Experts at an interfaith seminar for youths say abstinence and birth control after marriage can help solve the country's many solve social problems, including poverty, crime and pollution.
University of Indonesia sociologist Imam Prasodjo said Indonesia's high population had contributed to the problems.
"Families with many children tend to live in poverty and are generally unable to pay for their children's education," he said at the seminar held by the National Family Planning Coordinating Agency (BKKBN).
"It's said that money can't buy happiness, but you sure need it to send your kids to school.
"All over Indonesia there are young people with many siblings who don't go to school, and these youths keep pouring into an already overcrowded Jakarta."
He said these uneducated youths were unable to get decent jobs in the city, and thus turned to crime.
"And don't forget the large number of people who use vehicles, thus adding to the massive air pollution," Imam added.
Said Agil Siradj, chairman of Nahdatul Ulama (NU), the country's biggest Islamic organization, said all couples had the right to have as many children as they wanted, but must also be able to support them.
"Children are gifts from God and must be taken care of accordingly," he said.
He added NU believed that responsibility was also the reason why pious people forbad premarital sex.
"Would it be responsible to have children when you're not ready for them?" he said.
"Sex shouldn't be seen as purely for pleasure."
Said added pious people also had the responsibility to take care of other people's children.
"It's possible for poor people to give their children a good education, if there are others willing to help," he said.
"Religious people must do their best to give all children the chance for an education."
Imam said it was also up to the government to provide free education for poor children.
Cholil Nafis, chairman of the interfaith Forum for Quality Family and Population (Fapsedu), said youths should learn earlier about the moral and social importance of birth control.
"They are the future parents; it's far more effective to teach them now when they're still unmarried," he said.
Participant Siti Utari said she understood the importance of the topic but could not grasp the details of what was being discussed.
"I can only conclude from their words that I have to find the right person to marry," she said, adding she was more interested in reading a book on birth control that was handed out to the seminar's participants.
Supardji, another participant, was more impressed.
"It's important to know the challenges I'll face after marriage," he said.
Mashudi Umar, a member of the youth branch of Fapsedu, said the BKKBN planned to hold more seminars on birth control.
"The youths will be trained to as peer educators for their friends about the importance of family planning and ways to prevent HIV/AIDS," he said. (mrs)
