Batak Toba Ethnic in Indonesia as a Locus Theologicus: Exploring the Spiritual, Wisdom and Aesthetic Values of Ragi Idup Ulos

Batak Toba is one of many ethnic groups in Indonesia that reside around Lake Toba and are now scattered worldwide. Since the colonial period, this group has become a target for Protestant Christian missions and Catholics, who make it a “locus theologicus” based on their respective characteristics. One tradition of Batak Toba is ulos, such as “ragi idup”, which holds religious, wisdom, and aesthetic meanings. This study examines “ragi idup” ulos as a “locus theologicus” through its spiritual values rooted in wisdom and civilization. The meaning to be achieved in this paper is that the wearing and giving of ulos “ragi idup” is the warning and giving of wisdom in life. Qualitative methods and interviews with knowledgeable individuals help identify religious and wisdom values that can bring theology together using a symbolic approach

Forms of Social Justice in The Anthropocene Era

In the Anthropocene period, justice is an urgent issue that necessitates a multifaceted strategy that tackles the numerous facets of social and environmental injustice. The Anthropocene epoch has resulted in enormous changes in the natural world, and the pursuit of justice must consider the intricacies of this new epoch. Degrowth, postcolonialism, and solidarity politics are crucial notions that might help us comprehend justice in the Anthropocene. For sustainability and social fairness, degrowth emphasizes lowering consumption and output. Postcolonialism exposes the continuous exploitation of underprivileged groups and emphasizes the need for equal resource allocation. Solidarity politics acknowledge community interconnectedness and the need for collective action in attaining justice. This essay focuses on the subject of social justice in the Anthropocene era. This essay uses the book's analysis techniques to investigate these ideas from the perspective of justice in the Anthropocene. The study's findings highlight the critical role that degrowth, postcolonialism, and solidarity-based politics may play in creating equity of justice for everyone. Investigating these subjects in creating a more egalitarian and sustainable society was emphasized in this essay

Theology of Marital Suffering in the Light of Detachment of Saint John of the Cross

Marital indissolubility is a contentious issue in contemporary Catholic marriages. This qualitative study interviewed eight wives who have endured suffering in their marriages while remaining faithful to the gospel and Church teachings. They viewed their suffering as an ascetic path that leads to spiritual growth. This research explores Saint John of the Cross’s theology of detachment to understand marital suffering. Asceticism within marriage is seen as a means to achieve deeper self-giving to one’s spouse and God. Detachment, a core element of asceticism, purifies one’s being, fostering spiritual growth. John of the Cross’s detachment theology can help couples see their suffering as an avenue to detachment, facilitating divine purification and the ability to transcend marital difficulties without being bound by anything outside of God. This suggests that detachment is a relevant concept in fostering spiritual growth and enhancing self-giving in marriage

A Philosophical Expose Towards A ‘God After God’

The escalation of violent incidents in recent times has brought religions to the forefront of world politics, resulting in a shift from their traditional role as conduits of divine revelation to becoming instruments of power and dominance. This phenomenon of kratophany exemplifies the manifestation of violence within religious contexts. The occurrence of violence may be attributed to the foundation of eschatological interpretations within various theological frameworks. The emergence of religious triumphalism and fundamentalism stemming from these theological perspectives has posed a significant danger to both world peace and ecumenical dialogue. The need for peace among faiths has transitioned from being a mere choice to an urgent necessity in contemporary times. The deity that is sought to be understood via the lens of eschatology is a divine being that exists in the future, sometimes referred to as an "after God." Hence, in order to get this comprehension, it is imperative to relinquish any remnants of onto-theological thought that now plague the eschatological analysis of religions. The violent interpretations of eschatologies used by Abrahamic faiths result in a significant loss of significance. The present research aims to address the hermeneutic context that poses a threat of religious violence. This intervention might be likened to Abraham getting Isaac back after first renouncing the notion of a violent sacrifice. In the present day, it is imperative for the Abrahamic faiths to discontinue the practise of harsh sacrifice and instead embrace the concept of peace as a valuable offering

Bishop John Philip Saklil’s Theological Preference for The Indigenous Papuans: An Attempt to Respond to People's Doubts

This research explores and answers the question: What is Bishop John Philip Saklil's contribution to developing the Indigenous Papuans of the Timika Diocese Catholic Church? The church’s workers will use the answer to the question in making pastoral programs in their parish and responding to the people’s doubts about the church’s ministry and its preference for indigenous Papuans. This research was also made to increase people’s awareness of the problems in Papua and how important it is for us to give priority to Indigenous Papuans. The method used in this study is an analysis of two books related to Bishop Saklil: "The Church and Human Tragedy in Timika Diocese, Collection of Statements of Attitudes and Voices in the Mass Media" and "Mgr. John Philip Saklil, Pr, Founder of the Timika Diocese". Apart from that, the researcher, as a diocesan priest in Timika, directly observed the Bishop’s life from 2012-2019. This observation enriches the analysis of the two books mentioned above. Bishop Saklil's contribution to the support of the Papuans in Timika Diocese is Bishop Saklil's preference towards his ‘flocks’ who are Indigenous Papuans (Ind: Orang Asli Papua). There are two ways in which Bishop Saklil manifests his alignment with the Indigenous Papuans: First, by continuing to speak out against the injustice and incivility experienced by everyone in the land of Papua, particularly the Indigenous Papuans. Second, working in silence and continuing to struggle to tear down the building system creates unjust situations

Harmony of Eschatological Meanings: Between Christian Concept and Manggarai Culture in Indonesia

