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emphasize that their religion was the that were simultaneously developing these activities were organized by the to law in 1969. Other, similar policies
best, but at the same time admit that outside the state’s bureaucracy, for Indonesian Conference on Religion were issued to regulate religious
many similarities exist between religions instance, Nurcholish Madjid (Cak Nur)’s and Peace (ICRP) headed by Johan adherents’ coexistence. Some policies,
rather than only look at the differences. ideas about secularization and religious Efendi, who was one of Mukti Ali’s including the Joint Decree of the
This religious attitude is called “to agree pluralism. Cak Nur’s ideas of the renewal junior colleagues when he studied in Minister of Religious Affairs and the
in disagreement”. 14 of Islamic theology were directly or Yogyakarta. Minister of the Interior number 01/BER/
indirectly institutionalized by Mukti Ali’s mdn-mag/1969 on the implementation
The keyword for religious harmony policies, whereas Mukti Ali’s concept of Apart from institutional dialogues, other of government officials’ tasks to assure
is dialogue. By having dialogues an a nation-based religious dialogue were models were undertaken in the Islamic the orderly and smooth implementation
attitude of mutual respect between theologically and culturally supported world, including Indonesia, such as of the right of the religion adherents to
religious communities would be by the dissemination of Cak Nur’s ideas parliamentary and theological dialogues, perform their religion ceremonies and
awaken. The reason is that dialogue is on the introduction of new meanings in dialogues of life, and spiritual dialogues. 16 rituals. The Joint Decree of the Minister
a bridge to meet the human need for Islamic doctrine. Parliamentary dialogues generally took of Religious Affairs and the Minister of
mutual recognition, trust, and respect. place at the international level such as the Interior no. 1/1979 on procedures
According to Mukti Ali, within the context Mukti Ali was very serious about inter- in the World’s Parliament of Religions for religious propagation and foreign
of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, religious dialogue and from 1972 to 1977 and during a World Conference on assistance to religious institutes; the
inter-religious dialogue meant that the he organized his program in 21 cities. Religion and Peace (WCRP). Theological Instruction of the Minister of Religious
government had to present a modus Since the beginning of the New Order dialogues are usually organized by Affairs no. 4/1978 on policies regarding
vivendi to enable the various religious period up to the present, inter-religious intellectual organizations such as local belief systems; and the Decree
communities to build mutual respect dialogue programs have continued and Interfidei, Paramadina, LKiS, LP3M, and of the Minister of Religious Affairs no.
and understanding and to realize that even been put on the national agenda. MADIA. Dialogues of life are organized 35/1980 on consultative councils for
they were living together under the Moreover, various non-governmental by study groups and NGOs and held to religious adherents.
umbrella of “nationality”. Mukti Ali organizations also actively organize formulate the handling of practical and
15
used the term “nationality” in order to dialogues for which they invite officially actual matters. Finally, spiritual dialogues Broadly speaking, the program of
promote the pluralism of the nation that recognized religious councils such as tend to deepen the spiritual practices of religious harmony as stated in the
apparently had been disrupted. He did the Indonesian Ulama Council (Majelis religious communities. Basic Guidelines on Religious Life for
not encourage constructing plurality Ulama Indonesia, MUI), Indonesian The Ministry of Religious Affairs’ the year 1985/1986 the government
based on religions or on particular ethnic Churches Communion (Persatuan Gereja coaching program for religious harmony sought 1) to instill the importance
achievements. In his view, the concept of Indonesia,PGI), Bishops’ Conference rested essentially on Presidential of community life in supporting
nationality as stated in the Pancasila was of Indonesia (Konferensi Waligereja Decree no. 1/1965 on the prevention religious harmony; 2) to promote an
environment for and circumstances
Indonesia, KWI), the Parisada Hindu
neutral to specific sectarian interests.
Dharma, and the Indonesian Buddhists of abuse and/or blasphemy, which capable of supporting attitudes and
Mukti Ali believed in the creation of Trustee (Perwalian Umat Budha later became known as Law no. 1/ behavior leading to religious harmony;
harmony in line with the Islamic thoughts Indonesia, WALUBI). In the 1980s, PNPS/1965 after having been promoted 3) to foster and develop attitudes

412 Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives 413