‘Kristen Muhammadiyah’: Managing Religious Pluralism in Education

MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA—The Center for Strategic Studies and Partnerships (LKKS) of Muhammadiyah, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, organized a book review of ‘Kristen Muhammadiyah: Mengelola Pluralitas Agama dalam Pendidikan (Kristen Muhammadiyah: Managing Religious Pluralism in Education)’. This book, which explores the phenomenon of religious pluralism, presents the findings of research conducted by Abdul Mu’ti and Fajar Riza Ulhaq

In the book’s prologue, Muhammadiyah President Haedar Nashir emphasizes that the book aims to raise awareness among individuals that religious, ethnic, racial, and group diversity does not hinder individuals’ ability to make positive contributions to communal life wherever they are.

“Diversity is a beautiful rainbow to live in tolerance, respect, peace, and mutual cooperation to develop each other,” wrote Header.

Moreover, the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim, acting as a keynote speaker of the book review, mentioned that the book is one of the means of people to participate in creating educated environment believing in values of diversity, inclusiveness, freedom from violence, and lifelong learning.

“The notion of tolerance mentioned on the book accords with goals of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. Since three years ago, we have believed that intolerance is violence and should be prevented and overcome besides bullying and sexual harassment,” said Nadiem at the book review conducted at the Office of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology on Monday (22/5).

Ensuring safe and inclusive environments in schools and higher education institutions is crucial for fostering freedom of learning, where individuals of all religions, ethnicities, and social statuses are protected. Hence, the ministry is attempting to create initiatives to prevent and deal with issues of violence at educational institutions.

One of the significant moments in Indonesian education is the issuance of the Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Permendikbudristek) Number 30/2021 on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in Higher Education Institutions.

The other keynote speakers of the book review were Dr. Rustamadji, M.Si (Rector of UNIMUDA Sorong Papua), Prof. Dr. Siti Ruhani Dzuhayatin, M.A. (Senior Expert Staff at the Office of the President of Indonesia), and Anindito Aditomo, Ph.D. (Head of the Education Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment Agency of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology).