Unity in Diversity

Jan 21st, 2007, in News & Issues, by Patung

View the original article here.

19 Comments on “Unity in Diversity”

Colson Says:
January 21st, 2007 at 11:44 pm
All sane and sound. And, I hope, influential.
Tomaculum Says:
January 21st, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Alwi said that there were passages in the Koran that allowed for pluralism.

So all of the matters in Indonesia have to be based on Islam teachings? I think Indonesia is not (yet) a Muslim country?

Once Indonesia overcomes its acute, domestic, socio-economic problems, religious uncivilized radicalism will have no corner in this country to survive.

Let’s hope, let’s hope.
Danny Says:
January 22nd, 2007 at 8:43 am
Alwi said that there were passages in the Koran that allowed for pluralism.

There are also passages to slit the throats of non-believers.
Peter Says:
January 22nd, 2007 at 8:57 am
Tomaculum,

I think he mentioned the Quran because he was speaking from his own perspective. Also, Islam is the most influential religion in Indonesia, so this makes sense.
sgn Says:
January 22nd, 2007 at 12:52 pm
… Islam is the most influential religion in Indonesia

Are you sure? Is it not “kejawen”?

Okay.. okay…. Kejawen is not a religion.
Tomaculum Says:
January 22nd, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Peter, but Indonesia is (still now) secular and there are after all about 15% non Moslem. It makes sense from his perspective, and from the perspective of some (many?) Indonesian Moslems. Sigh. Some one said: democracy is the dictatorship of the majority. Forsooth, forsooth!
Naga Says:
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:37 am
Religious pluralism is still assured provided the minorities (i.e. Christians) know their place in the pecking order and don’t try to upset the ‘balance’ and creat ‘disharmony’ by trying to upset the Muslim mafia by doing silly things such as practising their faith without being harassed.
Achmad Sudarsono Says:
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Dear Friend,

It’s fine to be plural, but important to remember that Indonesia has a majority of Muslims. And as the magazine Sabili argues, it is important that we good Muslims teach the abangan about what Islam is all about.

There’s no need to get worked up about the Borodor – we know why it’s there. (possible Alien site – see previous postings).

Rock ‘n’ Roll Never Gon’ Die
Increase Da Peace
Hassan Says:
January 24th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Danny: You said,

“There are also passages to slit the throats of non-believers.”

Which one was it?
Colson Says:
January 24th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
The Holy books of the main three monotheistic religions sometimes are more or less bloodthirsty. For instance Qur’an, Sura 27.55 says one should kill the homosexual who is doing it and also the one that it is being done to. Similar statements can be found in Thora and Bible.

That’s why it is necessary to interpret the holy books by wise men and women. And keep religion strictly in the private domain. One should never ever run the risk of sacrificing one inch of the secular state and civil tolerance to the wishes of religious fanatics.
1ndra Says:
January 24th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Live in peace and harmony.
Daryono Says:
January 24th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
The Al Qur’an condemns homosexuals because they are vile deviants who have been corrupted by Satan. Colsen obviously thinks it’s OK to dismiss; not only the teachings of the Prophet, but those who go against nature as well.
Tomaculum Says:
January 25th, 2007 at 1:10 am
The Al Qur’an condemns homosexuals because they are vile deviants who have been corrupted by Satan.

Daryono, one I have learned during my life in the western world: tolerance. But it seems a strange vocabular for you. In your mind you just have those vile fury and hate against all things which are not suitable to the teachings of your religion. And then you name them like: corrupted by satan etc.

It is sad. I pray for you, that Allah someday will teach open your eyes and mind.

There’s no need to get worked up about the Borodor – we know why it’s there. (possible Alien site – see previous postings).

It is an alien site, for some, because: Every body has her/his aliens. They are the others at the other side of the “border”.
Andrew Says:
January 25th, 2007 at 7:17 am
There’s no need to get worked up about the Borodor – we know why it’s there. (possible Alien site – see previous postings).

Achmad Sudarsono, you actually belittle and underestimate your own ancestors who built Borobudur, just because they did not have the same faith as you do now? Do you not think that you should be proud of their heritage, regardless of their religion? Do you not think that the their blood runs in your body, regardless of their faith then and your faith now?

And dare you call yourself a proud Indonesian?
Ihaknt Says:
January 25th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Borobudur is a beautiful amazing historical site, regardless whatever faith it is for.
Hassan Says:
January 27th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Colson: You said,

“Qur’an, Sura 27.55 says one should kill the homosexual who is doing it and also the one that it is being done to.”

That doesn’t seem to be accurate, because:
Quran 27:55 “Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant!”
Quran 27:56 “But his people gave no other answer but this: they said, “Drive out the followers of Lut from your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!”

So, I don’t know where the passage about “killing the homosexuals” can be found. Friends, lets put more care before placing quotes from any Holy Scriptures, because false attempts can bring about undesired ramifications and plant a wrong image about a certain religion.
Colson Says:
January 29th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Well, you are damn right about my totally misquoting 27.55. I apologize for that major mistake. I should have been much more careful.
Pmunaan Says:
January 30th, 2007 at 1:59 am
First time visiting this website but I just can’t help noticing how popular articles related to religion and God are. Not just this one article in particular but many others.

And it’s so amazing to read some of the comments, so outrageous particularly when some people start quoting some holy books. And gettin really heated it up over it, too.

I was told this was supposed to be set out as a somewhat liberal website for independent minded and, perhaps, er ..maybe educated Indonesians or people who sympathize with Indonesia.

I assume (maybe I’m wrong) that liberal and independent minded people are inclined to be godless, perhaps an agnostic or an atheist.

What’s so great about religion anyway. Didn’t someone says it’s the world’s oldest superstition. They found evidence that our ancestors the Neanderthals (excuse me those who dont’ believe in the evolution) buried their dead along with their favorite items in life. Sound superstitious eh..sound religious.

I just can’t believe that after 250,000 years that people still believe in and getting all worked up over that oldest of superstition.

This is, after all, da 21st century, so please tone down the volume when you talk about religion.
Hassan Says:
January 31st, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Pmunaan:

“This is, after all, da 21st century, so please tone down the volume when you talk about religion.”

Well, there’s also something called, err.. freedom of speech? And freedom of religion, for that matter.

“I just can’t believe that after 250,000 years that people still believe in and getting all worked up over that oldest of superstition.”

Well, we’ll just have to wait and see about the ’superstition’ thing, shall we? In, I don’t know, after we die maybe? Only then can we fairly judge whether religion was a hoax or not.