Indonesian Catholics and Muslims Stay at Arms Length Solo, 14 Feb. (AKI) - Christians in Indonesia, in the past subject to attacks blamed on Muslim militants are increasingly uneasy with the tense situation and protests triggered by the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Yet in Central Java, the heartland of radical Islam in the country, Catholics and Muslims live together peacefully but always keeping their distance. "Every day we live with our Muslim brothers peacefully but we cannot say that we talk with them all or that we are as one," Father Aloys Endradarjana, 69, the parish priest of St Peter's Catholic church in Solo, Central Java, told Adnkronos International (AKI).
It's 12.30 pm and Father Endradarjana has just finished saying mass. Some of the young church-goers move to an area of the church where there is a ping-pong table. Others return home, many of them taking the becak or tri-shaw, the convenient mode of tansport found in almost every corner of Indonesia. "For me, it's not important if the clients are Christian or Muslims. It's important that we don't speak about religion," said becak-rider Ardil, who like most Muslims in Indonesia goes by just one name. St. Peter's is one of the five Catholic churches in Solo where there are about 25,000 Catholics. Most of the other 500,000 residents of the city are Muslims, with countless mosques as testament to their capillay presence. The two communities live peacefully side by side even if the level of dialogue is not the same with everyone, explained father Endradarjana. "Islam here covers the entire spectrum, from moderate to extreme," said Endradarjana. "We have no contact with the radicals but we also have no problems," he said. Among the representatives of radical Islam in the area is the Islamic college, Al Mukmin Ngruki, where about 1500 students of various age groups study. The college became famous as it was founded by the cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, who is believed to be the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, the terrorist group fighting for the creation of an Islamic state in southeast Asia that is al-Qaeda's arm in the region. About 30 terrorists who have carried out some of the attacks in Indonesia in the last few years have also studied at the college. "We have tried to initiate a dialogue with Ngruki but we have had no reply as yet," said Father Endradarjana, adding that in any case the relations are cordial. Those at the Al Mukmin Ngruki college agree with his assessment of the relations. "We have no direct contacts but no one in Solo would throw a stone to a church," Noor Hadi, a language professor at Al Mukmin Ngruki college told AKI. In their everyday life, the religious differences are not a problem for Johana Maria Kusuma, 24, whose family has been Catholic for generations. "To live as a Catholic in Solo is not a problem," said Kusuma. "I have many Muslim friends, we work together, we go out and we have fun," she said. However there are limitations to the type of relationship she will have with a Muslim. "But I would not marry a Muslim, that would be difficult," she told AKI. The Indonesian constitution refers to the concept of Pancasila, which recognises religious freedom. Aside from Catholicism and Islam, the other authorised religions are Protestanism, Buddhism and Hindusim. Being an athiest is not allowed. For a Muslim, it is forbidden to marry a non-Muslim. Religious tolerance is currently a hot topic in Indonesia which has recently been not only been affected by tensions between Muslims and Christians but also among various pro-Islamic groups. Franz Magnis Suseno, a Catholic priest and one of the more authoritative commentators of inter-religious ties, recently said that Christians are scared and asked if they have a future in Indonesia, where more than 85 percent of the 230 million residents are, at least nominally, Muslims. Din Syamsuddin, the president of the Muhammadiyah, the second Islamic organisation of the country with 25 million subscribers, said that for Muslims and Christians to live peacefully, they have to keep at bay their own "expansionist" natures. Proselytising is deemed a duty by both the religions, that see it as the only sure way towards the salvation of the soul. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/aYWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Milis Wanita Muslimah Membangun citra wanita muslimah dalam diri, keluarga, maupun masyarakat. Situs Web: http://www.wanita-muslimah.com ARSIP DISKUSI : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanita-muslimah/messages Kirim Posting mailto:wanita-muslimah@yahoogroups.com Berhenti mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Milis Keluarga Sejahtera mailto:keluarga-sejahtera@yahoogroups.com Milis Anak Muda Islam mailto:majelismuda@yahoogroups.com This mailing list has a special spell casted to reject any attachment .... Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanita-muslimah/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
