Tolerance and religious freedom

Abstract

The topics we would be discussing on this session concerning the tolerance and religious freedom. We hope this discussion would be discovering some new idea to promote spirit of tolerance and religious freedom signified with mutual-understanding and togetherness to solve the problem of society based on the teaching of each religion, Christian and Islam. Since sixties, in Indonesia religious dialogue meetings organized by govermnent had been performed several times. The dialogues were intended to find solution against the tension and conflict of religious adherents of that time, especially between Islam and Christian. But unfortunately, the dialogues were unable and uneffective to discover the best solution. It is used to he acknowledged that the results of the dialogues appeared only ,at the surface, whereas the inner tensions of religious adherents had not been extinguished. Indonesian government (new order rezim) succeeded to create the apparent peaceful condition, but religious sentiment has been continuing which it is easy to be provoked. Like dried grass, it is easy to be burnt, religion is a very sensitive thing manipulated by a certain person to stir up social disturbance for his own benefit. The conflicts (war) happened in Moluccans and Poso and destruction of hundreds churches and in many mosques in recent some years be indication of religious life in Indonesia . .Although we certainly know that diturbances and problems had not been formed the background of religions, but it could not been denied that religious issues inflamed all incidents.