TULISAN PERTAMA KU

INDONESIA: INTER-RELIGIOUS PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

Yogyakarta, 17 Jan. (AKI) - In an attempt to promote inter-religious dialogue, three Indonesian universities have joined forces and launched a doctorate in inter-religious studies. The course, which will start on Thursday, is managed by Yogyakarta-based universities Gadjah Mada University, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University and Duta Wacana Christian University. Alwi Sihab, Indonesia's former foreign minister, underlined the importance of the course in a country with the world's biggest Islamic population but with large minorities of Christians, Buddhists and Hindu.

“The awareness of understanding has to be build at earliest possible. One should realize there is no religion who would be help up as “superior” he said, quoted by the daily ‘The Jakarta Post.’

"Such a way of teaching is important to get rid of radical views and turn them into moderate ones. Hopefully, this approach will also reduce conversion, which has often been blamed as the root of inter-faith conflict," added the former politician, who is involved in the program.

Alwi added that "the teaching in the programme will be focused on the contribution of each religion to human civilization and the creation of peace in the world."

Over 88 percent of Indonesia’s 240 million people are Muslims. Protestants are 5 percent, Roman Catholics 3, Hindus 2 and Buddhists 1 percent.

Although renowned for its moderate brand of Islam, Indonesia has experienced several Christian-Muslim conflicts, the bloodiest of which occurred in the Maluku Islands and Central Sulawesi during 1999-2001, killing over 15,000 people.





(Fsc/Dew/Aki)