A Religious Moderation Seminar in Kebumen Village, led by UIN Walisongo Semarang students, promoted harmony among diverse faiths. The seminar, featuring lecturer Winarto, emphasized national commitment, tolerance, and anti-violence. It aimed to enhance community understanding and maintain interfaith relations.
goodnewsfromstudent.com – The Religious Moderation Seminar organized by the KKN Moderasi Beragama Posko 57 students from UIN Walisongo Semarang has concluded, (27/07/2024). The event took place at the Kebumen Village Hall and was attended by village officials, community leaders, NU leaders and its autonomous bodies, Anshor, Fatayat, IPNU, IPPNU, and the Muhammadiyah leader.
The seminar, themed “Building Harmony in Kebumen Village through Interfaith Moderation,” aimed to foster understanding and awareness among the predominantly Muslim community in Kebumen about maintaining harmony and interfaith relations.
The seminar featured Winarto, a lecturer from UIN Walisongo Semarang, as the main speaker. He emphasized that religious moderation is a broad concept, applicable to all religions in Indonesia, not just Islam. It also intersects with various governmental and village-level programs, including education. For instance, religious moderation courses are now part of the curriculum in higher education institutions.
“Religious moderation is a commitment to the nation. Every citizen should love their homeland, ‘Hubbul Wathon Minal Iman.’ Differences are natural and complementary. The concept of religious moderation has been present since the inception of Islam,” Winarto explained.
Winarto also highlighted the principle of Bhineka Tunggal Ika, unity in diversity, which is not only a nationalist concept but also a religious teaching. “Acknowledging differences enriches the atmosphere in Kebumen Village,” he added.
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Religious moderation connects religion with the state, showing that both can coexist. Devotion to the state can be expressed through religious practices. The sources of religious moderation in Islamic theology come from KH. Hasyim Asy’ari’s works and the At-Tauhid book by Abu Mansyur Al-Maturidzi.
Key indicators of Religious Moderation include: (1) Commitment to the nation, (2) Tolerance and mutual respect, (3) Anti-violence, and (4) Respect for traditions.
Following the seminar, it is hoped that the community’s understanding of the importance of tolerance will improve, allowing for moderate religious practices without leaning too far to the right or left.
