Devrinho Julliard, Izak Lattu, Tony Tampake

Respon Gereja Terhadap Isu Etnisitas dan Agama dalam masyarakat Multikultural

Introduction

Respon gereja terhadap isu etnisitas dan agama dalam masyarakat multikultural. Kaji peran Gereja dalam menyikapi isu etnisitas dan agama di masyarakat multikultural, termasuk politik identitas dalam Pilkada DKI Jakarta. Gereja miliki suara profetik untuk transformasi sosial dan kerukunan.

Abstract

Rejection of leaders of different religions, ethnicities and so on is the main in the 2017 DKI Jakarta Governor Election, especially narratives of indigenous and non-indigenous sentiment. The church should take a role in responding to this problem. The research method that the author will use in this paper is the qualitative method of descriptive analysis. The author will also analyze the problem of why ethnicity is used as a political tool and will explore how the issue of ethnicity occurs in Indonesia and the functional role of the church in seeing this. This research uses theories about identity politics, religion in the public sphere by Habermas, Talcott Parsons' structural functionalism and Hendropuspito's religious functionalism. In a social society, of course religion as a social institution has a role and function in responding to situations that occur around it. The church does not mean being silent but has a prophetic voice to respond to this. This shows an important transformative role, namely instilling the value of renewing understanding in church members and the surrounding community about the importance of living together in a multiethnic society.

Review

The paper "Respon Gereja Terhadap Isu Etnisitas dan Agama dalam masyarakat Multikultural" addresses a critically relevant and timely topic concerning the role of the church in navigating the complexities of ethnicity and religion within a multicultural society. The abstract effectively highlights the urgency of this issue, referencing the divisive narratives of the 2017 DKI Jakarta Governor Election, which saw the weaponization of ethnic and religious sentiments. This foundational problem underscores the necessity for social institutions, particularly religious ones like the church, to actively engage with and respond to such societal rifts, moving beyond passivity to embrace a more proactive and prophetic stance. The proposed methodology, qualitative descriptive analysis, appears appropriate for delving into the nuanced dynamics of identity politics and religious engagement in the public sphere. The abstract outlines a robust theoretical framework, integrating identity politics with key sociological perspectives from Habermas's "religion in the public sphere," Talcott Parsons' structural functionalism, and Hendropuspito's religious functionalism. This multi-faceted theoretical approach holds promise for a comprehensive analysis of why ethnicity becomes a political tool, how these issues manifest in Indonesia, and crucially, the functional role of the church. The intention to explore the church's prophetic and transformative voice, particularly in instilling values of renewal and coexistence, positions the research to offer significant insights into practical religious leadership. This research is poised to make a valuable contribution by articulating a clear framework for the church's engagement in fostering social cohesion amidst ethnic and religious polarization. The emphasis on the church's transformative role, moving beyond mere silence to actively renewing understanding among its members and the wider community, is particularly compelling. To further strengthen its impact, the paper would benefit from a more explicit outline of the specific mechanisms or strategies through which the church can operationalize this "prophetic voice" and "transformative role." While the abstract sets a strong theoretical foundation, future iterations could also briefly hint at the empirical data sources or specific case studies (beyond the initial mention of the DKI election) that will be analyzed to substantiate its arguments. Nevertheless, this abstract lays the groundwork for a timely and important study with considerable potential for informing both theological reflection and practical interfaith and interethnic dialogue.

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