Indonesia's Democratic Islam : What the world can learn Options

[tangawizi]

Indonesia's democratic Islam: What the world can learn
05:55 AM Nov 12, 2010
by Alfred Stepan and Jeremy Menchik

The visit by "Barry Obama" - the Indonesian nickname for the former resident and current United States President - to Jakarta was intended, as much as anything, to celebrate the achievements of the world's largest Muslim-majority country.

In the 12 years since its transition to democracy, Indonesia has regularly held local and national elections, developed a functioning free market, and strengthened its culture of tolerance towards the country's Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese minorities.

Of the 10 members of Asean, only Indonesia has a "free" rating from Freedom House. American policymakers have, therefore, looked to Indonesia as a model for the rest of the Muslim world. But what lessons are to be learned from Indonesian democracy?

The most important lesson is that Islamic organisations can provide the backbone of a tolerant civil society.
Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), mass Islamic institutions with more than 30 million and 40 million members, respectively, operate more than 10,000 schools and hundreds of hospitals, as well as run youth organisations and support women's movements. Both have connections to political parties, most of which have consistently spoken out for democracy and against an Islamic state.

Mr Syafi'i Ma'arif, the former chair of Muhammadiyah, has made pluralist arguments, grounded in the Quran, against blind obedience to Islamic classical jurisprudence. Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, the former chair of NU, for decades advocated respect for religious pluralism, and was pivotal in mobilising democratic opposition to Mr Suharto.

A third Islamic intellectual, Dr Nurcholish Madjid, called for the "de-sacralising" of politics in the '70s, advocated genuine multi-party democracy in the '90s, and personally urged Mr Suharto to step down in 1998.
Indonesia also demonstrates how Islam can provide support for women's rights. Among the activist community in Jakarta, the most successful organisations are those that draw support from the women's wings of Muhammadiyah and NU: Muslimat, Fatayat and Aisyiyah.

The former head of Fatayat, Ms Maria Ulfah Anshor, has made sophisticated arguments grounded in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) for women's access to reproductive rights. And, thanks to a partnership between state and Islamic scholars stretching back 40 years, Indonesia has one of the most successful family-planning programmes in the developing world.

Ironically, the US has done as much to block the efforts of Indonesia's women's-rights activists as it has to support them. Former President George W Bush's restrictions on funding for health programmes that supported contraception meant that Islamic organisations receiving any funding from the US Agency for International Development were unable to publish material promoting safe-sex and family planning.
This could be, and often was, highly counter-productive. In one absurd case, a group of Muslim feminists who wrote a book promoting women's rights based on Quranic exegesis had to publish their work in secret, because it included arguments for women's reproductive rights and a small percentage of the group's funding came from a foundation that had received money from USAid.
The fact that Islamic organisations have benefited women may also help explain Indonesian women's political success.

Parliament is 18 per cent female (a slightly higher percentage than in the US Congress) and a woman, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, was the country's fourth President. Leading organisations like Umar, Fatayat and Muslimat provide a corrective to the widespread view that syariah necessarily impedes women.
Indeed, Indonesian women have shown how syariah can provide a tool for combating misogynist policies. For example, the head of Islamic affairs in the Ministry of Religion, Dr Nasaruddin Umar, is a self-described Islamic feminist who has published sophisticated critiques of gender bias in Quranic exegesis.
Religion permeates almost every aspect of life in Indonesia, including politics. But political parties advocating for implementation of syariah have lost ground in successive elections from 1955 to last year. The parties that still support syariah have largely disappeared or changed their platform. Rather than taking over the state, Islamist parties have been forced by the electorate to alter their policies to account for Indonesian pluralism.
Perhaps the best way to help Muslims is not to attempt to transplant institutions from Indonesia to the Middle East, or to give aid to "US-approved" moderates, but simply to listen more closely to the voices of Indonesian Islam.

