Clipping

Religion as such is good. The highest ethical formulations can be found in religious teachings. Religion will remain good as long as it stays in the ethical domain. What makes religion often look bad is its determination to enter the unholy domain such as politics. History has given us a lot of lessons. The politicization of religion is not only bad for politics, but it is also bad for religion.

‘It shows how people still take religious teachings for granted and refuse to use reason,’ he says. Ulil points to his decision to criticize the public furor over the ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed Day’ competition on Facebook, which he says prompted numerous critical comments despite him having also criticized those who like to provoke Muslims by insulting their religion.

But the admiration shown for Wahid in Melbourne offers a ray of hope. Many worldwide believe Wahid can promote peace in the Islamic world, particularly Indonesia. Through his tireless activities and commitment to protecting minorities he has demonstrated the true spirit of Islam which honors pluralism. The position of Wahid as a politician and human rights activist is unique.

I think that the democrat Muslim respects other Muslim’s belief although it is not in accordance with his own belief. Democrat Muslim dares to be different and defend the right of anyone for having different perception and opinion.

All religions must be positioned equally to create a free dialog without any subordination. The objective of this pluralism as Quran described is this: to know and learn one another (li ta’ârafû), and not to fight each other (li takhâshamû), or to regard one another infidel (li takâfarû), or to kill each other (li taqâtalû)!

Such kind of pluralism does not automatically result in culture or religious relativism, nor does it dismiss the terrible physical consequences some ideologies or thoughts can lead to and it should definitely not be an excuse for giving up the fight for equal rights, freedom or justice. Rather, I think such a pluralistic attitude is able to create an intellectual environment in which any missionary character disappears and more thorough discussions can take place.

I am, here, using simple terminology. I want to call Muhammad a prophet and a politician as well.  In his 23 year career, Muhammad showed a moral reformation through his prophetic career, and led a social and political reformation in Medina.

Indonesia’s Liberal Islamic Network (Jaringan Islam Liberal, or JIL) is a group of modern Muslim intellectuals who contest what they call literalist” Islam. Although the movement is small, it is highly controversial among conservative Muslims. Who are the people of JIL, and why have its advocates been issued with a death fatwa?

A number of local publications have recently rejected or become overly wary of articles critical of Islam after an opinion piece by a moderate Muslim drew condemnation and a death threats from Islamic hardliners, two Muslim intellectuals said on Monday.

Goenawan Mohamad will talk about a trend in Moslem political and theological thinking in Indonesia that sets itself against more “fundamentalist” interpretations of the faith. It is a story about young Moslem intellectuals, many of them coming from traditional, rural-based Islamic backgrounds, fluent in Arabic and well-versed in theological and legal debates, who are currently active in promoting what they call “liberal Islam.” They disseminate their ideas via books, syndicated columns, radio talks, circulars, political activism, etc.  The talk will also explore the link between their ideas and Indonesian pro-democracy movements before and after the fall of the military-backed Soeharto government.