Asia/Indonesia – “Differences in our relationship with God are not a cause for conflict. This is what we teach in schools” Interview with Minister of Religion
Agency Fides
Paolo Affatato
JAKARTA (Fides) – A painting takes up an entire wall in the office of the Minister of Religious Affairs in a ministry building in central Jakarta. The large canvas shows Sukarno, the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, lying down with a wounded war hero in his arms. The rescued man is a Christian and can be seen wearing a rosary around his neck. A mosque and a church can be seen in the background landscape, symbolizing that “Indonesia has not just one religion, but all religions,” explained Yakut Cholil Kumas, known as “Gus Yakut,” who was appointed by President Joko Widodo in December 2020 as the 24th Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic. The 49-year-old Islamic political and religious leader grew up and was trained in the Indonesian Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and once led the organization's youth wing, GP Ansor. The organization has around 7 million young Muslims in its ranks. Minister Yakut Cholil Kumas answered some questions in a meeting with the Fides News Agency in light of Pope Francis' upcoming visit to Indonesia.
Minister Gus Yakut, could you please explain the mission of the Ministry of Religious Affairs?
The Ministry is tasked with ensuring that all religious people in Indonesia can freely and correctly practice their faith. Indonesia recognizes six major religions (Islam, Catholicism, Protestant Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism) and all believers must be guaranteed the ability to profess their faith without problems in a free and independent religious life. In addition to this, the Ministry is also tasked with ensuring that there are no errors or deviations, because there is a basic premise that the more religious a person is, the easier it is to understand that differences must be accepted. We take this approach in different ways, but mainly through education. In fact, one of the tasks of the Ministry of Religious Affairs is to provide religious education services. With proper religious education, religious communities will increasingly understand their religion. The Ministry serves all Indonesians and works in close cooperation with the institutions of each religious community. The Ministry has a Directorate General for each recognized religion, whose task is to ensure that the Ministry's vision and mission reach the specific community and to continuously monitor it.
Can you give us some examples of your approach to education?
I would like to mention educational institutions that originated in Indonesia, the so-called pesantren, or Islamic universities. There are about 40,000 Islamic universities in Indonesia. Through these universities, we support a form of Islam that makes things easier for other religions. For example, Hinduism has a special educational institution called “Pathraman” that teaches how to correctly understand Hinduism and how to coexist with people of other faiths. Catholic schools also teach the same thing, that is, even if there are differences in one person's relationship with God, there is no reason to be in conflict with others. Buddhism and Confucianism do the same thing. Although these religions each have their own characteristics in Indonesia, we all benefit because they share a common goal and vision: moderation and harmony.
What does Islam in Indonesia look like and what does “Islam Nusantara” mean?
“Islam Nusantara” means “Islam of the Asipelago” and is a concept developed by Nahdlatul Ulama, the world's largest Islamic organization with over 100 million members. I am a member of it, so I would like to give an answer. What I can say is that Islam in the Indonesian archipelago is not a new Islam, nor is it a school of Islamic thought. Rather, it is an Islam that has adapted to the local culture and spread, becoming an Islam unique to Indonesia. It fully respects the local culture that existed before Islam came to Indonesia and follows the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad. He was not sent to create new local traditions, but as he said, to complete what already existed in the local culture. Therefore, “Islam Nusantara” means that Islam did not come to completely overturn the existing local traditions, but rather that these existing local traditions were blended and fused with Islam so that they did not clash with each other.
The process of the spread of Christianity in Indonesia seems to be similar…
Yes, this also happened with the spread of the Catholic faith. Our Catholic brothers and sisters in Indonesia talk about “inculturation” and explain how the Catholic faith was easily accepted by the Indonesian people by infiltrating the local culture. I think there are similarities in historical and socio-cultural dynamics. Perhaps for this very reason, the relationship between Indonesian Muslims and Catholics today is very good in the spirit of closeness, understanding, cooperation and unity.
Will the theme of interreligious dialogue and coexistence play a central role in Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia?
As far as I can see, the vision of Islamic Nusantara shared by the Pope and Catholic leaders is that people who practice different religions from us are our brothers and we are brothers of humanity. On this basis, the relationship between Islamic Nusantara and our Catholic brothers in Indonesia is strengthened. Therefore, when it was announced that the Pope would be arriving in Indonesia, Muslim believers also rejoiced, because we share the same vision and values. I must say that the connection with the Catholic Church is very strong. In recent years, delegations of Indonesian Islamic leaders have visited the Vatican several times. I myself participated twice, and last time I was personally received by the Pope and was able to present a document in support of the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity signed by the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. We share a desire to send a message of peace to the world and to seek peace.
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar also set foot on Indonesian soil this year.
In July, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb visited Indonesia, where we had friendly meetings and dialogues, including with representatives of the Indonesian Catholic Church. And now, after some time has passed, it is certainly an honor and a pride for us Indonesians to have the Pope. We will be present at the Pope's meetings with religious leaders, and this is a boost that cannot be wasted. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who will be welcoming the Pope as head of state, was quick to emphasize that this visit is a symbol of friendship and dialogue between religious communities, further strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Vatican.
This is a positive moment for the whole of Indonesia, making Indonesia a kind of “barometer” of harmonious and peaceful religious life. The presence of the Pope here is also a kind of recognition of the life and interreligious relations in Indonesia, experienced in the name of coexistence and tolerance, with all the differences that exist. We believe this can be an inspiration to many people.
As a politician and as a person of faith, what are your expectations from the Pope's visit?
I hope that the Pope's visit will demonstrate what religions have always taught, not only in the region but also worldwide: compassion for others. All human beings are created different from each other. I believe this is God's will, and that God always teaches compassion for other human beings. God created us differently, not equal, but wants us to be united, in solidarity, to respect and love each other. Love and compassion are the keywords. We want to emphasize that we live and nurture our interhuman relationships with love and compassion. The Indonesian people translate and express all this as the motto “Unity in Diversity”, which also applies to the whole of humanity. (Fides News Agency, August 24, 2024)
Agency Fides
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