But that is difficult to do. Almost none of the writings of the intellectuals who have been crucial to democratisation and women's rights in Indonesia has been translated into English. Perhaps more unfortunately, none has been translated into Arabic. PROJECT SYNDICATE


Alfred Stepan is a professor of political science at Columbia University and the director of its Centre for the Study of Democracy, Toleration, and Religion. Jeremy Menchik, a PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has spent the past two years studying Islam and politics in Indonesia.

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Maybe it's time for Arab leaders to make a government-to-government (G to G) visit and learn from Indonesia how to strengthen tolerant Islamic political and civic institutions and to listen to their people for a plural society??

Lets wait till Merapi subsides i guess...

[tengkukuning]

Indonesia's democratic Islam: What the world can learn
05:55 AM Nov 12, 2010


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Maybe it's time for Arab leaders to make a government-to-government (G to G) visit and learn from Indonesia how to strengthen tolerant Islamic political and civic institutions and to listen to their people for a plural society??

norway,sweden,denmark,finland are closer to islam than many countries,
peace& stability, education number one priority for all citizen,very little corruption,
transparent governance, fair salary and wages,
wealth well distributed 'accordingly', all citizen are free to vote and practice any religions,
free to read & write, all citizen well look after by the state
(esp. the weak, vulnerable,the poor and the unfortunate),environmental & health & safety are also prioritise,
govt. incentive militarily preparedness.

if fact singapore are not far behind.

This post has been edited by tengkukuning: Nov 12 2010, 04:23 PM

[tangawizi]

Those countries you mentioned should also include various asian states like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan maybe... all these countries are secular nations.

Maybe this means secular nations with good clean governance can achieve the aims of the islamic republic far better than an actual islamic state?

[tengkukuning]

Those countries you mentioned should also include various asian states like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan maybe... all these countries are secular nations.
---------
yes why not.they are working hard and perfecting. but they have to improve on their social responsibilty & the welfare state & politically where they lack behind those western countries especially the nordic countries.I have been told japanese govt. is looking and comparing at the welfare state in western countries (this is the result of 1997 financial crisis which affect the general pop. eg how the state should provide for the unemployed etc)
--------
Maybe this means secular nations with good clean governance can achieve the aims of the islamic republic far better than an actual islamic state?

names (you don`t have to call yourself Islamic Rep) are irrelevant as long as the state can deliver the right goods to its citizen and the world at large that is what Islam is all about. Just you can have christians Omar/s Fatimas in Spain, S. America and Abdullahs in Lebanon and muslims Omar, Fatima`s in Asean countries.

any country or state that are progressive to provide justice,social responsiblity,good clean governance like you have said, leaders and citizen serving the state,protection of its population, education & learning & development (all knowledge incl.religion), peace & stability would qualify to be a muslim state and they can be japan etc.

i have been told by an egyptian friend that when the Mufti of Egypt , Muhammad Abduh make the following statement when he visited England/Britain in the early 1900s:- 'this is islam but i cannot see muslims here'-i.e the nation state was striving hard to practice islam e.g social responsibilty etc but the citizens are not muslims.

citizenships comes with responsibilty e.g peaceful co-existance with their fellow human beings,living in harmony with the animals & plants kingdom and the universe, contributing to the nation state, justice,education and knowledge etc.


we can never and ever have a perfect state , we need to improve develop, evolve (knowledge & practices) until the end of time. The rest is utopia. you can only get nirwana in the after life ...
islam=peace,justice,'freedom',cultured,tranquil to name a few

This post has been edited by tengkukuning: Nov 13 2010, 08:17 AM

[Majapahitans]

Hmm..., I dunno.., Indonesian Democratic Islam? howabout just Democratic Indonesia...
Although myself and majority of Indonesians are muslims, I think most of us are reluctantly (or not interested to be precise) to flaunted or make a giant fuss of our Islamic faith... Yet some of Indonesian muslims might think otherwise...
Look at our national coat of arms..., there is no Crescent, Arabic script or any Islamic symbols, and instead it is rich with native and dharmic elements: Garuda is the vehicle of Vishnu, the "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" national motto is derived from Old Javanese Kakawin Sutasoma by Mpu Tantular, a Majapahit poet that the original context was promoting Hindu-Buddhist syncretism.



