The statements of the religious elites, as quoted by The Jakarta Post on Monday, reflected a strong sense of self denial - if not ignorance - that implied that Indonesia has no religious conflict, nor attacks on place of worship. Just click on Google and you will easily find out how many churches have been burned and damaged in this country over the last few years, including very recently.

Your comments:
Why is it that most non-Muslims view Islam as such an intolerant religion? And, furthermore, what does Islam actually have to do with Javanese culture? Batik, gamelan, the fabulous monuments scattered across the landscape - all of these predate Islam. What good has it really done Indonesia?

Admittedly, most Javanese are actually animists deep down, and this is the genuine link with their cultural past rather than the Arab appropriation. And while we're at it, as anyone who has really bothered to consider their own beliefs about the world from an unbiased perspective will tell you, an argument over whose "god" is better is basically an argument over whose imaginary friend is better.

Religion is the most prominent example of belief being totally disconnected from any evidence whatsoever.

Davey Dozey
Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

Looking at the Malay to English dictionary, it says Allah equals God. So Malays don't even know what they are talking about.

Rahadi Widodo
Jakarta

Malaysia has legalized apartheid, something I am sure the Prophet would find totally disgusting. There are far too many pretenders hiding behind the name of Islam so they can carry out their corrupt and immoral behavior.

John Ralph
Jakarta

I was astounded at the last sentence of your editorial: "In many other parts of the world, mosques are also attacked by those who think their religion is superior to others."

It happens in India, in the Hindu versus Muslim conflict, but elsewhere, any attacks on mosques are almost invariably by Muslims - Sunni versus Shia, Shia versus Sunni.

David T
Brisbane

Akhyari, the editorial means to express that while it is absolutely not a crime to ask people to stay calm, it's next to useless. I fully respect their intention, as I'm sure the editors of the Post do, but it is just not going to be effective. As Indonesians, I'm sure we know that merely asking the public to do something will not change anything.

Ruby
Jakarta

Dear Jakarta Post, please don't just blame Muslims. Yes, there is tension regarding the high court decision, but nobody has been found guilty and nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. Please be responsible with what you print.

Mat
Pati, Central Jakarta

I am not sure what the purpose of this editorial is. There's nothing wrong with those religious leaders asking people to stay calm and maintain the inter-religion peace. I am sure their statements have pure intentions. Indonesia has long suffered due to horizontal conflicts, let alone the radical voices over superiority over others.

What happened in Malaysia will probably be a bad influence here in Indonesia. We do not know yet, and all we can do now is ask our colleagues, friends and family to stay calm, and not to pay much attention to what happened. I am shocked that, instead of supporting that, The Jakarta Post blasts them.

Akhyari Hananto
Yogyakarta

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