Religion in Indonesia - Essay Example

Religion in Indonesia Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts (03, 04, 2009) Religion in Indonesia Religion has a significant part in the life style of the Indonesians. The first code of the state ideology, Pancasila, states that: "belief in the one and only God (qtd in McLeod & McIntyre 2007, pp. 66)". There are several religions that are in practice in the country of Indonesia and they have a major effect on its political, financial and social life (Slater, 2004). The Indonesian population is estimated to be 88 percent Muslims, 5.8 percent Protestants, 2.9 percent Catholics, 2 percent Hindus and 0.9 percent Buddhism (Slater, 2004). According to the Indonesian Constitution (McLeod & McIntyre 2007, pp 91): "the state is based on belief in One God" And, "the state guarantees the freedom of all residents to worship according to their own religion and beliefs" Although this is written in the constitution, the government does not show as much tolerance, as it acknowledges just five religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism (Gort, Jansen & Vroom, 2004). Religion in Indonesia was considered to be a complicated and unpredictable matter in the beginning of the 1990s. It could not be evaluated without difficulty in terms of social rank, location or race. Even though Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholicism and Protestantism), Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions had a part in affecting the different parts of life, the Indonesian government did not allow religious parties to play a part in politics. The government assured acceptance of some particular religions (agama) which were monotheistic. These religions included Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. However, these were only tolerated provided that they did not enter the political arena. Since the mid 1970s the government of Indonesia has officially recognized five religions that are mentioned above. Indonesia happens to be the most heavily populated nation with Muslims, globally (Forshee, 2006); about 88 percent of the Indonesians are Muslims (Slater, 2004). In the country, several of the provinces and islands consisted of a majority of the population being Islamic adherents. The range was from more than 50 percent in Kalimantan Bara and Maluku provinces to the degree 97.8 percent in the Special Region of Aceh. In Indonesia the two sects of Christianity, Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, are acknowledged as two separate religions. The Christians in Indonesia are in a minority. Around 5.8 percent of the Indonesians are Protestants while 2.9 percent are Catholics. Then there is Hinduism. The certified figure of Hindus in Indonesia is 10m (2007). According to this figure, Indonesia is globally the fourth largest country with Hindus. Just like Islam and Buddhism, Hinduism was also very much changed so as to suit the Indonesian culture. Even though the caste system existed in form, it was not at all strictly put in practice. Mahabharata and the Ramayana were the Hindu religious classics and they were made permanent cultures amongst the Indonesian followers (Forshee, 2006). They expressed it through shadow puppet and dance presentations. Sikhs are recorded as Hindus in Indonesia due to the fact that the country does not recognize Sikhism as a religion (Kesavapany, Mani & Ramasamy, 2008). The last of the fifth official religion is Buddhism which happens to be the second oldest religion in Indonesia. The 1990 national census showed that greater than 1 percent of the Indonesian population follow Buddhism as their religion. Initially Buddhism was a scholarly doctrine and just slightly related to the paranormal. However, there have now been plenty of changes in it due to politics as well as the individual emotive wish to be protected from the so many fears by a supreme divinity. In several manners, Buddhism is very much distinctive, with every human being responsible for his own person. Any person can perform meditation by himself and does not require any temple neither a clergy to play the part of an intermediary. The society offers with pagodas and temples which instigates the suitable mental condition so as to help the congregation in their attachment as well as self awareness. Although these five religions are state recognized, there are other beliefs also prevailing in Indonesia, such as Confucianism, Animism and Judaism. Confucianism entered Indonesia due to the Chinese merchants and immigrants. The religion advanced to become organized and today it is a principled, monotheistic religion in the design of Christianity or Islam (Pan, 1999). It is the Confucianism of Indonesia. The kind of Animism that prevails in Indonesia is similar to that throughout the world, and that consists of a faith in particular things, like trees and stones and people. This faith is present as early as the 1st century, immediately after Hinduism came into Indonesia. Additionally, after 2000 years Animism is still being practiced in some regions in the country, along with the other religions. Nevertheless, Animism is not recognized officially by the state due to the fact that Pancasila affirms the idea of faith in the ultimate divinity, or monotheism, whereas the followers of Animism do not have any certain god. Judaism is very uncommon in Indonesia. Minor, unofficial Jewish communities exist in Jakarta and Surabaya. Initially there were Jewish settlements in Indonesia because of the Dutch Jews who had come for the spice trade. By the 1850 there were around 20 Jewish families, from Netherlands and Germany, living in Jakarta. Before 1945 there were around 2000 Dutch Jews in the country. However, by 1957 the number went down to 450 and by 1963 to 50. The latest report of 1997 shows that there are just 20 Jews in Indonesia. Those Jews who live in Surabaya have a synagogue. They hardly ever communicate with Jews of other places. In the synagogue that they have, there is no provision of any service. The reason why there are so many different religions in Indonesia and why they have undergone so many changes can be attributed to certain factors. Previously, immigration was the main cause of such a diversified religion and customs in Indonesia. There was immigration from India, China, Portugal, Arabian and Netherlands. Nevertheless, there have been changes in these views as several alterations have been undertaken so as to be appropriate the civilization of Indonesia. Initially, Hinduism and Buddhism prevailed in the country, with Islam and Christianity arriving later on. The former religions entered the state due to the Indian traders who came to Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi. Islam came into the country in the 14th century. It was the region of Gujarat in India from where Islam reached Indonesia. Islam was followed by Catholicism brought in by the Portuguese. After that arrived Protestantism in the 16th century by means of the Dutch (Forshee, 2006). Other major modifications relative to the religious side took place during the New Order period (Bertrand, 2004). During the time 1964 and 1965 there were tensions in the country which led to the most evil mass murders that have been committed in the 20th century (Kahin, 1995). After this there were some policies due to which there were a lot of religion conversions (Bertrand, 2004). As there is such a variety in the religions in practice in Indonesia, there are frequent clashes between the followers of each religion. Additionally, Indonesia's political management has had a vital part in the relations between groups; the part has resulted in both positive as well as negative influences. One such example can be the Dutch East Indies' Transmigration Program, due to which there were several clashes in the eastern part of Indonesia. From the very beginning the possessors of Indonesia's native religious customs have been very accepting of various religions. There are not many traditions which have not been modified due to foreign interventions. Each of the main national parties of the world religions in Indonesia have become modern in character and absolute in framework, and emphasise rite, text, and principle to the ruling out of theology. Bibliography Bertrand, J. 2004. Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in Indonesia (Cambridge Asia-Pacific Studies) (Paperback). UK: Cambridge University Press. Forshee, J. 2006. Culture and Customs of Indonesia (Culture and Customs of Asia) (Hardcover). Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. Gort, J. D., Jansen, H. & Vroom, H. M. 2004. Religion, Conflict and Reconciliation: Multi-faith Ideals and Realities (Currents of Encounter, 17) (Paperback). Netherlands: Rodopi. Kahin, A. R. 1995. Subversion as Foreign Policy: The Secret Eisenhower and Dulles Debacle in Indonesia. New York: The New Press. Kesavapany, K. 2008. Rising India and Indian Communities in East Asia. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. McLeod, H. R. & McIntyre, A. 2007. Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance (Hardcover). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Pann, L. 1999. The Encyclopaedia of the Chinese Overseas. US: Harvard University Press. Slater, J. J. 2004. Teen Life in Asia. (Teen Life around the World) (Hardcover). Connecticut: Greenwood Press. Read More