Original Research - Special Indonesian Collection: Philosophy and Theology
Coping with religious-based segregation and discrimination: Efforts in an Indonesian context
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 76, No 4 | a6071 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v76i4.6071
| © 2020 Rachel Iwamony
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 April 2020 | Published: 18 November 2020
Submitted: 30 April 2020 | Published: 18 November 2020
About the author(s)
Rachel Iwamony, Faculty of Theology, Indonesia Christian University in the Moluccas, Ambon, IndonesiaAbstract
The aim of this article was to describe and analyse religious-based segregation and discrimination in the Moluccas and West Java, two places in Indonesia. Generally, people live peacefully side by side. However, in some places, social conflicts occur. By means of interview and focus group discussion, the researcher observed and concluded that the main cause of the conflicts was religious discrimination. In Moluccas, Christians and Muslims live separately. In coping with that problem, the local leaders keep trying to talk directly with one another and to engage in social acts together. Nevertheless, there are still some indigenous people experiencing religious discrimination. One of them is Sunda Wiwitan. Their access to acquire birth certificates has been hindered. Consequently, they have limited access to public services, including education and healthcare. However, their religious principles encourage them to be compassionate towards others and prohibit them from causing danger to others.
Contribution: Religious understanding and reconciliation have become important topics in the midst of religious conflict. This article contributes to promote religious reconciliation through some very simple and practical ways that reflect the core of religious teachings.
Keywords
Religion; Segregation; Discrimination; Violence; Non-violence; Indonesian religious life
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