The Epistemic Discourse of Religious Moderation (Moderasi Beragama) in Indonesia

Abstract

Since its early beginning, the “Religious Moderation” (Moderasi Beragama) has been a disputed controversy in the making of its epistemic discourses among parties of religious authorities of Islamic organisations, particularly Nahdlatul Ulama (N.U.), Muhammadiyah, and Islamic-based political parties. The issues following controversies are political bias due to the principles of Religious Moderation that are close to the characteristics of Islam Nusantara (Archipelagical Islam) of Nahdlatul Ulama, the close ally of the ruling regime. This research discusses the epistemic discourse of Religious Moderation based on the genealogical studies of Michel Foucault. Joko Widodo's administration constructed "Religious Moderation" as a system of knowledge and political ethics, even a “state ideology” in maintaining a peaceful religious life and articulating Indonesian Islam. This research reveals that "Religious Moderation" epistemically refers to ethical values for Indonesian politics concerning the nature of Indonesian history and its societal identities of diversity (Kebhinekaan), ethnicity, religion, languages, and beliefs, including varieties of Indonesian Islam. Nahdlatul Ulama and Joko Widodo's administration share the same interests in maintaining a peaceful religious life and nationalism.