The Experience of Indonesian Religion-State Relations Gained Attention in Vietnam

IL News 028/2019

Hanoi, December 5^th, 2019.

Vietnam is looking for the right relationship between state and religion. The “Secularism, Secularity And Religious Life In Southeast Asia Societies” conference in Hanoi on December 5th, 2019 was one of the efforts. The event was jointly held by Brigham Young University (BYU), the United States, and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Vietnam. As one of the speakers, Matius Ho, Executive Director of the Leimena Institute, delivered Indonesia’s experience in managing religion, state and community relations, using the multiple secularisms approach developed by Alfred Stepan. Indonesia’s experience gained great attention because it was seen as a large country that was capable to manage its religious diversity, despite the challenges faced. The conference was attended by researchers from the United States, India, Singapore and Vietnam. The event was opened by Prof. Nguyen Van Kim, USSH Deputy Chancellor, and Prof. Brett Scharffs, Director of the International Center for Law and Religion.