ISLAM NUSANTARA AND PLURALISM AS THE CHARACTERS OF THE NATION

Abstract

Islam Nusantara and pluralism is often assumed as a paradox concept. In contrast, Islam Nusantara is not a madzhab or a new religion but as a Islamic character which covers the tradition and local wisdom that become the distinction from Islam ideology in Middle East countries, which tend to be strict and refuse the local tradition. Pluralism (culture) is also a concept which defines the ideology of power equality in multicultural society, where the power is “equally distributed†among various ethnic groups that encourages reciprocal relationship among them. In the multicultural society, those ethnic groups receive equal rights that can maintain and protect themselves because they can practice their tradition.

In plural society like in Indonesia, the paradigm of dialogal relationship or reciprocal understanding is necessary to cope with negative excesses from the national disintegration’s problem. The reciprocal relationship paradigm in multicultural society requires three norms competency which are cultural, societal, and behavioral norms.

Cultural norm is a collection of knowledge which makes people who are involved in communicative act to be able to make interpretations which can bring a consensus towards something. Societal norm is legal arrangements which make them able to be involved in communicative acts to create genuine solidarity. While behavioral norm is a competence that makes a subject can speak up and take action, and therefore can participate in a process of reciprocal understanding process based on certain context and can maintain their identity through many changing interactions.

Indonesia is a powerful nation with cultural, ethnic, tribe, race, and religion diversity. All those factors make Indonesia a country that can accommodate the diversity becomes strong so that the threat of national disintegration can be avoided.