Yet I believe the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) also Muhammadiyah is the fine example of Islamic intelectual think-tank in Indonesia. NU is well known for their inclusive and tolerance outlook and practice.
To make Islam as the sole or most important element of Indonesian soul is not politically correct. Because Indonesia is defined far more than just our large muslim population.

For Indonesia hailed as the example of how Islam and Democracy can co-exist and thrive, although that recognition might make us Indonesian proud, yet I think it is not that simple.
Inclusivity, tolerance, and soo called Islamic democracy cannot be easily planted nor cloned to Mid-East or Afghanistan. Since the nature of Indonesian people and Indonesian experience is unique, you have to life for aeons, sometimes under the mercy, benevolence or wrath of nature (such as eartquakes and volcano eruptions) living side by side with different cultures, languages, ethnicities, religions and beliefs to finally appreciate the diversity and the virtue of peaceful coexistence. Instead of focussing of differences, we might better to appreciate our common shared values instead.

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: Nov 13 2010, 08:43 AM

[londoh]

Yet I believe the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) also Muhammadiyah is the fine example of Islamic intelectual think-tank in Indonesia. NU is well known for their inclusive and tolerance outlook and practice.

I have not read about the F.P.I. yet, a fine example of "tolerance"

[Majapahitans]

Imo FPI should be disbanded..,

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: Nov 15 2010, 04:11 AM

[JoeRagan]

^Wonder why they r still around, ya? Is it because in a democratic system you just don’t simply disband them you have to actually bring them before court for trial.
After all what good is it in disbanding them if it will only be replaced by a far more dangerous hate organization the like of Neo Nazi, KKK, SIOE, Westboro Baptist church or even maybe? PVV

[jrockerz]

a tool ....

[Majapahitans]

Hmm..., tangkepin aja siapa-siapa yang bikin rusuh...
ga' usah bawa-bawa agama...

[Rasulullah]

names (you don`t have to call yourself Islamic Rep) are irrelevant as long as the state can deliver the right goods to its citizen and the world at large that is what Islam is all about. Just you can have christians Omar/s Fatimas in Spain, S. America and Abdullahs in Lebanon and muslims Omar, Fatima`s in Asean countries.

any country or state that are progressive to provide justice,social responsiblity,good clean governance like you have said, leaders and citizen serving the state,protection of its population, education & learning & development (all knowledge incl.religion), peace & stability would qualify to be a muslim state and they can be japan etc.

i have been told by an egyptian friend that when the Mufti of Egypt , Muhammad Abduh make the following statement when he visited England/Britain in the early 1900s:- 'this is islam but i cannot see muslims here'-i.e the nation state was striving hard to practice islam e.g social responsibilty etc but the citizens are not muslims.

citizenships comes with responsibilty e.g peaceful co-existance with their fellow human beings,living in harmony with the animals & plants kingdom and the universe, contributing to the nation state, justice,education and knowledge etc.


we can never and ever have a perfect state , we need to improve develop, evolve (knowledge & practices) until the end of time. The rest is utopia. you can only get nirwana in the after life ...
islam=peace,justice,'freedom',cultured,tranquil to name a few

Islam=submission not peace. It means total submission to allah muslim god, it is written in the quran given to muhammad the founder.

Islam is not freedom, women have no freedom in islam, islam doesn't tolerate other religions, examples:killings of the copts christians in egypt and iraq, and muslims can not convert to other religions they will be killed, no other religions in saudi arabia, difficult to build church/temples in islamic countries, just to name a few.

it is not cultured, barbaric treatment of women, if raped, must have 4 witness all men as witness, then women are beaten then stone to death. barbaric treatment of non muslims living in islam countries examples, pakistan s. arabia, and middle east, asia bibi will be stone to die in pakistan, burn churches and attacks in indonesia just to name a few.

it is not tranquil, it is violent, killing non muslims, sunni kill shia, use bomb in car and body, terrorists, violent demo and killing christian at muhammad cartoon, same violent when america pastor want to burn quran just to name a few.

