Not only civil and religious leaders but also all citizens have the responsibility in promoting values such as tolerance, respect, religious harmony, which strengthen Indonesians in their daily lives. Leaders of several religions of Indonesia made the call on February 27 in the capital Jakarta, during a seminar on “Harmonious and constructive religion that strengthens national life”.

The Vatican’s Fides news agency reported Prof. Syafiq Mughni, president of “Muhammadiyah”, the oldest Islamic organization in Indonesia, as saying that:

Every citizen of the country must contribute to religious harmony in a given situation and find ways to contribute to national life. Only in this way, he said, can the whole country progress. No religion can be used for “destructive purposes in any context and time”, he added. Similar sentiments were expressed by the Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian representatives.

With over 85% of its some 267 million people professing Islam, Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population.  Christians of all denominations make up some 12% of the population.

Most Indonesian Muslims are moderates but the nation’s image as a tolerant nation has been undermined by Islamic radicalism and intolerance in recent years, threatening its unity amidst its diversity.  

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