Talking about diversity, Indonesia is a house of a diversity of religions, ethnicity, language, race, regional culture, and other social life. People with many differences are required to be tolerant of these differences, especially toward religious understanding. To provide an understanding of diversity, Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta as an institution for developing Human Resources, especially students, sent Yonatan Pristiaji Nugroho, Thomas Yulianto, and Yoel Yoga Dwianto, S.Th to take part in an interfaith dialogue activity on ‘Discussing Christian and Islamic Ecumenism: Are All The same?’ organized by YIPC (Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community) Yogyakarta and SCJ Skolastika Community at SCJ Skolastika Hall (Wednesday, 1/06/ 2022).
This dialogue presented speakers with different backgrounds, namely Father Sigit Pranoto SCJ (SCJ Skolastika Community), Riston Batubara (Protestant), Ahmad Shalahuddin (Islam), and Sr. Fernanda CB (Catholic) as moderator. Starting from the topic of pluralism, then emerged Ecumenism, which is defined as a movement to fight for and support unity, especially in the diversity of religious communities. Students in Yogyakarta and religious communities participated in discussions using the Scriptural Reasoning method, in which participants read and understand scriptures of other faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and learn to interpret them, as an understanding lesson, how to read and strengthen relationships between people of different religions.
Furthermore, Father Sigit Pranoto SCJ explained the understanding of Ecumenism to achieve the same goal, to have the same sense with their respective teachings and scriptures. Ahmad Salahuddin, from YIPC Yogyakarta, revealed that Ecumenism is not familiar to Muslims. The best learning of ecumenism is from real experiences of everyday life because to understand it is not enough through theories and methods. In this context, even though there are religious differences, if we reveal our identity as human beings created by God, then we are not separated by anything because we have the same thoughts and feelings, then as believers, we must maintain the integrity of this creation.
Several
participants responded about ecumenism, one of which was Yoel, a magister
student at STAK Marturia, who said that ecumenism is like exercising at school,
where students learn and practice all kinds of sports as diversity, the
challenges that arise what if the school roof leaks, what role will ecumenism play
this matter? The resource person responded to the question by explaining that
ecumenism should be a comfortable home, which shelters various religious
struggles. Ecumenism reflects a person who has faith and is open to others and a pluralistic society.
This dialogue activity brought a new experience to Brian, a student at UII (Indonesia Islamic University), who revealed that this activity helped him to understand the concept of ecumenism theory in addressing religious diversity and that other religions have the same things as taught in Islam. This is an achievement of the discussion so that participants can understand the meaning of ecumenism even though they have different belief backgrounds.
The fact that the understanding diversity of each religion must be accepted as the wealth of Indonesia as a nation. The willingness to interact and respect is the basis for realizing brotherhood and unity to maintain the home, Indonesia, so that diversity remains safe and comfortable that embraces each other in harmony.***
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