Sorry but islam is not what you said.

This post has been edited by Rasulullah: Jan 22 2011, 07:50 AM

[Majapahitans]

^^^ I can smell a religous bashing troll, a bigoted Islam hater, can we do something about this?

[Rasulullah]

^^^ I can smell a religous bashing troll, a bigoted Islam hater, can we do something about this?

Why you bashing me? you bigot too if you can not accept truth about islam. You can try prove if I am wrong. In Indonesia muslims burn and attack churches, stop christians going to churches and police do not stop them. you call indonesia muslims tolerance? is this tolerance? In Pakistan they kill minister because he supported Asia Bibi christian woman, wrongly accuse for syaing bad things about muhammad, they will kill her, may be stone to death or hanging, you call this tolerance? In Iraq muslims attack and kill 2 priest and 79 christians copt in their church, also target christians and kill more. in Egypt they bomb church during service, 24 dead, also few days ago, a muslim police shout allahuakbar and kill 4 more christians in train. This is all done by muslims because the quran says christians and jews are bad infidels, and can kill infidels:

Allah provides instructions to Muslims for dealing with unbelievers who are unwilling to accept Islamic rule:

Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them." This because they contended against Allah and His Messenger: If any contend against Allah and His Messenger, Allah is strict in punishment. (8:12-13)

The Quran specifically addresses Christians, Jews, Polytheists (Hindus) and atheists:

Christians are blasphemers (5:17, 5:73) who have invented a lie about Allah (10:68-69) by ascribing partners to Allah (ie. the Trinity). Inventing a lie about Allah is the worst of sins (7:37, 29:68) and for this reason Christians are condemned to Hell (10:70). Although one (early Medinan) verse seems to say that righteous Christians will go to heaven, this is abrogated by later verses that make it very clear that Christians must cease being Christian (ie. reject the Trinity) or suffer eternal torment for their beliefs (5:72-73).

Jews are also cursed by Allah (5:13), in one of his final pronouncements. The Quran goes on to assure Muslims that Jews are wicked (4:160-162) – so wicked, in fact, that they have somehow managed to do the impossible (18:27) and alter the word of Allah (2:75). Jews are “fond of lies” and “devour the forbidden” (5:42).

you want do something to stop me writing about the truth? why you afraid about truth about islam? you muslim?

I do not hate muslims, I feel sorry for muslims because they hate other religions and its people, christians suffer in muslim coutries because of this hate, also in indonesia and malaysia, pakistan and india where majority is muslims. muslims should think about many verses in quran about hate, and what muhammad did, he did many things (war, rape, rob) not acceptable to good people. if muslims accept this, may be they will not hate non muslims, christians or jews.

Majapahit, you agree with killing? Everyday there killings in the world by muslims, by bomb, by suicide bomber, by car bomb, killing many everyday. muslims killing muslims also. this is bad for any religion.

[filipinoy]

is that a carabao on the top left?

[Rasulullah]

Christianity and Islam:

Consider how Jesus and Mohammed handled what was essentially the same problem. A woman who had committed adultery was brought before Jesus for judgment. As she had been caught in the very act, there was no question of her guilt. The sentence dictated by Mosaic Law was death by stoning, but Jesus showed mercy. He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Embarrassed, the woman's accusers dropped their rocks and walked away. Jesus told the woman to go home and repent. But when a man and a woman who had committed adultery (with each other) were brought before Mohammed, he exclaimed, "Stone them," and the pair was executed.

Three things you must know about Islam: http://www.inquiryintoislam.com/2010/07/th...slam-video.html

What is Taqiyya?
IN SEVERAL Quranic passages as well as the example of Mohammad, Muslims are encouraged to deceive non-Muslims when it will help protect Islam. It is known as the principle of "taqiyya" or "religious deception."
Taqiyya Captured on Film: http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2010/06/taqi...ed-on-film.html

[Majapahitans]

is that a carabao on the top left?

