43 “growing better than in other countries”, making Indonesia a model for countries regarding religious tolerance. Jusuf Kalla’s expression reveals the Indonesian government’s formal policy on the issue of religious tolerance. However, the statement belies the actual situation because of the ongoing discrimination, harassment, and inequality against minority religions. In Indonesia Islam is the dominant religion. Journalist Andreas Harsono reported that since 2000, there have been more than twenty legal cases of discrimination against religious minorities, including Christianity. This has caused some Indonesians, to adopt an atheistic stance, for self-protection. There is a growing sense of disillusionment among some Christians who feel abandoned by God and perceive no assistance or protection from their faith in times of oppression. Many are increasingly distancing themselves from the Christian community, identifying instead with nonbelievers due to the lack of perceived salvation or support. In Indonesia, a country with one of the world's largest populations and the second-largest Muslim majority, religious discrimination against Christians remains widespread, despite nearly 69 years of independence. This discrimination stems from a lack of understanding of religious tolerance, with Muslims often opposing the establishment of Christian places of worship and religious activities causing a rise in atheism. Etienne Borne argues that atheism arises when people acknowledge the concept of an ultimate God but reject belonging to any particular religion. He describes religion as an "alpha privatum," a belief that is private and not necessarily meant to be publicly revealed. Religious Discrimination in Indonesia The regulation of religious freedom in Indonesia has fluctuated with each presidential administration. After President Soeharto's fall in 1998, Abdurrahman Wahid, former leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, championed religious freedom and openness, allowing Indonesians the right to freely practice and express their faith. However, during the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) from 2004-2014, the approach to religious freedom changed. The national government largely refrained from intervening in local governments' regulation of religious freedoms, leaving the control of religious expression to local authorities. This decentralization made life more difficult for religious minorities, especially in regions where Muslims are the majority, where restrictions on the freedom to practice faith became more pronounced. Under SBY's leadership, the semi-official Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) gained significant influence over religious matters. In 2005, MUI issued fatwas (religious rulings) banning interfaith activities, such as interfaith prayer, mixed marriages, interfaith inheritance, as well as
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