Buddhist Religious Symbols Blasphemy
Mar 6th, 2009, in News, by Patung
Some Buddhists are, eventually, up in arms over a Buddhist themed club in Jakarta, the Buddha Bar.
The Buddha Bar, a French franchise chain restaurant-lounge-pub, (‘soft’) opened in Jakarta late in 2008 at Jl. Teuku Umar, Menteng, and received some amount of attention, with one international review enthusing that Jakarta had now joined
the likes of London, New York and Dubai in hosting a Buddha Bar.
Jakarta in the last decade had become more cosmopolitan, the warm fuzzy glow of democracy shone, things dug out of the ground in the country had been fetching top dollar, and now with places like the Buddha Bar being opened the burgeoning class of stylish, wealthy, wine class attending people that these good times had produced had another place to parade at.
The review ended on a warning note, saying that in recent times Jakarta had been bombed by terrorists, Muslim militants sometimes smashed up bars that opened during Ramadan, and there had been shortages of wine. smh
None of these catastrophes has befallen the Buddha Bar in its short existence, but it is beset by another problem – Buddhists.
Several times in the last few days Buddhist student groups have protested outside the premises, demanding that it be closed down, or that it change its name to something less offensive. On 5th March 100 members of the Aliansi Mahasiswa Buddhis “sealed” the entrance to the Bar with police crime scene tape, and carried banners like:
Stop insulting Buddhism! The Buddha Bar disturbs harmony among religious groups!
Protest leader Eko Nugroho said detik
This is to show people that Buddhists will not [stand to] be insulted.
The management of the Buddha Bar, and its owners, who are Renny Sutiyoso (daughter of ex-Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso) and Puan Maharani (daughter of Megawati Soekarnoputri), seem to be keeping a low profile. detik
In Bali however, where there are a number of restaurants that use the name of “Buddha”, such as Buddha’s Belly Restaurant, Bali Buddha Restaurant, Buddha Haha Restaurant, there are not known to have ever been protests by outraged Balinese Buddhists. detik
The Buddha Bar formally changed its name on 22nd April 2009, “out of respect” for Indonesian Buddhists and the minister for religion. The bar’s new name is “Bataviasche Kunstkring”, the original Dutch name of the building. antara
81 Comments on “Buddhist Religious Symbols Blasphemy”
-
Brother Mouzone says:
I can’t imagine the owners are losing too much sleep over militant buddhists… I’m sure they will be grateful for the free marketing though!
-
hariyangindah says:
The practice in Indonesia is that it is okay to abuse anything about religion as long as it is not about Islam. So it is okay to burn down any other religious buildings as long as they are not Islam religious buildings. So it is okay to abuse any holy things about religions as long they are not about Islam. Perhaps there will soon be other bars like Jesus’ Bar, Shiva’s Bar. Well, I think Jesus doesn’t mind with this, because He likes drinking with His disciples, and Shiva has been know to be very fond of dancing, and I think He must also be very fond of having a party with His friends. So, there will be no problem. But I think the most suitable bar for a religious situation is this : BAR_ABBAS.
-
ET says:
Aduh. Something is definetely wrong with the Indonesian mindset. Murah tersinggung, easily provoked and always ready for unjuk rasa (demonstrate). If he hadn’t already reached Nirwana, Buddha would certainly turn around in his grave.
-
Lairedion says:
It’s funny to see these Buddhists use FPI-style methods to voice their disapproval. Sealing and praying in front of the building. Is this a new Indonesian phenomenon of growing exceptionally large toes?
By the way, I do find the whole Buddha Bar concept distasteful and silly. Westerners have a tendency to label artifacts as exotic and downgrade religious figures and symbols to fashion statements. For instance, in the Netherlands there’s a clothing brand named Gsus and a porn distributor (!) called Shiva Entertainment.
-
TheWrathOfGrapes says:
hariyangindah Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Perhaps there will soon be other bars like Jesus’ Bar, Shiva’s Bar. Well, I think Jesus doesn’t mind with this, because He likes drinking with His disciplesThis I like – Jesus’ Bar. Make it a Wine Bar. The cost of goods sold will be so low – just ask Him to turn water into wine…
-
Rama Treiz says:
Is this the first time buddhists in Indonesia have protested like this? If this is the first time, then perhaps it has some sort of light political motive like what Ross mentioned in his post. Anyways if there is a Jesus bar, do we get free fish and loaves of bread too? 🙂
-
joao says:
How about Jah Bar or Selassie Bar ? I don’t think the Rastafari brothers would mind at all. It would play reggae exclusively, sell ganja legally and serve I-tal . ‘Ya, man!’
-
Mr Tic Tac Toe says:
Rama:
Anyways if there is a Jesus bar, do we get free fish and loaves of bread too?
No. But if you can get free public crucifixion if you want.
…In fact i can arrange it for you now, what say you? 🙂
-
timdog says:
In the Buddhist theocracy that was pre-1950s Tibet, people had their noses cut off for minor transgressions.
Perhaps these protesters will soon be employing such tactics. -
So, perhaps this is political and designed to drag the names of Sutiyoso and Megawati into the fray as a means of unsettling their respective presidential campaigns?
I like Rob’s sharp analyse. 🙂
This is not about religious insult, it would different if Buddha’s Belly Restaurant, Bali Buddha Restaurant, Buddha Haha Restaurant, are vegetarian.and for BAR_ABBAS ha ha.. funny
-
diego says:
What about changing the name to “Bhubar”?
-
dragonwall says:
The controversy is based on the word Bar. Whereas in Bali they made it specific. But anyway I do not think it has anything to do with blasphemizing a religion.
