Mohammad Jailani

A Neuroscience-Based Model for Developing Religious Moderation: The Perspective of Muhammadiyah Ulama’s Living Fatwas During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Introduction

A neuroscience-based model for developing religious moderation: the perspective of muhammadiyah ulama’s living fatwas during the covid-19 pandemic in indonesia. Neuroscience-based model for religious moderation, analyzing Muhammadiyah ulama's fatwas during Covid-19 in Indonesia. Links cognitive & affective brain processes to moderate attitudes.

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has created new dynamics in religious practice, particularly in the tension between spirituality and adherence to health protocols. Lockdown policies that restricted public worship activities, such as the closure of mosques and prayer rooms, triggered various responses, including the narrative “fearing hell more than Covid-19.” This article argues that the development of moderate religious attitudes can be conceptually constructed through integrating neuroscience perspectives with the living fatwa of Muhammadiyah scholars during the pandemic. This study employs a qualitative literature-based approach, drawing on key sources concerning religious moderation, Muhammadiyah fatwas related to Covid-19, and relevant literature on neuroscience in Islamic education. Data were analyzed using content analysis methods that emphasize intertextuality and conceptual articulation. The findings indicate that a moderate religious attitude is not merely normative-theological but is also closely linked to cognitive and affective processes in the human brain, as reflected in the practice of living Islam. This study reinforces the importance of fatwas as both an ethical reference and a subject of critical analysis through neuroscience within contemporary Islamic studies. The article contributes to broadening the academic framework of religious moderation through an interdisciplinary approach between Islamic studies and neuroscience.

Review

This article presents a timely and ambitious exploration into the development of religious moderation, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The interdisciplinary approach, integrating neuroscience perspectives with the "living fatwas" of Muhammadiyah scholars, is particularly intriguing and represents a novel angle within contemporary Islamic studies. The abstract clearly articulates a relevant problem – the tension between spiritual devotion and health protocols – and proposes an innovative conceptual framework to address it. The focus on Muhammadiyah ulama’s practical responses offers a valuable grounded context for this theoretical endeavor, promising to contribute meaningfully to discussions on religious adaptive capacity. The methodology, described as a qualitative literature-based approach utilizing content analysis with an emphasis on intertextuality and conceptual articulation, seems appropriate for constructing a theoretical model. However, the core claim of a "neuroscience-based model" for developing religious moderation requires careful and robust development within the paper. While the abstract states that moderate religious attitudes are linked to "cognitive and affective processes in the human brain," the critical question for the full paper will be how precisely these neurological processes are conceptualized and integrated with the theological and practical dimensions of living fatwas. The link between broad neuroscience principles and specific religious moderation practices, especially within the context of Muhammadiyah's interpretive tradition, needs to be meticulously elaborated to avoid a superficial connection. If successfully executed, this study holds significant potential to broaden the academic framework of religious moderation, moving beyond purely theological discussions to incorporate biological and psychological underpinnings. The proposition that fatwas can be both an ethical reference and a subject of critical analysis through neuroscience is a powerful contribution to contemporary Islamic studies. To fully realize its promise, the complete article must provide a detailed conceptualization of the proposed model, clearly illustrating the mechanisms through which neuroscience informs and enriches the understanding of moderate religious attitudes in practice. This interdisciplinary effort has the potential to offer fresh insights into how individuals navigate complex ethical and spiritual dilemmas, making it a valuable addition to the discourse on religion, science, and societal resilience.

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