well as fairness towards followers of the same religion is of utmost necessity as is respect and understanding towards others of differing
faith in Indonesia. The writer mentions that unfortunately, Islam which showed this characteristic is currently under pressure by a particular
group of Moslems who waves around their banner of “inadequacy with the teachings of Islam” as a reason to behave in opposition to the afore
mentioned ethical characteristic. “Will Indonesia be lead into becoming a state based solely on one religion that is Islam as the religion followed
by the majority of Indonesia’s population?”. Thus questioned the writer. Subsequently, social ethics as a basis in religious conduct is
proposed, which is an extraordinarily bold act keeping in mind of it being confronted by tendencies of the worrisome groups above. The way
of dialogue is said to be an alternative to religious life. Dialogue is already a part of the duties of religious followers in Indonesia.
Interreligious dialogue will in turn absolutely become a necessity of all religious followers who are situated in a state of social diversity and
heterogeneity in Indonesia. What about the dialogue with the worrisome little group then?
1.4 Public Sphere
Bernard Adeney-Risakotta, in the writing titled “Indonesia’s Public Sphere: Politics, Economy, and Religion in Public Sphere”, takes a
different road from other writers. Although religious behaviours are discussed in this writing, religion is only a part of it and it is not the
main topic. This writing reminds the reader in the issue of defining the term public sphere, which by the writer is defined as the middle sphere
between government and private sphere. Then, the writer discusses whether public sphere in Indonesia should be free of value and neutral
towards morality and religion. Although the answer is yes, the reality is the presence of the three powers mentioned in the title. Regarding
religion, he said, “in a society where 99 admit that religion is
personally important to them, it is difficult to imagine religion being driven away from public spheres.”
Many Indonesians view the influence of religion, economy, and politics in Indonesia’s public sphere as something good and natural, and
nothing bad. Symbols of religion, money, and political influence cannot be driven away from public spheres because that is not what the people
of Indonesia hope for. However, many are also aware that a lot of problems have risen due to these three things. The writer then proposes
his opinion in how to reduce these problems after discussing the matter. One writing is categorized under the topic public sphere although not
a word of it discusses the term. Fatimah Husein, with the title “Developing Ethics of Interaction among Religious Communities in
Higher Education”, discusses relation ethics among religious communities based on her experience in teaching “religion” in higher
education institutions. Initiating her discussion from the issue of religious education in Indonesia’s education system, she talks about the
paradigm of exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism in their relationship among religious followers. The writer arrived at an important conclusion
that a pluralist character in religious conduct is a character that needs to be promoted. However, the possibility of absolute observance to
religious pluralism and denying other point of views is to be a point of caution since this character is in fact a form of religious exclusivism.
How this character is to be developed heavily depends on lecturers attitudes in responding to mischievous questions posed by students. The
mischief of these questions frequently begins from an erroneously formed outlook in the introduction of other religions. These situations
should not be avoided by lecturers, they should on the contrary be utilized to provide an appreciative understanding of other religions and
develop relation ethics among religious communities. The role of higher education institution in developing pluralist relation must be actualized
in providing religious education which stresses more on the historical aspect and not constantly on religious normativity.
1.5 Conclusion
Ethics is based on faith, habit, and self-will, not outside coercion, while the spread of ideas is one of its means in establishing itself.
Religion contains many things which can be utilized to strengthen social ethics, some are beneficial for the sake of communal life in public space,
but there are also a number of issues which must be reviewed due to its influence which is in opposition to the provision of sphere where each
resident can develop their characters and reveal themselves freely without fear or worry. Religion should also be presented to organise
public sphere, but its possibility to supersede public sphere under any reason, including faith of universality of teaching, must be hindered.
Please enjoy these inspiring writings. Mecca,
10
th
of October, 2013
