Other Publications
Most Islamic studies teachers oppose pluralism, survey finds
Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 11/26/2008 7:06 AM | Headlines
Most Islamic studies teachers in public and private schools in Java oppose pluralism, tending toward radicalism and conservatism, according to a survey released in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The study shows 62.4 percent of the surveyed Islamic teachers, including those from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah — the country’s two largest Muslim organizations — reject the notion of having non-Muslim leaders.
The survey was conducted last month by the Center for Islamic and Society Studies (PPIM) at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta, involving some 500 Islamic studies teachers throughout Java.
It reveals 68.6 percent of the respondents are opposed to non-Muslims becoming their school principle and 33.8 percent are opposed to having non-Muslim teachers at their schools.
Some 73.1 percent of the teachers don’t want followers of other religions to build their houses of worship in their neighborhoods, it found.
Some 85.6 percent of the teachers prohibit their students from celebrating big events perceived as Western traditions, while 87 percent tell their students not to learn about other religions.
Some 48 percent of the teachers would prefer for female and male students to be separated into different classrooms.
PPIM director Jajat Burhanudin said the teachers’ anti-pluralist views would be reflected in their lessons and contribute to growing conservatism and radicalism among Muslims in the country.
“I think they play a key role in promoting conservatism and radicalism among Muslims nowadays. You can’t say now that conservatism and radicalism only develop on the streets like what has been campaigned by the FPI (the Islam Defenders Front), but rather deep within the education (system),” he said, referring to a radical Islamic group.
Jajat said such intolerance threatened the civil and political rights of citizens of other religions.
The survey also shows 75.4 percent of the respondents ask their students to call on non-Muslim teachers to convert to Islam, while 61.1 percent reject a new Islamic sect.
In line with their strict beliefs, 67.4 percent said they felt more Muslim than Indonesian.
The majority of the respondents also support the adoption of sharia law in the country to help fight crime.
According to the survey, 58.9 percent of the respondents back rajam (stoning) as a punishment for all kinds of criminal and 47.5 percent said the punishment for theft should be having one hand cut off, while 21.3 percent want the death sentence for those who convert from Islam.
Only 3 percent of the teachers said they felt it was their duty to produce tolerant students.
With 44.9 percent of the respondents claiming themselves members of Nahdlatul Ulama and 23.8 percent supporters of Muhammadiyah, Jajat said the two moderate organizations had failed to establish their values at the grassroots.
“Moderation and pluralism are only embraced by their elites. I am afraid that this kind of phenomenon has contributed to increasing radicalism and even terrorism in our country,” he said.
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Rahadi widodo (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 2:03pm
Close the schools immediately!
These are old teachers with a warped mentality trying to brainwash the young...
The only schools allowed should ones provided by the government.
Or separate Jakarta from Java Build the biggest wall possible...
Onez (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 10:44am
This is a strucking result. However, we need to know how the study was carried out. It is about the reliability of the data, representativeness of the sample, and of course the objectives of the study. And, data collection process (the way interviewing were conducted) could contribute to the results. We don't know completely yet to judge. If the study was done properly, I personally will be very very sad. Salam
Andrew2410 — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 10:33am
Sadly, it would seem certain groups WANT to develop ignorance of other cultures among the children and youth of Indonesia.
Once they have made the young people ignorant, then they can start to sow the seeds of hatred and fear of others.
The theory is that if people are ignorant of other nationalities, religions, racial groups etc... it becomes much easier to convince them to hate those people, to turn them into scapegoats, to justify violence against them, even killing. This psychology has been used throughout history and across the world. It is very dangerous. For it to be successful, our young people need to be kept isolated and uneducated about the world.
Conversely, once we learn, meet and mix with these "other" people, and see that even though they may have a different skin color or religion, they are basically the same as us, with families, jobs, hopes, joys, fears, etc.... Then we begin to understand we are all God's creation and suddenly we cannot hate them any more, and the hate mongers lose their power.
So let's encourage mutual knowledge, enlightenment and kinship among our young people and discourage ignorance and hate.
Iain (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 10:08am
The answer to all of this is that they drop the law that forbids anyone to "insult" Islam.
It is impossible for there to be anything constructive done while muslims can talk badly about other religions while hiding behind laws protecting the image of Islam.
Muslims shouldn't be afraid of equality... right? I mean, if Islam is really the true religion, then they shouldn't need laws protecting it's image.
maxilo (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 8:06am
Everything positive Indonesia has comes from its Hindu past. The further it drifts from the genuine goodness of universal spirituality of Hinduism towards the inhumane, intolerant, arrogant, aspiritual islamic dogma, the more it will start resembling Ahghanistan or Pakistan...and slowly die in misery and carnage.
Ed K. (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 3:35am
The Indonesian government should wake up and put a lid on the outrageous Muslim organizations who think they can speak for others. A restriction should be imposed for Indonesian students studying in the Middle East especially in Saudi Arabia. These students would bring to Indonesia an interpretation of conservative islam which doesn't conform with the Indonesian culture and race. Therefore visible teachings of hate, intolerance towards other religions,and races are springing out in Islamic schools. Organized religions of all forms cause more harm than good to mankind. Isn't it time to move forward rather than going backward? We can only blame the government for not responding enough to the situation. Modern educated people in Indonesia should not surrender to Muslim organizations who robbed us from our peaceful and rational thinking. What a shame for Indonesia !!! This is not democracy.
Iyen (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 11:47pm
We love our diversity "Bhineka Tunggal Ika": Moslems,Hindus,Buddhist,Catholics,Christians,We are all brothers and We are one,just One Indonesia despite of our differences. We are proud to be the One as the One Nation,Indonesia.
Kresna (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 11:07pm
As an Indonesian, I am not surprised at all by the results. Minority communities have always been let live by the majority, but under oppressions. As an example, Hindu was not recognized as an official religion for more than one decade after Indonesia declared its independence, despite being the oldest existing religion in the country and despite the fact that the Indonesian word for religion (i.e. "agama") is actually a Sanskrit Hindu word!
Ironically, muslims are often the most outspoken when talking about tolerance. Apparently, what they mean is tolerance towards muslims when and where they are minority, and not vice versa :(
Don't you think it is ridiculous that the president of PKS (currently Indonesia's most prominent Islamic political party) was soooooo against the execution of the Bali bombers (citing lack of "evidences"!!!) while being among the first to support immediate execution of some Christians accused of provocating the religion clashes in Central Sulawesi despite real lack of evidences at that time.
Need more proofs? We have thousands :)
Ekyah (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 9:55pm
To Syahdan,
Too many people in Indonesia and elsewhere think that Democracy is about the most votes, that’s not the whole story however.
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."
Abraham Lincoln
R.astari — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 9:18pm
This is a terrible shame. I've been in Al-Azhar and they never taught me about such deep, intense hatred.:( But yes, in Quran we must choose our own fellow Muslims as leaders.
Are they really doing that NOW?? OH, MY GOD. I think I'm going to cry.:'-(