Studies & Comments 12 Richard Asbeck (ed.) Religious Pluralism Modern Concepts for Interfaith Dialogue Imprint ISBN 978-3-88795-384-3 Publisher Copyright © 2010, Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung e.V., Munich Lazarettstr. 33, 80636 Munich, Tel. +49-89-1258-0 E-Mail: [email protected], online: www.hss.de Chairman Dr. h.c. mult. Hans Zehetmair, State Minister ret., Hon. Senator Managing Director Dr. Peter Witterauf Head of Academy for Prof. Dr. Reinhard Meier-Walser Politics and Current Affairs Head of Press, PR & Internet Hubertus Klingsbögl Editorial Office Prof. Dr. Reinhard Meier-Walser (Editor-in-Chief, V.i.S.d.P.) Barbara Fürbeth M.A. (Editorial Manager) Anna Pomian M.A. (Editorial Staff) Claudia Magg-Frank, Dipl. sc. pol. (Editorial Staff) Marion Steib (Editorial Assistant) Print Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung e.V., Munich All rights reserved, in particular the right to reproduction, distribution and translation. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, microfilm, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. The copyright for this publication is held by the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung e.V. The views expressed by the authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Contents Richard Asbeck Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 Philipp W. Hildmann Faith and reason – requirements for an interreligious dialogue between Christians and Muslims ............................................................................................................. 7 Erdal Toprakyaran The changeability of Islamic principles using the example of pluralism ................................ 19 Günther Beckstein Christianity and Islam: opportunities and limits of interreligious dialogue ............................. 25 Ahmad Syafii Maarif Pancasila: the coexistence of religions in Indonesia ................................................................. 31 Ulrich Klingshirn Nahdlatul Ulama – traditional Islam and religious tolerance ................................................... 37 List of authors ............................................................................................................................ 45 Introduction Richard Asbeck Religious pluralism can be viewed from a strengthen the foundation of religious plu- dogmatic as well as a political perspective.1 ralism. But also the actual application, As an applied dogma, it provides a founda- resulting in an increased social harmony, tion for social harmony among religions. needs to be brought to a wider public. Christianity and Islam have succeeded in this respect to a large extent. As with many The present publication intends to draw at- dogmatic principles, the actual application tention to recent developments, with an em- can result in modifications. In the case of phasis on the interfaith dialogue in Ger- Christianity and Islam, notable dogmatic th many and the modernist Islamic concept of changes were introduced in the 20 century. religious pluralism in Indonesia. It begins On the one hand, the Second Vatican Council with a study by Philipp W. Hildmann on the provided a broad understanding for coexis- requirements for an interreligious dialogue tence between Christianity and Islam. On between Christians and Muslims. Arguing the other hand, modernist Islamic concepts that both religions are inherently intolerant, like the Indonesian Pancasila similarly con- since each faith claims to be the true divine tributed to religious coexistence from the revelation, he proposes to shift interfaith Muslim point of view. These dogmatic dialogue to the domain of secular rational- changes are even more evident, if the long ity. Secular rationality may hence be the time span and the geographic expansion of vehicle of understanding among different both monotheistic religions are taken into faiths. Such an approach has been recently consideration. manifested in mutual declarations by the The encounter between Christianity and Islam Vatican and Iranian Shiite clergy in 2008, has expanded considerably in a globalized which have concluded that "Faith and ration- world. Demographic growth as well as an ality do not contradict each other, but faith ever increasing flow of individuals and in- can sometimes stand above rationality, formation sustains this development. The although it never is in opposition". multitude of exchange and togetherness are hence a persistent test of reality for the two These thoughts on the limitation of an en- monotheistic religions. How inclusive and tirely theological discourse are followed by functional are their concepts, given the a study by Erdal Toprakyaran, who focuses growing interaction between followers of on "The changeability of Islamic principles" both faiths? How adaptable are their con- with respect to religious pluralism. Compar- cepts with respect to societal disparity and ing different historical settings, he sees a variety? Despite the evolutionary trends to- certain relativity of the Islamic dogma and wards modernization and adaptation, we are argues that politically motivated interpreta- currently also experiencing opposite trends. tion had the most significant impact on a Anti-modernist and fundamentalist move- pluralistic reality. Especially the expansion ments have recently begun to question the of Islam to the East, where for instance the principles of religious pluralism in a way that Mogul Emperor Akbar subjected numerous inhibits peaceful coexistence. For this reason, Hindus and Buddhists under Islamic rule, it is important to identify those dogmatic resulted in a rather flexible interpretation of developments which can uncontestedly the concept of ahl al-kitab.2 6 Richard Asbeck Günther Beckstein, who participated in the not only cooperate among themselves, but German-Islam Dialogue as the then Bavarian should also be ready to coexist with and ac- Minister of the Interior, continues on similar commodate non-believers and even atheists, lines. He finds that interfaith harmony lies and vice versa". Again, it is the appraisal of much more "with the people themselves, the "courage to re-think and re-examine the in the willingness of the majority to live to- Qur'an more contextually and freshly", which gether in peace and to engage in a peaceful assures progress for Islamic civilizations, dialogue". Beckstein also sees a promising according to Maarif. Next, Ulrich Klingshirn development in the increasing number of expands the portrayal of Indonesia by depict- interfaith marriages in Germany, which are ing the positive role of the Nahdlatul Ulama in a sense the very fruitful breeding ground (NU) as the largest Islamic mass organiza- for interreligious dialogue. Nevertheless, there tion in Southeast Asia. The focus here lies will always be some problem areas of dis- also with the role of NU as a political player agreement and incompatibility, but these can in Indonesia, which assures the implementa- be overcome by a sense of cooperation and tion of the Pancasila throughout the country. togetherness, as illustrated by the famous But even despite the success of the Pancasila, "Parable of the Three Rings" in Lessing's play which culturally and socially amalgamates "Nathan the Wise". To agree to disagree may Islamic, Javanese and Indonesian traditions, seem to be a quite reconciling attitude, not hardline extremist groups are challenging the only in interpersonal relationships. status quo by striving for an anti-modernist and archaic social order of a bygone era. The remaining two contributions deal with Indonesia. Ahmad Syafii Maarif describes the genesis of Pancasila, which has been The experiences in Indonesia may be an developed over a long period of time as the interesting aspect which could enrich the ideological basis of religious pluralism in current dialogue between the civilizations Indonesia. Coexistence is hereby assured for and the Islam Dialogue in Germany. But Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Buddhists even if the dogmatic discourse does not and Confucianists in the 235 million strong progress, the interpretation of the sources nation in Southeast Asia. Maarif even goes constitutes an ample opportunity for attaining so far as to conclude that "believers should social harmony in a multi-religious society. Notes 1 The publication contains papers presented at a Ulrich Klingshirn have been added as contribu- roundtable discussion on the topic "Religious tions from additional project work by the Hanns Pluralism – Islam and Christianity in the 21st Seidel Foundation in Germany and Indonesia. Century" that was held by the Hanns Seidel ICC is grateful for the publication of the papers Foundation, Institute for International Contact in the series Studies & Comments. and Cooperation (ICC), on 29 July 2010 in Mu- nich. The papers of Philipp W. Hildmann and 2 Monotheistic religions accepted by Islam. Faith and reason – requirements for an interreligious dialogue between Christians and Muslims Philipp W. Hildmann 1. Europe at the crossroads it has to take place on different levels. In this context, the dialogue between the state Relations between the different religious and its Muslim population is a priority. For communities in Europe are of crucial signifi- Germany, this means that the Muslim popu- cance both for the peaceful coexistence of its lation has to acknowledge the