Local Wisdom as Social Capital in Developing Religious Tolerance in the City of Semarang

Abstract

This study seeks to elucidate the forms of local wisdom employed by the community in addressing religious diversity in Semarang City, to examine the governmental strategies implemented to sustain interfaith harmony, and to analyse local wisdom as a manifestation of social capital that fosters religious tolerance. Adopting a qualitative descriptive approach, the informants comprised the Head of the Semarang City Interfaith Harmony Forum (Forum Kerukunan Umat Beragama, FKUB), religious leaders, community figures, and residents. The findings reveal that the Semarang City Government maintains interfaith harmony through a combination of regulatory interventions, cultural initiatives, and the strategic optimisation of the FKUB’s role as a mediating institution. Overall, the study concludes that the community’s conception of tolerance extends beyond mere acknowledgement of religious differences; it emphasises mutual respect, reciprocity, and the affirmation of shared civic values as the foundations of peaceful coexistence. Keywords: local wisdom, Semarang, religious diversity, social capital, tolerance