RELIGION, THE COVID-19, AND HEALTH PROTOCOLS: A CASE STUDY OF MUSLIMS GROUP VIEWS

The article aims to describe the religious views of Indonesian Muslim groups concerning Covid-19 and health protocols. It also explores the factors that lead some Muslims to reject health protocols in their religious practices. The qualitative method was employed in this study, with research subjects selected through purposive sampling, and data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The informants included leaders of Indonesian Muslim groups, such as Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama, and other Muslim group leaders. The research findings indicate that most Muslim group leaders interpret Islamic teachings with academic perspectives, although many tend to adopt conservative interpretations. This conservative religious understanding is influenced by several factors: first, the psychological factor of panic or cultural shock among some Muslims; second, the influx of information on social media whose accuracy is challenging to verify; third, economic pressure on the people; and fourth, the government’s indecisiveness and the ineffectiveness of public communication

Colonialism and Islamic Modernism: Differences in the Development Paths of Islamic Boarding Schools in Indonesia

Islamic modernism emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a response to global challenges, aiming to blend Islamic values with modern elements like science and technology. It spread globally in response to colonialism and modernization. In Indonesia, it developed during the transition to democracy, with regional autonomy leading to the implementation of Sharia in local regulations. Some radical groups in Indonesia sought to establish a strict Islamic state, driven by motives like the desire for a caliphate. In response, a liberal Islamic movement emphasizing contextual interpretations emerged. Islam Nusantara, represented by NU, exemplifies a moderate and tolerant form of Islam. Religious moderation is seen as an alternative to balance extreme interpretations, focusing on tolerance, democracy, and the rejection of violence. This article will delve into the journey of Islamic modernism, starting from its pioneers in Egypt and extending to Indonesia, where debates and developments in religious thought have become significant stage

The Importance of Public Reason in Democratic Society and the Criticism of Rawls’s Concept of Unreasonableness

People everywhere always live in diversity. Sometimes, people express their values in ways incompatible with the principle of reciprocity or reasonableness. In John Rawls's view, they are categorized as unreasonable because their expression does not align with public reason. In this article, we need to ask, are they really unreasonable and a threat to democracy? Here, we state that public reason is essential to democracy. However, we also need to build a fairer public life and broader public reasoning that engages people from wider background cultures. Thus, Rawls’ understanding of unreasonableness is challenging. We cannot exclude people who have not applied public reason from public life. We neither categorize them as unreasonable because they do not necessarily attack public reason. We can identify them as “in-between” reasonable and unreasonable people, and they are not really a threat to democracy. We need to engage and endorse them to explore a just public life. In order to build a fairer public life, we need to engage people widely and make public reasoning a place for learning the meaning of justice.

Contextualizing Hadith About LGBT in Perspective Humanity, Religion, and Culture

This article aims to contextualize LGBT-related hadiths from humanitarian, religious, and cultural perspectives. LGBT issues have become a complex debate in Indonesian society in recent years, especially as they are closely related to existing religious and cultural values. The purpose of this study is to analyze how LGBT-related hadiths are interpreted and applied in the Indonesian context, and how humanitarian, religious, and cultural perspectives play a role in this understanding. The study uses a qualitative approach by collecting and analyzing data from primary and secondary sources, including hadith texts, religious literature, and the opinions of religious and community leaders. The results of the analysis show that interpretations of hadith-reports on LGBT may vary depending on the religious, cultural, and humanitarian frameworks used. Some may use the hadith to oppose LGBT based on traditional interpretations, while others argue that humanitarian principles and social values should be prioritized. This study also examines the impact of contextualizing hadith about LGBT on religious, cultural and humanitarian views. It was found that the diversity of views in society on this issue reflects the conflict between religious values and the demands of a more inclusive humanity. This research illustrates the complexity of the context in interpreting and applying hadith traditions on LGBT in Indonesia. Differences between religious, cultural and humanitarian interpretations play an important role in shaping discussions and policies on this issue. Therefore, it is important to continue to promote inclusive dialogue and understanding in order to deal with LGBT issues wisely and with respect for different perspective

The Socio-Economic Movements of Sufis: Exploring Spiritual Entrepreneurship of the Idrisiyyah Ṭarīqah at Pagendingan Tasikmalaya Indonesia

Idrisiyyah's spiritual entrepreneurship was born from the neo-Sufism paradigm which produced a business ethos with the motivation of worship, professional service to the murshid, a symphony of inner and outer life and a modern and professional business management culture for the Islamic boarding school's economic independence. Apart from that, Idrisiyyah's entrepreneurial spirituality also gave birth to Idrisiyyah's distinctive corporate culture and corporate values which caused Idrisiyyah business people to feel inner satisfaction, priceless. Cannot be compensated with money, objects or any kind of materials. This causes Idrisiyyah's spiritual entrepreneurship to become an oasis in the midst of a business ethics crisis; but it is difficult to put into practice in society, because Idrisiyyah's spiritual entrepreneurship is tied to the Tarîqah system. The key to success lies in applying the concepts of lillah, fillah and billah, for Allah, in Allah's rules and by Allah, in all lines of business in the epicenter of murshid leadership and example

UN Resolution 16/18: An Attempt to Reconstruct the Indistinctness of the Blasphemy Law in Religious Life in Contemporary Indonesia

