News Photos (9/2014)

IL News 026/2014

How is the religion and state relation? What are the forms of religious radicalism and their causes? How should the church respond? These are some of the issues addressed in the keynote speech by Dr. Paul Marshall, Leimena Institute’s Senior Fellow, accompanied by Dr. Budi Setiamarga, Leimena Institute’s Director of Center for Policy Analysis, in a seminar with leaders of the Maluku Protestant Church (GPM), held by the church’s Synod in Ambon, Maluku province, on October 10, 2014. The keynote speech was then discussed by Dr. Hasbollah Toisuta (Rector of the State Institute for Islamic Studies in Ambon), Rev. Dr. MM Hendriks-Ririmasse (GPM church), and participants, moderated by Rev. Dr. Lies Marantika (Synod’s Vice Chair). The seminar which was opened by the Synod’s Chairman, Rev. Dr. John Ruhulesin, was part of the preparation for the 37th General Assembly of the Maluku Protestant Church Synod in November 2014.

The growth of religious radicalism in different parts of the world has become a serious concern for many countries, not only Indonesia. Education has to become a means to counter radicalism, and to foster religious tolerance and freedom. In line with this, the State College for Christian Studies (STAKN) in Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur province, invited Dr. Paul Marshall of the Leimena Institute to give a lecture on the “Deradicalization in Religious Life” on October 23, 2014. The lecture was attended by the graduate students and opened by the college’s Rector, Harun Y. Natonis, M.Si.

In order to understand Indonesia further and share the research on religious freedom in the book “Silenced”, Dr. Paul Marshall, together with Leimena President Jakob Tobing and Director Matius Ho, went to Jombang, East Java, to have a discussion with K.H. Salahuddin Wahid, Head of the Tebuireng Islamic boarding school, on October 14, 2014 (above). House of Love’s Chair, Hana Ananda, also joined this trip. Then on October 24, 2014, Dr. Paul Marshall and Matius Ho, accompanied by Rev. Boy Takoy of the Timor Evangelical Christian Church (GMIT), visited the Tarbiyah (Islamic education) College in Kupang, to meet with the college’s Rector, Dr. Umar Ali (below).