Ethnic Conflict In Indonesia

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Indonesia is often perceived as an Islamic state due to its large Muslim population, but it is home to a diverse population that practices many religions. Indonesia has often remained a peaceful country despite its problems. However, the recent tensions among the Muslims and the Christians have escalated to a level where both faiths find themselves on the offense as well as the defense. For many decades, the Muslims and Christians were able to live side by side, among many other faiths. This paper will look at what has caused tension between these two peaceful groups. It will focus on if whether or not Islamic ideology has destabilized the nation of Indonesia. It will examine the religious tensions in Maluku, as well as Poso; the two areas highly affected by religious war. The purpose of this paper is to examine the origins of the religious conflict because it is often questioned how religious war could break out in a country where various faiths have been able to live together harmoniously for many years. It will investigate and demonstrate the causes of the sudden hostility among the different ethnicities. The ethnic conflict among the Muslims and the Christians was not triggered by religious hatred, but was the result of the need for or lack of power, both at an individual level and at a group level. It is important to understand how the people of Indonesia have lived together peacefully for so long. Indonesia is a land where Muslims constitute the majority. Many North Americans are unfamiliar with the fact that Indonesian Muslims highly value democracy and often argue that Islam and democracy are highly compatible. In fact, Muslims have defended democracy as a just political structure because it works in accordance with the teachings of their faith.[1] Indonesians regard Islam to encompass principles of humanism, justice, universal brotherhood and

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