Anthon Jason

Just because one could not pronounce one word the same way, resulted in the death of forty-two thousand Ephraimites. This event is recorded in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Judges 12:5-6. The word, “shibboleth”, was used to distinguish the Gileadites and Ephraimites. These two tribes of Israel were at war at the time, and this word became a linguistic test to differentiate between us and them, between friends and enemies. Those who could not pronounce “shibboleth” correctly (saying “sibboleth” instead) were identified as enemies and slaughtered. This ancient practice demonstrates the historical precedent for using language as a tool of identification and exclusion. Throughout history, similar linguistic markers have been employed during conflicts and social tensions to distinguish between insiders and outsiders. This is the historical context of how language polarized society was presented by Dr. Michael R. Quinlan at the CRCS-ICRS Wednesday Forum on February 26, 2025. read more

Photography plays a vital role in bringing people together emotionally and generating deep empathy. Photographs are proficient at touching emotions when highlighting the beauty of religious expressions—such as devotion, celebration, grief, or compassion. Photographs are also masters at fostering empathy when visualizing moments of togetherness—whether in interfaith activities, sharing common spaces, engaging in actions of solidarity, or through everyday engagements.

In other words, images are able to transcend language barriers to convey values and emotions among people of different religions—such as love, hope, devotion, and togetherness. Thus, photographs also perform as bridges: uniting divisions, promoting respect and togetherness in humanity, in a world often divided by religious differences. Therefore, photography can communicate hope and portray the possibility of peaceful coexistence. read more

Balinese Gringsing Weaving is highly respected by the Balinese because, as its name suggests, it wards off calamity. The words ‘gring’ and ‘sing’ combine to signify ‘sick’ and ‘not’ respectively; that ‘gringsing’ simply translates to “not sick.” The woven cloth is often used in wedding ceremonies or religious ceremonies to ward off disease and protect the wearer.

The ‘Gringsing’ woven fabric is particularly produced in Tenganan Pegringsingan Village, Bali, where the technique is unique since it uses double weaving. There are only two other fabrics woven this way; ‘patola’ in India and ‘kurume’ in Japan. Its defining feature is a twofold motif that creates a symmetrical design when expertly intertwined. Due to its complicated design, the production time can reach 2-5 years. read more

Angie Wuysang

Is not God, or however we call God, the Most Infallible?   If that is the case, then why are human beings imprudent enough to limit their concept of understanding God through just one experience?  As we appreciate religions as evolving constructs instead of fixed entities, a new expression of faith is important as it encourages people to learn instead of judging.   So far, established religions have been so centered on a single reference that any factor outside of that reference is considered pagan.  Let us look at a simple example from two major world religions, Christianity and Islam. Many of the iconic images and depictions of Christianity were shaped by European and Western cultures, and this included religious figures being portrayed in ways that reflected the European people of that time, which influenced the global perception of “Christian” appearance.  We also find this in Islamic tradition. As the early centers of Islamic civilization were in the Middle East where Arab culture was dominant, many people still associate Islam with these early cultural markers.  This led to local influences on Islamic and Christian teachings having to deal with the so-called legitimacy. read more

Athanasia Safitri

Cited Syed Hussein Alatas’ definition of corruption as ‘passion for luxurious living’, Dicky Sofjan, MA, MPP., Ph.D, a Core Doctoral Faculty in the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS), expressed his view on ethical and responsible governance in Indonesia. He presented three analytical frameworks explaining the significant challenges to governance in Indonesia: 1) ethical deficit; 2) hyper-rationalism; and 3) elite intransigence.

He shared his insight on a podcast organized by BPIP – Badan Pembinaan Ideologi Pancasila (National Agency for Pancasila Ideology Development) earlier this year in Medan. The podcast series is an effort to promote Pancasila values and collaborate with various stakeholders. Sofjan’s expertise on ethics as well as his active participation as Vice President in Globethics, an international NGO working for ethical leadership through higher education and global engagement, puts a sympathetic perspective on this issue. read more

Hongsok Lee

The large-scale plantation agriculture that began in the colonial era is still practised in the Indonesian archipelago, although the management has changed to large-scale agricultural companies. Colonial plantations in the Dutch East Indies relied heavily on the unfree labour of colonial workers. There are two common explanations for why this was the case. First, because colonial power was absolute, and second, because of the colonialists’ belief that only coercion could free the “lazy natives” from their idleness (Li 2017, 249). Even in today’s Indonesia, indigenous smallholders experience inequality due to the overwhelming difference in capital compared to large-scale agricultural companies. The “lazy natives” frame, used by Western colonialists in the Indonesian archipelago, has also been used by Indonesians since the New Order era to discriminate against indigenous people. Another problem with modern large-scale plantation agriculture is the problem of monoculture, which leads to ecosystem destruction and a lack of biodiversity. These are the challenges facing the Dayak Benuaq community in Kalimantan today. read more

Refan Aditya

‘… we hereby enquire for your participation to display Chinese New Year ornaments such as lanterns and Mei Hwa flowers in the area of your respective offices as a tribute to the devotees of the Confucian religion.’

The words above, including the bolded part, is quoted from a release issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs to religious institutions throughout Indonesia, including State Religious High School (PTKIN). This authorised instruction is none other than to welcome the Chinese New Year or Imlek New Year/Sincia to come. Intriguingly, the bolded word speaks volumes. read more

The issue of waste in Yogyakarta has received attention from various groups. Since the closure of the Piyungan landfill in July 2023, the accumulation of waste in various locations has been expressed through the jargon “Jogja Darurat Sampah” by many groups. The waste generated in Yogyakarta mainly consists of organic waste, plastics, paper, and other recyclables. Organic waste, such as food scraps, makes up a significant portion of the city’s waste. The improper disposal of plastic waste, especially single-use plastics, is another major environmental concern. Additionally, the lack of sufficient public awareness about waste sorting and recycling exacerbates the problem. The government and the community, especially environmental groups and activists, have become increasingly active in finding solutions, both through policy development, awareness-raising campaigns, and concrete actions. read more

Athanasia Safitri

Socio-ecological crises occur inevitably in the small islands of Indonesia. The condition is sometimes not addressed properly by government policy. Underestimating the problem, along with continuous abuse of the land, will eventually harm the earth. It also affects social relationships among the state, the private sector, and the community involved. Approaches have been taken to tackle the problem, including from the perspective of religions.

These issues were discussed during a webinar held by Magister Sosiologi Agama of IAIN Ambon on December 18, 2024, titled Understanding Socio-ecological Crisis of the Small Islands with the Perspective of Religions and Ecology. Mega Rizky Sia of KORA Maluku presented the socio-ecological crisis in the Moluccas islands, Dr. Zainal Bagir of ICRS UGM shared his insights on the relation between religions and environment recovery, while Dr. Saidan Ernas of IAIN Ambon offered Islamic ecotheology to safeguard the nature. read more

David Akbar Hasyemi Rafsanjani

Photography is a powerful art and visual medium for depicting various aspects of life, including religious themes. In the context of religion, photography has an important role in capturing symbols, rituals, and the lives of religious people, and can be a medium to build understanding and tolerance among religious communities, especially in Indonesia. ICRS in collaboration with the Humanities Studies Study Program of Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW) organized a photography discussion “Lintas Agama dari Mata Kamera”. read more