Muhammadiyah, the country’s largest modernist Muslim organization, must develop programs to promote pluralism and religious tolerance, agreed participants Wednesday on the penultimate day of the group’s 46th congress in Yogyakarta.
The congress’ Commission E said it saw a need to promote interfaith cooperation, mutual tolerance and acceptance among different community groups to help create positive social conditions.
“Muhammadiyah supports and promotes pluralism — but we reject pluralism that leads to syncretism and says that all religions are the same,” said recently-re-elected Muhammadiyah Chairman Din Syamsuddin.
As part of the community, people must recognize the existence of other religions and be aware that there is some truth in every religion, he said.
However, people must also remember that all religions do not share the same truths, he added.
“We must recognize diversity in religion and have mutual respect for each other and be tolerant.
However judgments on truth should be made in accordance with an individual’s faith,” he said.
“Lakum diinukum waliyadiin,” he added, referring to a verse from the Koran that is translated as: “To you, your religion, and to me, mine”.
Muslims must be oriented towards the future to meet the challenges of the current age of technological development and Islam must be developed with “deep insight” to adapt to future developments,
he said.
Substantial understanding about Islam must be developed to prevent the religion from becoming a commodity and to stop the destruction of Islam’s meaning and substance, Din added.
Muhammadiyah has been a pioneer and actively involved in creating dialogues between nations and civilizations to promote peace on earth.
Development over time and between civilizations have increased frictions that could lead to the birth of conflict, he said.
“Cooperation and dialogue are needed to minimize the effects of friction between civilizations. Muhammadiyah will actively take part in it,” Din added.
Din said that Muhammadiyah has been actively involved in the resolution of the southern Philippines conflict, together with the UK, Japan and Turkey and other social organizations.
Din added that Muhammadiyah has also been actively consulting with the United Nations on frictions between civilizations to help improve awareness of the importance of dialogue between civilizations.
“We will gather world religious figures, businesspeople and scientists to meet at the World Peace Forum, our third [forum],” he said.
The congress recommended the use of an “inverted evidence” scheme as the most effective way to fight the country’s rampant corruption.
It also recommended reform to make legal institutions independent to help the fight against corruption and other social diseases.
Finally, the congress recommended the establishment of an economic institution to help empower economically challenged people and development of the nation’s religious character.
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