A contextual model of religious moderation in the ‘Orang Basudara’ Church: Insights from the Protestant Church of Maluku (GPM)

Abstract

The erroneous interpretations of religious teachings in societies are leading to extremism and liberalism, fostering animosity among religious adherents. This underscores the pressing need for religious moderation. Therefore, this study aimed to map and analyse the reception and responses of the local church to the government’s call for religious moderation, particularly in local church in Maluku and North Maluku, Indonesia. It also explored the understanding of how religious moderation was implemented in church programmes and practices. Using qualitative methods, this study examined religious moderation in the context of the Maluku Protestant Church (GPM). Data were collected through church document analysis, interviews and reviews of news in print and electronic media. The results showed that GPM had long championed religious moderation, specifically in addressing the 1999–2002 communal conflict in Maluku and North Maluku with terminologies distinct from those promoted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Furthermore, various programmes and initiatives have been undertaken by GPM at the synodal, classis and congregational levels, which correlated with efforts to promote religious moderation. These included innovative methods customised to support interfaith harmony and social cohesion. This study implies that locally rooted religious moderation models, such as that of GPM, can serve as valuable alternatives or complements to state-driven narratives in promoting interfaith harmony.

Contribution: This study contributed to developing religious moderation from the ‘grassroots’ side. Therefore, the analysis was part of the government’s socialisation and further driven by the local church, which played a crucial role as an agent of peace in Maluku and North Maluku.