draft a bill on very the matter. Despite the disagreement, this book explains fluently, emploting religious perspective, that nikah sirry simply means “marriage which is not officially registered in KUA [Office of Religious Affairs), but it fullfils all the marriage requirements as prescribed in Islamic Law” (p.1). On the other hand, in the context of public sphere, the bill on nikah sirry aims to protect the future of the children resulted from nikah sirry. And it seems that this debate knows no end in sight.

The Problem of building churches in Indonesia has been a long threat among the believers in Indonesia. There were many changes taken place both in the government and the state level in revising the rules towards the maintainence of religious diversity, but no transformation has taken place to end the issue. The constant fear is the tension exist among the people which leads toward escalating conflicts. The formation of People of Religious Forum after the reformation era and the joint effort initiative between the government and Ministerial Regulation of 2006, still did not solve the problem. There are many other factors that need to be thoroughly examined.