Religion for Humanity

Our world moves fast, but building dialogue requires patience and a gradual
pace

Monday, 13 Feb. 2023, will be remembered as an important day in the history of global interfaith
dialogue and the role Indonesia played in it.

On that day, three religious leaders and humanitarian advocates, namely KH Yahya "Gus Yahya
" Cholil Staquf , Sudibyo Markus, and Cardinal Miguel Ayuso , were granted honorary
doctorates from Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University (UIN), Yogyakarta.

For these figures, having a doctoral status is certainly not very important. What is far more
important is their commitment to dialogue as a building block for humanity in the wake of a
grieving, conflict-torn world. This rare and important meeting of these three figures was more
than just a personal encounter, but also an institutional one, with the three representing the global
power of religion and Indonesia's concern about universal humanity.

Also read:

> Religious Freedom in Peril

> Freedom and Religious Maturity

Cardinal Ayuso represents the Catholic Church, which is actively promoting the engagement and
fraternity of universal humanity under Pope Francis, while also being attentive to marginalized
regions in the world.

The energy of inclusive engagement and commitment also flows from the "womb" of Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU), which promotes Islam as rahmatan lil-alamin , universal mercy and compassion.
As was shown by his predecessor KH Abdurrahman “Gus Dur ” Wahid, adherence to the values
of inclusivity and humanity has driven Gus Yahya to dismantle the boundaries that many parties
and institutions routinely build, constructs that perpetuate the segregation of different groups.

Sudibyo Markus, a former chairman of Muhammadiyah (2005-2010), is a pioneer of the

organization's humanitarian efforts , in his role of advancing humanity and resolving strained
relations between nations, as seen during the peace missions to Mindanao and Gaza.

Religion from self-interest

These three figures represent a dynamic religious person who refuses to be bogged down by
group exclusivity, but is instead motivated to move outwards towards universal life and common
interests.

This movement goes beyond internal theological or doctrinal dogma and opens the perspective
of religious humanism, and in unity, pushes for real humanitarian causes in the world's crises.
Fundamental, theological thinking is certainly important, but it must be directed towards the life
of a public that is plural and agonistic. It should be able to respond to their agony and sorrow.

Iman (religious faith) denotes the act of believing in and doing good deeds, and this cannot work
without commitment to humanity.

Globally, such interfaith commitment is reflected in the Declaration of Human Fraternity for
World Peace and Living Together, which was drawn up in 2019 in Abu Dhabi and signed by
Pope Francis and Ahmed el- Tayeb , the Grand Imam of Al- Azhar . The joint declaration aims
to address humanitarian suffering: refugees, victims of war, the poor, discrimination and
marginalization, especially against women and children.

Iman (religious faith) denotes the act of believing in and doing good deeds, and this cannot work
without commitment to humanity. Theists (people who believe in God) are obliged to show love
to others, humankind as well as all of God's creations. The Abu Dhabi declaration shows the two
figures placing global citizenship in the context and implications of the Islamic and Christian
theologies.

For many people, this kind of religious commitment may not be new, or they may have taken it
for granted. However, this commitment is urgent in the context of today's globalized human
interactions.

In his essay “Death or Glory in Russia”, Slavoj Zizek suggests that the ongoing ideological
madness in Russia today has been driven by a religious fundamentalist movement that openly
glorifies martyrdom to achieve godlike (likeness to or union with God) status.

Of course, this fundamentalist movement has twisted theological deification ( theosis ) in the
Christian tradition. They are tarnishing the nobility of theosis , by which humans feel drawn to
grow towards unity with God. Instead of upholding humanity, says Zizek , Russian propaganda
agents say that human life and values are being exaggerated ( The Jakarta Post 4/2/2023).

Building social dialogue

Gus Yahya , Sudibyo Markus, and Cardinal Ayuso have presented a model of religious
leadership that is enshrined in the Abu Dhabi Declaration, namely adopting the culture of
dialogue as their path, mutual cooperation as their code of conduct, and reciprocal understanding
as their method and standards.

This movement aims to serve as impetus for the development of social dialogue and nationhood
in wider society, as Pope Francis emphatically pronounced in the encyclical Fratelli Tuti .

Social dialogue takes place through social engagement, in which people talk and converse with
each other to recognize and respect their differences in the hope that they grow a sense of unity
to move together in struggling for the common good. Social dialogue will build the basis for a
consensus on pluralism.

The meeting of the three religious figures was brief, but the event could be a very significant
beacon for the future, as it gave rise to social joy and hopefully leveraged gentle empowerment
for further dialogue.

Also read:

> Mirror of Clarity: Remembering Buya Shafie Sorry

> Winding Road of Religious Tolerance

Many people and parties are immersed in the joy reverberating from the UIN Sunan Kalijaga
meeting. This joy was born out of true respect for others, which afterward helped form a "social
covenant", with no one degrading to be degraded, despised, and marginalized.

This event also reminds us of the importance of being civilized, a value of kindness that often
wears away in social interactions, especially when it relates to the political sphere. It is necessary
to look at the significance of this event in a long-term perspective through the encounter's
permeating gentle and invisible power, as Pope Francis expressed in Fratelli Tuti .

Our world moves fast, but building dialogue requires patience and a gradual pace.

Civilization in our world, including Southeast Asia and "Nusantara" (Indonesia), has been
shaped through the long encounters of various cultures and religions. Fruitful encounters coexist
with those that also produce tension. Advocates for dialogue strive to create a broad space that
can continue to override the narrowness of their respective times and contexts. Humanity-
oriented institutions may often be plagued by powerlessness, but they continue to be creative and
committed to the dialogue process.

Our world moves fast, but building dialogue requires patience and a gradual pace.

Complex, long, and restricted social dialogue has been the hallmark of interreligious interactions
in Indonesia. Awarding honorary doctorates to these three figures is meaningful because it
elevates the unique role of Indonesia, with its vast, sprawling and complex society, to continue to
be committed to its framework of unity and humanity in diversity. This is our contribution to the
current globalized world.

Hopefully, this event will make us aware of the diverse religious life in Indonesia and keep us
from the temptation of falling into the recurrent identity politics that plagues us.