Politics and Dissatisfaction with the Government Linked to Religious Issues

Many people don't understand about countries and religions. This leads to wrong thinking.

KOMPAS/REGINA RUKMORINI

The seminar with the theme "Religion and State: In Contemporary Indonesian Discourse"; which was held by UII Yogyakarta, Tuesday (30/4/2024).

SLEMAN, KOMPAS — Many people lack a correct understanding of the concepts of state and religion. This makes the situation even more chaotic because they then easily link all unpleasant situations to issues of the state and religion.

Academic figure and politician Mahfud MD said that some time ago a number of people were dissatisfied with the results of the 2024 elections and considered the ongoing democratic process to be a dirty democracy. They then commented that this situation was a sign that the Indonesian state had to change its concept of government to become a caliphate state.

"It is considered that bad democracy must be overcome by changing the concept of the state to a caliphate state. "In fact, these two things are clearly completely unrelated," said Mahfud in his presentation as key speaker at the national seminar with the theme "Religion and State a>: In Contemporary Indonesian Discourse" at the Integrated Campus of the Indonesian Islamic University (UII) on Jalan Kaliurang Km 14.5, Ngemplak District, Sleman Regency, DIY, Tuesday (30/4/2024).

The confusion in thinking, according to Mahfud, is suspected to occur because many people actually lack an understanding of the concept of a khilafah state. They also do not know that in a country that implements the khilafah concept, there is still potential for many deviations and legal violations, which can even be worse than non-khilafah states.

KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN

A number of interfaith figures walk together towards the Proclamation Monument to voice concern about the nation's living situation, 18 October 2011.

Also read: Ramadan, Constitutionalization of Religion, and Authentic Statehood

One of the essential requirements to realize good and proper nation building, added Mahfud, is actually just enough to uphold morals and ethics, good teachings from religion, including when carrying out legal activities. However, unfortunately, that is very difficult to achieve in the present time.

"Moral and ethics have completely been detached from legal activities. It is evident that everything can be arranged and regulated by legal provisions, which can be easily purchased," he said.

Prolific columnist and writer in various media, Sukidi, explained that morals and ethics in Indonesia have now collapsed.

This can be seen, among other things, from the attitude of religious and spiritual leaders who should be spreading and reminding about the teachings of moral goodness of religion and ethics, but instead are quiet and silent, facing the situation of the democracy decline that plagued the country and the nation during the past election.

Therefore, he said, religion, which should bring an injection of goodness, actually feels distant from state life.

"Religion is only something that we can find in places of worship such as mosques, prayer rooms and churches," he said.

Also read: Religion in Nation-State Architecture

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The Forum for a Peaceful Indonesia held a press conference calling for a peaceful Indonesia in the 2024 elections at the Oikoumene House of the Fellowship of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Jakarta, on Monday (5/2/2024).

Professor at Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW) in Yogyakarta, Tabita Kartika Christiani, stated that in an ideal concept, religion and state should be partners, together realizing goodness in community living, nation-building, and governance.

In this concept, religious figures should be able to serve as reminders or bring the voices of prophets into national life. However, this is not happening in the present time as well.

"Whether what is being brought now are the voices of genuine prophets or the voices of false prophets," he said.

The writer and activist from the Freedom Institute, Hamid Basyaib, stated that there are still many religious values and teachings that deserve to be questioned and studied correctly.

However, in the midst of this situation of misunderstanding, religion is often withdrawn, becoming associated with political affairs.

"Religion that is associated with politics actually has a negative impact on both. Religion becomes corrupt and politics becomes even dirtier," he stated.

Morals and ethics have completely separated from legal activities.

Professor of Islamic Law in the Field of Islamic Fiqh, Faculty of Sharia and Law, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta, Masykuri Abdillah, said that religion is an important component in realizing human security or personal security for every human being, it can help protect everyone from fear. and discomfort.

Therefore, religious figures are also expected to help spread the ideas and teachings of religious benevolence, as part of an effort to quell conflicts between humans.

"Unfortunately, currently there are still many conflicts, and even conflicts in the name of religion," he said.