The Catholic Church is over 100 years old in Manggarai, Flores, Indonesia. The teachings of the Catholic Church are readily accepted by local people, partly because the beliefs of the local people of Manggarai are compatible with the instructions brought by the Catholic Church. This is especially evident, for instance, in the understanding, belief and appreciation of the local community regarding eschatology. Employing an ethnographic-theological study, this article reflects a contextual approach to theology. The method used is an ethnographic-theological study. The data was obtained by direct observation, interviewing traditional Manggarai leaders who are Catholics, and studying some documents related to this article's subject. This study addresses the following question: how does the vision of the Manggaraian people's future help the inculturation of Catholic eschatology? According to the research question, this article explores the basis of hope for the end of the Manggaraian people and simultaneously compares it with the existing Christian eschatology. This study shows a harmony between the eschatological meaning of the Manggaraian local beliefs and that of the Catholic Church. This harmony facilitates the inculturation of Catholic eschatological beliefs into the local culture of the Manggaraian community. This page is in English Translate to Indonesian    AfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBengaliBulgarianCatalanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEstonianFinnishFrenchGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHebrewHindiHungarianIcelandicIndonesianItalianJapaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)LaoLatvianLithuanianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanSimplified ChineseSlovakSlovenianSpanishSwedishTamilTeluguThaiTraditional ChineseTurkishUkrainianUrduVietnameseWelsh Always translate English to IndonesianPRO Never translate English Never translate aafki-afti.or

Theological Interpretation of the Ke’o rado Ritual for the Cultivation of the Christian Faith Among the Ngadhanese, Flores, Eastern Indonesia

The ke'o rado ritual is a rite of reconciliation and purification for those who have had a tragic death (mata golo) in the Ngadhanesse, Flores, Eastern Indonesia. The primary purpose of this article is to interpret the meaning of the ke'o rado ritual and its theological implications. This paper is a qualitative descriptive study and participatory observation using a literature review and key informant interviews. The study found no official confirmation from the Catholic Church authorities in Ngada that ke'o rado contradicts Christian doctrine. However, some Ngada people consider that the ritual is contrary to the teachings of the Christian faith regarding salvation in Christ and thus should be abandoned. In contrast, this paper concludes that the ke'o rado ritual must be observed since it has theological significance and can be brought into dialogue with the teachings of the Christian faith

The Death Penalty In Indonesia: A Theological Perspective of Law

This study aims to explore, analyze and describe the theological perspective on the death penalty and God's way of eradicating evil to answer whether the death penalty can be justified theologically. This research used a descriptive qualitative method. Through this literature review, data are collected and analyzed theologically. The study results found that crime and the death penalty are human products. Evil is the output or impact of human sin. God's works are always related to goodness and the best judgment of God's creations. Evil, including the death penalty, could not be justified because God did not want evil for His creation. Therefore, when humans fell into sin, God ceaselessly saved and converted humans as he sent His only begotten son, willing to die to atone for human sins or save them. In addition to the sacrifice of Jesus, God's way of eradicating evil is also: willingness to suffer, application of sank and rules, forgiveness, radical love, and following Jesus. Theologically, the death penalty is evil, so it cannot be accepted because, for Thomas Aquinas, all forms of the law might be placed in the context of the bonum commune, with the principle of “bonum est faciendum et prosequendum et malum vitandum.” God’s sincerity to suffering must be how humans convert and save fellow humans. Likewise, legal products must align with the goals of the common good and welfare. This research uses a qualitative method. The problem limitation in this article is regarding the legal theological perspective on the death penalty in Indonesia. The findings of this study show that the death penalty is undoubtedly contrary to Thomas Aquinas' moral-theological principle in which God seeks to save humanity, not destroy it

Theological Foundation: The Apostle Paul and his Framework of thinking

The author identifies several related problems in this scientific work. These problems are evident from the points that have been compiled as follows: First, there are indications that some Christians themselves think that evangelism is only a social activity or just a good life behaviour in society. Second, there are indications that most of our evangelism is direct evangelism. Third, there are indications that not all Christians are passionate about sharing the gospel. The author sees the danger in contextualization: “If contextualization is not carried out, theology will not be relevant; and the same danger is that if contextualization is carried out too vigorously, compromise and syncretism will occur. It is hoped that this research can be input for Christian educators, pastors, and elderly congregations to implement an evangelistic lifestyle under 1 Corinthians 9:1-27 and call the churches to follow him as he followed Christ. Furthermore, it is hoped that this research can be input for Christian educators, pastors, and elderly congregations in implementing an evangelistic lifestyle

The Experience of Grace in The Phenomenon of Interreligious Dialogue

This paper explores the experience of grace in the interreligious dialogue activists. The involvement of Catholic activists in this movement can be a locus for the experience of grace. Several theologians have recently discussed grace in a historical dimension. One of the theologians of the Second Vatican Council, Karl Rahner, had the idea of the experience of grace. Martin Heidegger's phenomenological hermeneutic method explores the experience of the grace of Catholic activists. In-depth interviews were used as a data collection technique. The research subjects were two Catholics, the National Meeting of Indonesian Youth from the Youth Commission of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference and one Catholic Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community. The results' novelty shows that the research subjects did not recognize grace as an extraordinary phenomenon. Inspired by the Church's teachings, they understand that grace is experienced as a process of living life's roles, unique abilities, and gifts to become better. The study’s conclusion confirms that grace can be identified in everyday life and is not limited to a superstructure metaphysical idea