Lived theology and narrative identity: A phenomenological-hermeneutical study of religious moderation in the local churches of South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

National strategies to curb religious intolerance often struggle to engage the complex, lived realities of the communities they aim to regulate. This study analysed the disconnect between official state discourse and the actual practice of interfaith relations at the grassroots level. The research was situated within three Protestant denominations across the culturally distinct and historically pluralistic landscape of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. A phenomenological-hermeneutical framework was employed during the qualitative phase of a mixed-method study, utilising in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, field observations and document analysis grounded in Paul Ricoeur’s narrative identity theory. The findings revealed that while state terminology remained alien to congregants, harmony was organically sustained through local cultural vernaculars such as Siangga’ [mutual respect] and Sipakatau [to humanise humans]. These indigenous values, rather than bureaucratic compliance, provided the resilience needed to navigate historical trauma. It was concluded that authentic moderation was a narrative achievement of the community rather than a product of policy, requiring a theological shift that prioritises indigenous wisdom over prescriptive definitions.
Contribution: This article contributes to public theology by proposing a ‘Lived Theology of Moderation’ that challenges state-centric approaches. It demonstrates how indigenous cultural forms function as legitimate theological frameworks for interreligious peace, offering a resilient ecclesiological model for navigating the tension between national ideology and local identity.