IELL 2 ,,
· Title article : The right to build mosques and churches
· Author : Al Makin, Yogyakarta
· Source :
Retrieved from : http://www.thejakartapost.com/paper
On October 25th 2010
The Right to Build Mosques and Churches
Al Makin, Yogyakarta | Fri, 10/15/2010 9:31 AM | Opinion
Mosques and churches, in which believers pray to God for a happy life in this world and salvation in the world to come, can also cause tension and conflict. In this archipelagic country — with a boast-worthy diversity of ethnicities, faiths, ideologies, political parties and social organizations — mosques and churches of minority groups are under attack.
Ahmadiyah’s mosques and the churches of the Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) in Bekasi are cases in point. Ironically, those who attacked those places of worship, such as the FPI (Islam Defenders Front), also pompously voiced their disagreement in public statements. They question the rights of minorities to build places of worship that they perceive as a threat to their mosques.
Worse still, the government, e.g., the religious affairs minister, makes that disagreement its main concern and shields the mosques of the majority — which are in fact “safe and sound” as nobody dares to disturb them.
The mosques and churches belonging to minority groups are then further discredited, while some of the perpetrators are roaming free and looking for vulnerable people who can be turned into radicals. Through the public media, schools and mosques, the younger generation can become the prey of radicals.
True, some, such as Abu Bakar Ba’asyir and those who stabbed the HKBP leaders, were jailed for their roles in spreading hate, causing disorder and breaking the law. However, their ideologies are far from diminishing in this country.
Nevertheless, you may wonder why the “majority” is so scared of the “minority”. Common sense and logic are turned upside down. Who is intimidating whom? Who are the perpetrators and who are the victims? The minority or the majority? Which one is increasing? Mosques or churches? Ahmadiyah’s mosques or the Muslim majority’s mosques?
Throughout history, the diversity of this country has been palpable. Evidence can be seen in the remaining sanctuaries in Indonesia, Hindu and Buddhist temples scattered throughout many cities. Most of these places of worship — such as many of the old churches in Europe that attract tourists with their photo-ready exotic sculptures — no longer function.
Certainly, Hindu and Buddhist temples were built much earlier than mosques and churches, where believers are still coming to listen to preachers’ words.
What is also obvious is that the number of majority Sunni Muslim mosques is noticeably increasing. In 1997 the Religious Affairs Ministry recorded 392,044 mosques. In 2004 the number was 643,834. Now the number has likely doubled or tripled.
“Nevertheless, you may wonder why the ‘majority’ is so scared of the ‘minority’. ”
The increase in the number of mosques can be felt whenever you visit an Indonesian city — provincial, district, or subdistrict — you will find a new mosque with a shiny dome.
Mosques dominate many cities’ landscapes. In front of the Prambanan temples in Yogyakarta a mosque stands mightily. In the heart of Pekalongan, Central Java, a large mosque was built in front of an old church. Mosques are also found in malls, schools and other public places. Remember that before the 1990s, mosques were not as numerous as they are now.
Yet there is no evidence to suggest there is significant growth in the number of mosques belonging to minority groups, e.g. Shiite, Ahmadiyah, Tarekat and other Muslim minorities.
Nor is there a significant rise in the number of churches in Indonesia, such as those of Roman Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and others.
Why are many so anxious about the construction of places of worship other than their own? Clearly the idea that there is an increase in faiths other than Sunni and rising missionary activities is mythical.
Many scholarly studies have shown this. However, the anxiety and the spread of the myth are not fairytales. They are real.
Keep in mind that the Sunni majority can build a mosque anywhere they choose, any time they want, in any form they desire and without special permission from any authority or the government, even though minority groups are required to obtain permission before building their places of worship. The number of mosques and churches demonstrates this.
The writer is the author of Representing the Enemy, Musaylima in Muslim Literature.
By : Fransiska Indah Kristiani
(2010110012)
Math Departement
Summary of the article :
This article is about the unfairness of the cultural and religious diversity, which is an archipelagic country, especially in Indonesia. In this article, the author calls them, that the use of mosques as "majority", and most of those who use the Church, temple or shrine as "minority ".
As a "majority" they question the rights of "minorities" to build places of worship which they regard as a threat to their mosque. Worse still, the government, e.g., the religious affairs minister, makes that disagreement its main concern and shields the mosques of the majority — which are in fact “safe and sound” as nobody dares to disturb them.
Throughout history, the diversity of this country has been palpable. Evidence can be seen in the remaining sanctuaries in Indonesia, Hindu and Buddhist temples scattered throughout many cities. Most of these places of worship — such as many of the old churches in Europe that attract tourists with their photo-ready exotic sculptures — no longer function. Certainly, Hindu and Buddhist temples were built much earlier than mosques and churches.
Now the number has likely doubled or tripled. Nevertheless, you may wonder why the “majority” is so scared of the “minority”.
In front of the Prambanan temples in Yogyakarta a mosque stands mightily. In the heart of Pekalongan, Central Java, a large mosque was built in front of an old church. Mosques are also found in malls, schools and other public places. Remember that before the 1990s, mosques were not as numerous as they are now.
“Majority” can build a mosque anywhere they choose, any time they want, in any form they desire and without special permission from any authority or the government, even though “minority” groups are REQUIRED to obtain permission before building their places of worship.
Comment :
I think the article is discussing something very sensitive. This article also discusses, in accordance with what is happening in Indonesia. With Islam as the State religion of the majority and a minority. Most actually sometimes feel that threats to the rights of minorities, to build the temples.
And sometimes we wonder why most are so afraid of minorities. Common sense and logic upside down. Who is intimidating whom? Who are the perpetrators and victims? Minority or majority? Which is increased? Mosques or churches?
But in fact the current amount of the mosque may have doubled or tripled from the year 2004 with the number 643 834.
The majority feel threatened will be a growing minority, but there is no evidence to suggest there is significant growth in the number of mosques belong to minority groups, such as Shiites, Ahmadiyya, Sufi and other Muslim minorities. There is also no significant increase in the number of churches in Indonesia, as a Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and others.
For them, the majority, to build a mosque anywhere they choose, any time they want, in whatever form they want and without special permission from local authorities or government, although minority groups are required to obtain permission before they build places of worship . This is what sometimes becomes injustice.
And in fact, all of them can live side by side in full of peace, with mutual respect and appreciate in all such differences.
By : Fransiska Indah Kristiani
(2010110012)
Math Departement
