Religion in Indonesia: Is Unity in Diversity Really Exist? Silvio Adriano S.S Final Paper - Indonesian Language and Culture subject. Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Gadjah Mada 2014

1. and Culture Final Paper
Indonesian Language
Religion in Indonesia: Is Unity in
Diversity Really Exist?
Silvio Adriano S.S
13/342806/EK/19216
F a c u l t y o f E c o n o m i c s a n d B u s i n e s s , U n i v e r s i t a s G a d j a h M a d a
Fall 08

2. “The essence of God does not change. What is changeable is the perception of
human beings” -Sukarno, 1950.

3. Religion in Indonesia: Is Unity in Diversity Really Exist?
What is religion?
Religion in its definition is set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose
of the universe and usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often
containing a moral code in human life. (www.dictionary.com, 2014)
Since a person is born to the world, they already have adhering their parents’
religion. As this thing is so common, religion can be categorized as one of
fundamental aspects in human life. Religion is mostly about God and God’s
relationship with human being. Religion believes that existence of human being is
one of God’s creatures. Religion in general tells human to differentiate what is good
and what is not in life. It teaches human being to be able to listen their conscience.
Morality, ethics, and laws mostly derived from religion itself.
There are many religions around the world and in one religion there are many sects
too. The adherent from the parents usually is the background for most of people
having and choosing one particular religion, even though some people choose not to
have religion or change their religion. Every religion has their own teaching and
believes, that actually has the same goal and purpose.
How is religion in Indonesia conducted?
In Indonesia, there are six official religions officially recognized by the government:
Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhism, and Confucian. Even though there are
different religions in Indonesia, there is one foundation in having religion in
Indonesia; it is Pancasila with its first sila of “belief in the one and only God”.
Pancasila as the core of religion practice in Indonesia is lacking of details because of
the abstract nature of each principle. The principle tells us that the state was based
on religious belief and all citizens should believe in their own God, but it did not
state a specific religion (Hyung Jun Kim, 1998). The unspecific principle makes
people do not really care about Pancasila and Pancasila lost its role as the essential
principle for Indonesian in their religious life where the purpose is to unite people
from different religion.
Islam as the majority of Indonesians
Every citizen of Indonesia must have and follow one official religion of Indonesia
even though there are thousands of unofficial religions spread in the country.
Muslim is dominating in Indonesia. Indonesians majority based on the data of 2010
are Muslim with 87,18%.
Islamic group once demand Indonesia to be a nation based on Islam because of their
domination in the country before the independence of Indonesia. Islamic group

4. expected much in the future when it would be able to dominate other religious and
political groups (Hyung Jun Kim, 1998). We can easily found mosque in every
village, every miles, and every region in Indonesia, which shows how big Islam is
spread out in Indonesia.
In late 1970s, “the Islamic resurgence” has had a profound impact on religion,
politics, and society (Suzanne Brenner, 1996). Actually, the Islamic resurgence in
Indonesia is keep developing in this 21st century. Islam is now more than just a
religion; it becomes lifestyle for some of people. The style of wearing veil is now one
of the biggest movements of Islam in Indonesia. Basically, wearing veil is a symbol of
obedience to God and their willingness to take responsibility to show that they are a
good Muslims and by that when they already have decided to wear veil, they will
have to act. It also defines their identity as Muslim and by that when they already
have decided to wear veil, they will have to act responsibly.
Some Muslim believes that wearing veil is only for praying and not for everyday
wear because Qur’an, Muslim’s holy bible said that covering style of dress is only for
prayer and that its adoption for daily wears is excessive (Suzanne Brenner, 1996).
Many parents forbid their kids from wearing veil. They think that it might ruin their
career since some employers will not employ women with veil. They consider them
as extremists. Another reason is that parents are afraid that their children end up
with the wrong partner.
If within the same religion there is conflict among them, how about their
relationship with followers of other religions?
One question crosses my mind, is the reason behind wearing the veil still because of
religion matter or it has been shifted to style matter? I once saw in a person-wearing
veil forgetting the essence of wearing veil, because she wore a veil with skulls
printed on, which often considered as a negative symbol in some culture. For those
reasons, wearing veil does not always show someone is a good and religious person.
When we go to the mall, we can often see women wearing veil but they still wear
tight clothes for the sake of being fashionable. If the reason of wearing veil is to
cover up your body, then why wear something that shows curves. This shows that
not everyone that wears veil know the essence of wearing it. One thing concern me
also is that a lot of people trying to be looked like religious people and pretending
that themselves as the best and interfere others in practicing religion.
How is the diversity of religion in Indonesia?
With the diversity of religion in Indonesia, majority of Muslim, conflict is one
unavoidable cost that often happens. The fact is that the some people have no
toleration and respect toward followers of other religions. The statement of ‘Unity in
Diversity’ is ironically just a word with no implementation. They love their religion
too much that they tend to become fanatic so they are blinded and unable to see the

5. purpose of the other religion which is the same as what they religion has; all religion
teach kindness. Defending own religion becomes our excuse to be people intolerant
whereas it is not even the teaching of the religion itself and it can cause many harm
to all of the parties.
They are being too nosy about others’ business that they interfere the activity of
other religion followers. Inappropriate action and crime such as bombing in a
church often happened. If the reason of declaring a fight is because of defending
their own religion, are those activities held by other religion offending the attacker’s
religion? Everyone have their own freedom to choose want they want to believe,
everyone have rights to pray with their way based on their religion but why some
religion groups just being ignorant those rights and forcing their belief to others? It
is ironic when they don’t want other people to attack their religion where the fact is
they want to defend their religion from a threat that doesn't even exist.
It is sad that ‘unity in diversity’; a very good word that used to unite Indonesia, is
not relevant anymore. We should cherish the difference that we have in this nation.
Being a nation based on religion, we should be able to live up to that. No religion
means harm to any other religion. As a matter of fact, this religion issue is tearing
apart this country. Where Pancasila that stands for unite the diversity of religion in
Indonesia.
Conclusion
We have so many backgrounds and ways to practice our beliefs, but we have only
one purpose and why should that be a problem? We tend to always look for
differences but we never see the bigger purpose of it. Religion is meant to guide us
to the same goal; any religion does; to be the best version of you. Unity in diversity
cannot be just a words spoken loud, but should be really implemented in real life.
Difference doesn't hurt anyone it makes us rich.
My religion is simple; my religion is kindness – Dalai Lama

6. References & Bibliographies
religion. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion
Religion. (2014, June 15). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
Religion in Indonesia. (2014, June 15). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 17, 2014,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Indonesia
Brenner, S. Reconstructing Self And Society: Javanese Muslim Women And
"The Veil". American Ethnologist, 23, 673-697
Kim, H. The Changing Interpretation of Religious Freedom in Indonesia.
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 29, 357-373
Smith-Hefner, N. J. Javanese Women and the Veil in Post-Soeharto
Indonesia. The Journal of Asian Studies, 66, 389-420

7. References & Bibliographies
religion. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion
Religion. (2014, June 15). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
Religion in Indonesia. (2014, June 15). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 17, 2014,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Indonesia
Brenner, S. Reconstructing Self And Society: Javanese Muslim Women And
"The Veil". American Ethnologist, 23, 673-697
Kim, H. The Changing Interpretation of Religious Freedom in Indonesia.
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 29, 357-373
Smith-Hefner, N. J. Javanese Women and the Veil in Post-Soeharto
Indonesia. The Journal of Asian Studies, 66, 389-420