Political theology: how God’s law is applied in the context of Indonesian democracy based on Pancasila

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyse the experience of Indonesian Muslims in formulating a democratic political system that is able to combine the sovereignty of God with the sovereignty of people by focusing on how sharia law as God law be practiced democratically in Indonesia. Through qualitative research in the form of case study, this research finds that the ability of Indonesia to combine God’s sovereignty and people sovereignty is achieved through continuous discourses, dialogues and negotiation base on the acceptance of the principle of pluralism, inclusivism (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika) and Pancasila as the state ideology. In line with this principle, Indonesia provides freedom for Muslims to choose Islamic law (sharia) which is practiced individually, while at the level of public policy, the state chooses a number of opinions in Islamic law that are in line with the spirit of Pancasila and the constitution, eclectically. So, in practicing Islamic law, God’s sovereignty is placed at the theological or metaphysical level, while at the practical level, it is the people who hold the highest sovereignty through what is called democratic sharia. So, in practice, ideology based on religion is placed as a sub-ideology of Pancasila. While democratic Pancasila was broadly accepted, the remaining problem is how human rights and civil liberty able to be fully protected.