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IL News 004/2015
A Public Lecture in Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University (UIN) and A Discussion with JAKATARUB
Bandung, February 25th, 2015
A public lecture by Dr. Paul Marshall (Senior Fellow Leimena Institute – Indonesia and Hudson Institute – USA) for around 70 students from Islamic State University (UIN) Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung was held on Wednesday, 25th of February from 1 to 3 pm at the UIN’s Graduate School. The lecture, moderated by Dwi Maria Handayani, MTh. from Bandung Theological School, discussed about “The Dynamics of Religious Living in Various Countries in The World” which highlighted issues regarding religious restrictions that happens around the world and has impacted many aspects of life.
One of the interesting topics of this lecture was that, based on the research by Hudson Institute in 2007, the existence of religious freedom will bring many beneficial impacts in a country, among them are the increase of consolidated democracy, the development in education and health, the increase of citizen’s income, a healthier freedom of press, and a more creative and innovative economic activity. It was also emphasized that oppression in the name of religion will in fact diminish all those beneficial impacts. This lecture was followed by an interesting Q&A session.
A discussion with Network for Interfaith Community (JAKATARUB) in collaboration with the Pasundan Christian Church Synod with Leimena Insitute, was held on Wednesday, 25th of February from 7 to 9 pm in the Meeting Room of Al Mubarak Mosque in Bandung. Dr. Paul Marshall was the resource person in the discussion. JAKATARUB is an independent interfaith network centered in Bandung that aims to promote tolerance and harmony in Indonesia’s interfaith society in order to strengthen the civil society in Indonesia. The discussion, moderated by Budi Setiamarga from Leimena Institute, was attended by around 30 people from various religious backgrounds, i.e. Moslems, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Confucians, and traditional West Java religion Sunda Wiwitan. Many issues of religious freedom in Indonesia and other countries were discussed. This discussion was drawn to a close with a hope that the religious living in Indonesia will become better and more harmonious among the Indonesia’s interfaith society.