Is democracy in Indonesia an alternative to religion?
Ignas Kleden , Jakarta | Wed, 03/05/2008 2:16 AM | Opinion When you talk with people at a district level in Indonesia about democracy, you might be surprised if someone stands up during discussions and asks, “is a democratic system an alternative to religion?” Of course, we are all well aware that most Indonesian communities are still very religiously-oriented, but this remains a serious question. People believe religion has provided them with sufficient guidance on how to behave in private and public life, so why should they listen to an outsider telling them what democracy is all about or how people can live and act as good citizens? As naive as this question may seem, it should be dealt with carefully otherwise suspicion about democracy may arise, causing unnecessary commotion. We can respond firstly by answering “no”, but then further explanation is needed. This anecdote may not demonstrate so much the need to talk clearly about democracy, as the need to find suitable metaphors and