I think it is good, in fact as they are actually promoting Buddhism. Otherwise why don’t they use Islam, Christian or Hindu.
Buddhist needs to be more open minded but word like Vegetarian or Food before the word Bar would make it more appealling and less misunderstanding.
I guess this is how Buddhism become that great entering into aspect of our lives. Nice
-
Barry Prima says:
By the way, I do find the whole Buddha Bar concept distasteful and silly. Westerners have a tendency to label artifacts as exotic and downgrade religious figures and symbols to fashion statements.
For once I agree with Lairedion or am I not allowed to do that Patung, it kind of goes against the ranting Muslim antagonist persona you have carefully crafted for me..?
….Once a religious symbol becomes a fashion statement, it starts to lose its potency in reminding people of the divine, which is its very purpose.
This protest is definitely good… I like it!
-
schmerly says:
That’s the problem Buddha is usually depicted as a fat jolly person, and therefore his image gets used for the wrong reasons, sadly it’s a bit demeaning for the Buddhists and I don’t blame them for being pissed off.
-
timdog said:
In the Buddhist theocracy that was pre-1950s Tibet, people had their noses cut off for minor transgressions.
Perhaps these protesters will soon be employing such tactics.What has Tibet to do with this particular issue? Can you enlighten us?
-
Now tic tac toe no need to get hostile. However maybe we both can get crusified together and share such a great experience together.
-
aku says:
I’m a Buddhist, and I absolutely agree with Dragonwall. I am sure the owners have no intention to insult Buddhism.
-
Lairedion: as perhaps the greatest object of indulgent Western imaginings about the exotic, “mysterious East”, and the focus of a great deal of patronising guff about Buddhism.
Silly religious outrage and hypersensitivity appears to be an infectious disease.
Certain shrieking beardy types are well-known for their wish to recreate an entirely imaginary 7th Century society. Perhaps then, if these affronted Buddhists start to enjoy getting all worked up they might cotton on to the idea recreating a “pure” Buddhist society, a la pre-1950s Tibet (I don’t really think so, but hey, you know, just throwing out an idea 😉 )… -
Rama:
Hostile? neah, you got me all wrong.Some pinoy friends of mine told me that you can get public crucifixion in philipines by paying small amount of money.
But if you want to share the experience, can i be the pretend jesus? lol
-
Mr Tic Tac Toe.. Now that’s freaking weird!! if it’s true.
-
schmerly:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion#Crucifixion_as_a_devotional_practiceBackwardness happens in any religion, including religion of non-believers.
Be fair, we must.
-
Mr Tic Tac Toe.. Yea I’ve seen this sort of thing on TV, the Indians have some strange rituals to, hanging from hooks stuck through their skin Etc., still freaking weird!!
-
Barry Prima
This protest is definitely good… I like it!
How come I’m not surprised?
-
And see who owns the Buddha joint, Sooty and Meggas brats: Renny Sutiyoso and Puan Maharani, good old KKN still alive and kicking.
-
Oigal says:
This I like – Jesus’ Bar. Make it a Wine Bar. The cost of goods sold will be so low – just ask Him to turn water into wine…
and we could get pretend horses and we then we could pretend to fly on the horses back from the carpark to the bar..where underage wives could serve the drinks..or not
-
timdog,
I acknowledge the disproportionate sex-appeal of Tibet (over Xinjiang) and Buddhism in general in the Western mindset. Tibet used to be a brutal feudal society and Sri Lanka are having loads of militant Buddhists (mixed with Sinhalese ethnic supremacist thoughts) inciting violence. Facts largely ignored or unheard off in the West.
But can we leave out speculative ideas (in which you yourself don’t believe in) and focus on what’s real and present?
-
Oigal.. Now your being facetious, LoL!!
-
Burung Koel says:
This I like – Jesus’ Bar. Make it a Wine Bar. The cost of goods sold will be so low – just ask Him to turn water into wine…
From the inimitable King Missile:
Jesus was way cool
Everybody liked Jesus
Everybody wanted to hang out with him
Anything he wanted to do, he did
He turned water into wine
And if he wanted to
He could have turned wheat into marijuana
Or sugar into cocaine
Or vitamin pills into amphetaminesHe walked on the water
And swam on the land
He would tell these stories
And people would listen
He was really coolIf you were blind or lame
You just went to Jesus
And he would put his hands on you
And you would be healed
That’s so coolHe could’ve played guitar better than Hendrix
He could’ve told the future
He could’ve baked the most delicious cake in the world
He could’ve scored more goals than Wayne Gretzky
He could’ve danced better than Barishnikov
Jesus could have been funnier than any comedian you can think of
Jesus was way coolHe told people to eat his body and drink his blood
That’s so cool
Jesus was so cool
But then some people got jealous of how cool he was
So they killed him
But then he rose from the dead
He rose from the dead, danced around
Then went up to heaven
I mean, that’s so cool
Jesus was way coolNo wonder there are so many Christians
-
So I heard. Actually before all the protests, I’ve read comments at The Jakarta Post on-line article of the opening party of Buddha Bar in Jakarta. Some of them sounded very cynical, but deep down I believe Buddhists love tranquility so I was a bit surprised to see the protests on TV.
Comment on “Buddhist Religious Symbols Blasphemy”.
Copyright Indonesia Matters 2006-2023
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact
So, perhaps this is political and designed to drag the names of Sutiyoso and Megawati into the fray as a means of unsettling their respective presidential campaigns?
Indonesian politics, lovin’ it! (or is that McDonald’s?)