Fostering Religious Tolerance in West Papua: A Case Study of Muhammadiyah's Higher-educational Institutions

Abstract

This study aims to identify the role of Muhammadiyah's higher-educational institutions in fostering religious tolerance in West Papua. Applying the qualitative method, this research is conducted in three Muham­­­ma­diyah higher-educational institutions in West Papua i.e., Universitas Muham­madiyah Sorong (UM Sorong) Sorong City, Uni­versitas Pendidikan Muham­madiyah Sorong (UNIMUDA) Sorong Regency, and Sekolah Tinggi Keguruan dan Ilmu Pen­didikan (STKIP) Muham­ma­diyah Manok­wari. The results showed that Muham­ma­diyah’s higher-educational institutions are inclusive in terms of spiritual understanding. In fostering religious tolerance there are three approaches taken by the three Muhammadiyah higher-educational institutions in West Papua: 1) social approach, 2) cultural approach, and 3) excellent service approaches. The strategies implemented the role includes: 1) dissem­ina­ting Muham­madiyah’s vision and mission, 2) inculcating tolerance values since the beginning of students joining Muham­madiyah higher-educational institutions, 3) strengthening tolerance value by lecturing processes, conducting, sharing sessions both formally and informally, and 4) empowering student activity units and other facilities that support multicultural student interaction processes.