I was eager to tell them that life would be much more difficult for non-Muslims in this country for the next five years, and that terrorism would continue to be robust as a result of growing intolerance against the minority by our Muslim compatriots. I felt disappointed because most of them did not look convinced by my presumed insightful analysis. They would regret their distrust of my explanation someday, sometime.

But two days later, a group of poor Muslim families near my house gave me a very valuable lesson and their lesson applies to any civilization.

I felt really stupid in front of these people, whom I had looked down on for years because of their living conditions. And many of us, who are much better off than them, would acknowledge that these kinds of people are the main actors behind Indonesia's rapid progress in democracy. They are a living testimony to Islam, although perhaps their knowledge of their religion is shallow compared to their leaders.

The 40 Muslim families in the neighborhood have embarrassed those who tend to portray Islam as an intolerant religion.

They have also humiliated those who distrust the ability and the preparedness of poor and uneducated people to embrace democracy.

As most Indonesians are poor, or not far away from the category of poor, it is not wrong to conclude that these kinds of people are the strong pillars of our democracy, and the sincere face of Islam.

No matter how deep one's religiosity, if one is asked to attend a mass in front of an open mosque in a densely populated neighborhood, I guess most Indonesian Catholics would feel anxious - this assumption also applies to priests - although Jesus has repeatedly assured us not to be afraid of anything if we are with Him.

Amid reports of rampant forced closures of churches throughout the country and the growing intolerance by our Muslim compatriots to us, non-Muslims, attending a sermon at a mosque compound would be the last choice, even for the most devout Christians. (This is based on my observations as an incompetent observer).

I was, therefore, in a state of high anxiety when I attended a requiem mass in Kampung Comot in East Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon along with 20 other Catholics.

I nearly wore a helmet to protect my head in case the Muslims there threw stones at us. The repeated assurances of Alimin, the chief of Neighborhood Unit (RT) 001, on our safety failed to impress me. Feeling too ashamed to skip the mass, I pretended to be a brave soldier of Christ and stood there. We had no choice, because the family of the deceased, Pak Simon, rented a very small room which used the mosque wall.

Father Dibyo, who led the mass, looked very calm, although at times his eyes flitted to the left and to the right.

The people in the neighborhood should not, in fact, be strangers to me, because RT 001 is located right next to my housing compound.

But we have little contact, because most of them are living in severe poverty, while their neighbors proudly categorize themselves as belonging to the middle class.

During the service, many of them looked at us, but in a very friendly manner. They provided the tents and the chairs.

They collected money to help their neighbors who had lost their elderly father. They shook our hands, thanking us for providing the religious service for Simon, their neighbor.

They even attended the funeral at Pondok Rangon Cemetery in East Jakarta.

The presence of these people is a burden for the Jakarta government. And their more prosperous neighbors are often disturbed by their children, although they always try to be good citizens of Jakarta.

Pak Alimin and the families in Kampung Comot have set us an excellent example without even realizing it.

To be honest, not many people from the higher echelons of Jakarta society would let their mosque compound be used for the prayers of other religions.

Popular

To my horror, it’s just a movie!

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Pentagon chief congratulates Prabowo on being elected President