The concept of religious pluralism in Indonesia: A study of the MUI's fatwa and the debate among Muslim scholars

Abstract

In 2005 The Council of Indonesian Ulama (MUI) issued a controversial fatwa. The fatwa states that it is prohibited for Muslims to develop the ideas of religious pluralism. The fatwa had provoked heat debate among Indonesian Muslim scholars. For the opponent of the fatwa, the modern Indonesian state should be supported by the ideas of pluralism. They are disappointed with the fatwa, since it would diminish religious pluralism in Indonesia. On the other hand, the protagonist of the fatwa said that the MUI has done good decision. The ideas of pluralism are seen by them would threaten Islamic faith. They believed that those who campaigned for the idea of pluralism are the agent for "western" interest. The debate regarding the MUI's fatwa banning Muslims to adopt pluralism ideas indicates that the concept of pluralism campaigned by some Muslim scholars is not monolithic. This paper would like to explore various conceptions of religious pluralism among Indonesian Muslim scholars.