National Gathering

on Inter-faith and Culture

Sowing Peace, Knitting the Diversity

Having diversity of ethnicity, language, culture and religion is a precious wealth and it needs to be maintained by all Indonesians. However, the diversity faced challenges because of the development of popular culture, consumerism, hedonism and narrow fanaticism to be the challenges for the nation. In addition, the ignorance to the environment took part in it.

This fact should be realized by all elements of the nation’s citizens. One way to maintain the diversity and richness is a togetherness to whip up spirit of multicultural through real work is embodied in the National Gathering on Inter-faith and Culture.

Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta, as an institution for mentoring students from various regions in Indonesia took part in nationhood ceremony for multicultural youth at Klaten's main square, the Indonesia inter-religious carnival took place from city square until Monument of Juang 45, Klaten, by sending one group symbolizing diversity in the carnival that precede the main event two days earlier.

The National Gathering on Inter-faith and Culture in 2016 was organized by Joint Forum of Believers in Klaten and held at Rumah retreat of Panti Semedi, Klaten on November 14–16, 2016. The event was entitled Sowing Peace and Knitting the Diversity for Indonesia be more civilized and equitable through wisdom of local culture. The event was attended by participants of the interfaith networks coming from various districts and cities of nine provinces in Indonesia. They consisted of young people and adults, santris, Catholic youth and Christian youth, Hindus, Buddhists, Confucians and local believers. The pastors, priests, clerics and monks were actively involved in it, were also public figures and activists of human rights, environment and harmony and peace as well as other communities. Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta sent Trustha Rembaka and Sarloce Apang to attend the gathering.

In the reflection session with a theme on Sowing peace in the middle of development of multiculture movement through wisdom of local culture in diversity, Lt. Col. Caj. Drs. Anak Agung Ketut Darmaja (Vice Chairman of the Hindu Association Indonesia in Central Java) confirmed that Pancasila as the state base was be extracted out from the local values of Indonesia. This was the evidence of the importance of having balance of faith and nation understanding which embodied in one’s daily life.

Dr. Prajarta from Percik foundation revealed that personal authentic experience when interacting with others, especially people with different backgrounds will shape his/her attitudes and views toward diversity. Currently, there were several groups based on religion, even occurred since children at schools.

Pastor Aloysius Budi Purnomo, Pr (the chairman of the Commission for Inter-religious and Trust from Semarang archdiocese) shared his experience in interfaith and cultural interaction, especially in Central Java. He believed that everyone should be 'literate towards other religions,' means in addressing diversity must be based on positive thinking and in his/her action should touch the grass-root/local society, not only the level of board or solely in a forum.

Pdt. Penrad Siagian, the Executive Secretary of division on testimony and creation integrity of PGI, described the recent phenomena that someone saw another religion from his/her point of view, so it is easy for him/her to judge other religion as 'unbeliever/infidel.' The state should be firm toward movements of intolerance and the state must do real action to enforce the regulation. In addition, Rev. Penrad also reminded the development of technology facilitated trans-national issues affecting the relation of interaction between religions in Indonesia. Therefore strengthening local values is needed to be done continuously.

KH Imam Aziz, the chairman of cultural and inter-religious relations division of PBNU reminded us all to get back on personal piety embodied in our life, starting from the family. One’s piety will appear when there was a match between words and actions. The other important things according to him was purity, acknowledge the presence of others and contribution to society.

In the reflective session with a theme on caring for nature through local wisdom to keep earth as house for all beings, the caregiver of Sanghyang Jati buddhist monastery, Bhante Dhamma Tejo Thera revealed that man had to go back to the Javanese proverb ‘Eling lan Waspada’ (be sensible and alert), that man is responsible for the preservation of the universe and all creations, if man cannot keep them, the nature will balance itself, and people called it as disaster. His experience when he first came to Gunung Selok in Cilacap, the place was barren. He initiated to plant thousands of mahogany and slowly but surely the place was re-greened and interesting to visit.

Muhammad Al-Fayyadl, a young activist who was born in Paiton in East Java conveyed Islam and ecology, reflected on the question of whether we have relationship with nature? How was our relationship with nature? This was interesting because we were all invited to reflect on between us and the nature, if the relation exploitative or interdependent. He also reminded the utilization of natural wealth of Indonesia should not bring disaster and impoverish society.

At the end of the event, the participants visited spiritual pilgrimage tombs of Pandanaran, cave Maria Marganingsih and Prambanan temple as a form of togetherness and recognizing the interfaith relation. Indonesians, keeps your unity in diversity. (TRU)