Faculty of Ushuluddin Champions Religious Inclusivity for an Equitable Indonesia

FU, UIN Online News – UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta's Faculty of Ushuluddin held a Forum and Cultural Oration event titled "Inclusive Religiosity to Build an Equitable Indonesia" on Thursday (June 26). The event, held in the 4th Floor Theater Room, was a collaboration between the Faculty of Ushuluddin and the Nurcholish Madjid Society, bringing together academics and Muslim intellectuals to discuss the importance of inclusivity in religious and national life.

In his remarks, Dean of the Faculty of Ushuluddin, Prof. Drs. Ismatu Ropi, M.A., Ph.D., highly appreciated the event. He underscored the historical and strategic role of the Faculty of Ushuluddin as one of the initial pillars of Islamic higher education in Indonesia.

“We call the Faculty of Ushuluddin a 'founding faculty.' This is one of the first two faculties established by the government in the 1960s, which then gave birth to hundreds of State Islamic universities in Indonesia. So, this faculty can be said to have created many large universities based on religious education,” he explained.

Furthermore, Prof. Ismet – as he is affectionately known – emphasized the urgency of discussing inclusivity in the context of Indonesia's pluralistic society, which often gets trapped in "communal segregation." He expressed concern about the phenomenon of "asymmetrical pluralism," where majority groups dominantly control public spaces, leading minority groups to lose access to policy participation and symbolic representation.

“If the state fails to play a neutral and just role, then social and symbolic segregation can become sharper. The majority will dominate public space, and minority groups will feel marginalized,” he stated.

He also warned that religious symbols excessively accommodated by the state could transform into state orthodoxy, endangering diversity and the spirit of togetherness in national life.

“Therefore, collaboration between campus academics and the Nurcholish Madjid Society is crucial to continue fighting for a neutral and just position. We must be guardians of the balance between rights and obligations in religious life,” Prof. Ismet asserted.

At the end of his remarks, Prof. Ismet highlighted the importance of advocating for the concept of justice and togetherness, accompanied by a fair attitude to maintain the quality of shared life in diversity.

The event featured Yudi Latif, Ph.D., a prominent Muslim scholar in socio-humanities, as the keynote speaker. In his presentation, Yudi was expected to provide philosophical and practical perspectives on the importance of making the principles of justice and equality the foundation of Indonesia's social, political, and religious life.

Also present at the forum was Omi Komaria Madjid, Chairwoman of the Nurcholish Madjid Society's Board of Trustees, who also expressed full support for the event. This synergy between academics and civil society is considered a strategic step to strengthen democracy based on inclusivity and diversity. (M. Najib Tsauri)