Actually it is a Banteng or wild buffalo/bull. Similar to Kerbau (Carabao). However Kerbau usually refer to already domesticated bull/water-buffalo used during rice plantation process, while banteng is the pride wild one (Bos javanicus). But yes both are one bull family. Buffalows especially Kerbau are important animal in traditional Indonesian agricultural household, most notable one are Toraja tribe of Sulawesi. In ancient Java after adoption of Hinduism at the first milennia, the Nandi bull, sacred bull vahana (vehicle) of Shiva become a refered animal in ancient Java. Up until today during the night of Satu Suro (Javanese Islamic new year) there is the tradition of parading bule (albino) buffalows around Keraton (Palace) of Surakarta, Solo, Central Java. Imo it is the remnant of Javanese Hindu tradition.

This post has been edited by Majapahitans: Jan 26 2011, 04:49 AM

[DrGieL3]

Indonesia is very unique .... mostly of its people are 'hypocrite' .... Its muslim leaders pray 5 times every day, went to Mecca and talk 'good things' before its people ... but at the same time .. they are proud to be corruptors ...

[filipinoy]

Actually it is a Banteng or wild buffalo/bull. Similar to Kerbau (Carabao). However Kerbau usually refer to already domesticated bull/water-buffalo used during rice plantation process, while banteng is the pride wild one (Bos javanicus). But yes both are one bull family. Buffalows especially Kerbau are important animal in traditional Indonesian agricultural household, most notable one are Toraja tribe of Sulawesi. In ancient Java after adoption of Hinduism at the first milennia, the Nandi bull, sacred bull vahana (vehicle) of Shiva become a refered animal in ancient Java. Up until today during the night of Satu Suro (Javanese Islamic new year) there is the tradition of parading bule (albino) buffalows around Keraton (Palace) of Surakarta, Solo, Central Java. Imo it is the remnant of Javanese Hindu tradition.

thx, interesting.. was it considered sacred?
i've only seen 1 albino water-buffalo in my whole life lol

in the phi. we were taught that carabao was the right english word for water-buffalo...(i guess since the americans there started calling it that too) so when i went to the US.. everyone is like wtf is a carabao?

a smaller but fiercer carabao-related wild specie is often used in the Philippines as symbols, the Tamaraw

brand of car




it was on our dollar bill..in this case piso coin (on the flip side of the national hero Dr. Rizal)


although the old 1/2 peso bill has the carabao, & this looks more like a dollar bill lol because this was right around the end of the US era

theres a saying in the PI... at least money have people, but people don't have money

here.. closely, you can see on their necks, are tamaraws..





i had one of those but i cant find it now

This post has been edited by filipinoy: Jan 26 2011, 04:43 PM

[Cynoptism]

Indonesia is very unique .... mostly of its people are 'hypocrite' .... Its muslim leaders pray 5 times every day, went to Mecca and talk 'good things' before its people ... but at the same time .. they are proud to be corruptors ...

No way...i think everyone is the same. They use religion when they try to justify their corruptions. It just makes me sick how they have this 'holier than thou' attitude..yet we all know that they eat pork in private, commit adultery, and all those things that they preach against. I suppose what they are saying is that..no you cannot corrupt according to Islam, but i'm different cos i'm a mullah, mufti, haji or some other crap.

What the world can learn is that we need a secular government who does not use religion to hide their flaw. but most politician or people in power in indo have too high of a gengsi anyway..they cannot be wrong. Too bad for Indo. It's been merdeka for a long long time...but really, our resources are being taken away, brightest brains are gone, our goverment cares mroe about lining own pockets than helping the poor. what the world can learn from this is that install a religious centre in your government, then you can do anything you want while keeping the general populace under control by punnishing those that oppose you with blasphermy to your religion.

[elleX0]

CAN "SECULARISM" and "Democracy" and "Islam" go together" Prove it.