Hoax and Religion

Hoaxes are lies intended to deceive and cheat people. They can be fatal if the hoaxes put people in an unfortunate situation. It is even worse if the hoaxes are created to provoke friction and conflicts between societal groups, such as those that occurred in Ambon and Maluku in 1999.

The most tragic was certainly the fate of Iraq due to the hoax that Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, had declared Iraq to possess weapons of mass destruction, which led to the US’ attack on Iraq without United Nations approval.

Until the war ended, and the condition in Iraq had been destroyed, there is no proof what Powell had said. Iraq is in a sad state today as a victim of a hoax.

The legendary creator of hoaxes was Adolf Hitler, the leader of Germany’s Nazi Party. In 1939, on national radio, Hitler broadcast a speech that the German army had been attacked by Polish troops at 5:45 a.m., and he promised to retaliate.

It was finally revealed in the end that the report was a hoax that was deliberately created to set a pretext for Hitler\'s ambition and desire to invade Poland.

If we visit Auschwitz, we will witness the monument to the atrocities the Nazis committed there.

More vicious than murder

These two examples and many others remind me of the word of God in the Qur\'an, that slander is more vicious and more dangerous than murder. Killing is a sin and at the same time, a crime. In certain cases and contexts, slander – one form of which is a hoax – has many more victims than murder. The perpetrators and victims of a murder are more easily narrowed down. However, hoaxes that are deliberately spread to deceive the masses could have a massive number of victims.

Hoaxes are like an airborne virus that reproduces uncontrollably to form countless multiples. Moreover, the hoaxes intentionally used to poison the people’s minds and feelings are "bred" using sophisticated technology with unlimited costs. This is a very likely possibility and is done by politicians to win a regional election or a general election. Hoaxes then morph into an industry of lies among cheap or low-class political networks.

The hoax product sells well and is easily consumed by people with low education, especially if the hoax comes with a label that carries a religious nuance.

A social psychology study says that a tired and fanatical society is more easily consumed by hoaxes when the hoaxes’ content aligns with their beliefs and offers hope of a better life.

War of hoaxes

Heading toward the general election, the hoax virus has been released into broadcast traffic through social media. Ordinary people do not know who produces them, nor do they know where these hoax producers are. Whether they are political activists or simply others just looking for money and filling orders, again, the people do not know.

I have heard it said that activists and hoax creators actually know each other, but they work for different bosses. They intentionally create fictitious warfare on social media solely to increase their income and gain personal gratification when their deceptive products are consumed by the public and become a topic of discussion on television.

In the context of religious ethics and scientific ethics, hoaxes are clearly a crime. In the academic world, plagiarism is a sinful lie. Therefore, when quoting opinions, people must include footnotes on their source. In the scientific tradition, it is normal to forgive as long as they honestly admit to their mistake. Lying is strictly forbidden.

In religion, too, slander is a great sin. However, this ethical principle appears to be very weak in politics. To a certain extent, some jokes in the political sphere may still be accepted; politicians must not be in the wrong and look stupid. To cover up their mistakes and stupidity, they tell lies if necessary so as not to be humiliated before the people. They do not hesitate to lie to win, even if they sacrifice their moral values and religious teachings and divide society.

Intelligent and dignified politics

Speaking of intelligent and ethical politics is no utopia for us, because this nation once had intellectuals who consistently maintained high ethical standards. Politicians like Soekarno, Hatta, Nasir, Roem, Soekiman, Agus Salim and their peers were politically intelligent and dignified. They differed in religion and ideology, but did not spread hoaxes or use slander to bring down their opponents.

Lately, social media is full of religious preachers. Of course, this is a positive development. However, twisting and manipulating religion solely to brainwash people is also a hoax, because it has a hidden agenda. The glory of religion is brought down. We are invited to enter, through gadgets, the labyrinth of political gossip that is unenlightening, fetid and non-educational. The reality of a world that is vast, complex and beautiful is squeezed to fit the frame of a device, so we are cut off from the authentic and empirical world and instead enter a post-truth courtyard. We yammer on, debating pseudo-truths. (Komaruddin Hidayat, Lecturer, School of Psychology, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University)