 The purpose of this article is to describe the vagueness of the concepts and the negative effects of the Blasphemy Law, which is operated in contemporary Indonesia with the law No. 1/PNPS/1965. Since its enactment in 1965, this law has been used by various intolerant groups to vilify, to discredit and to discriminate minority communities, including indigenous people, aliran kepercayaan groups (often used interchangeably with aliran kebatinan or Kejawen), and other non-conformist groups as deviant. According to the Blasphemy Law contents, opethese groups are not recognized as official religions because their religious doctrines are not allowed to be practiced and contradict those held by the majority. This article argues that the maintenance of the Blasphemy Law in Indonesia is not only detrimental to interfaith relations and harmony among the country’s diverse religious communities, but also contributes to the high number of violations of religious freedom and belief. Furthermore, a lot of researchers measure that the blasphemy law is one of two major problems in Indonesia — the other problems are related with religious conversion and proselytism. Its repeal is essential to promote religious tolerance and respect for individual beliefs. Certain doctrines are accepted on the basis of majority rather than merit, while those of minorities are often disregarded. Alternatively, this article will consider Resolution 16/18, also called “Combating Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping and Stigmatization of, and Discrimination, Incitement to Violence against Persons Based on Religion or Belief,” which was submitted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries to the UN Human Rights Council in 2011 to address the problems caused by the controversial blasphemy law. Keywords: Blasphemy Law, Religious Freedom, and UN Resolution 16/18

THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE QURAN: AN ANALYSIS OF MUʿTAZILAH THOUGHT IN AL-KASHSHĀF BY AL-ZAMAKHSHARĪ

This article concludes that the interpretation of the Quran depends on the ideological and theological leanings of a mufassir. The findings support H-G. Gadamer’s claim about the mufassir’s pre-understanding, which is considered to have a close relationship with the interpretation result. This study shares the view of modernist Muslims, such as Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd, Farid Esack, Khaled Abou el-Faḍl, and feminist scholar Amina Wadud, that subjectivity in the interpretation of the Quran is inevitable because each mufassir lives in a different historical context and cultural reality. This article proves that the theological interpretation in al-Kashshāf is influenced by the Muʿtazilah principles of al-tawḥīd and al-ʿadl. The methodology of interpretation also portrays al-Zamakhsharī as an interpreter who has full authority in expressing his thoughts by using the question-and-answer method in his work. This article concludes that the interpretation of the Quran depends on the ideological and theological tendencies of the mufassir

THE MEANING OF DEATH IN A PSYCHOSOPHYSTIC PERSPECTIVE

The study employs a dual approach, combining psychological analysis with Sufi teachings to comprehend the multifaceted nature of death. Methodologically, it synthesizes insights from psychological theories on emotional detachment and the human perception of mortality. This is juxtaposed with the Sufi perspective, derived from extensive literature, teachings, and interpretations of Sufi scholars and texts. The psychological aspect delves into the notion of psychological death, exploring how individuals, while physically alive, can experience emotional numbness, disconnect, and insensitivity to their surroundings. This exploration incorporates established psychological frameworks and case studies that illustrate these states. Simultaneously, the Sufistic approach interprets death as an inevitable certainty, emphasizing the spiritual separation between the body and the eternal soul. This perspective draws upon Sufi texts, traditions, and philosophies that emphasize the eternal nature of the soul and the transformative aspect of death. The study synthesizes these perspectives, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of death. It examines how the psychological and Sufi viewpoints converge and diverge, shedding light on the multifaceted meanings and implications of death within the human experience. Through this methodological fusion, the study endeavors to offer a nuanced perspective on death that encompasses both psychological and spiritual dimensions

RELIGION AND THE POLITICS OF NATIONALIST THOUGHT: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HINDU NATIONALISM IN INDIA AND MUSLIM NATIONALISM IN INDONESIA

The rise of religious nationalism in recent decades in developing countries has sparked attention among scholars. This article seeks to explore the political and cultural dynamics of the contemporary resurgence of religious nationalism, many of them reflected in Hindu nationalist in India and Muslim nationalist in Indonesia. We address the following question: What are the likely factors for religious-nationalist movements coming to the center stage of nation-state politics? Using the historical-institutional approach to religious politics, we argue that the forces that have driven the resurgence of religious nationalist were the interaction between the institutional design of the nation-state and the considerable opportunities for change – in a certain period of political crisis. Embedded in the issues of the institutional challenge is another series of questions that this article will address. There are variations in how and when religious-nationalist politics emerged. Why, for example, did the rise of religious politics occur in such varying ways, for instance, through a political party in India and civil society movements in Indonesia? Why did regimes or governments that promoted secular ideologies in India and Indonesia lose their hegemonic position? The answers to these questions are also largely historical-institutional. By focusing on how political institutions shape political dynamics, we suggest that institutions shape social and political outcomes, they necessarily affect people’s behavior as reflected in the politics of religious nationalism

IMPLEMENTATION OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION PRACTICES IN MINORITY ISLAMIC VILLAGES IN SEA VILLAGE, PINELENG DISTRICT, MINAHASA REGENCY

This article is a study related to religious moderation in minority Islamic villages. Moderation of religion in the Muslim-Christian community in Sea Village, Pineleng District is going very well in social interactions and activities. This study raises the issue of how the practice of religious moderation in socio-religious life in a minority Islamic village in Sea Village. The purpose of this study is to describe the practice of religious moderation in socio-religious life in a minority Islamic village in Sea Village. The method used in this research is descriptive-qualitative with a phenomenological approach. The results showed that the practice of religious moderation in the socio-religious life of the Muslim community in Sea Village was applied in social activities, religious activities, and political activities and “village” leadership. The implication of this research is as an effort to maintain cohesiveness and increase religious moderation that has been implemented and maintain it continuously from generation to generation to become a miniature of religious moderation in North Sulawesi