Zulkarnain Zulkarnain

RELIGION AS A MEANS OF RESTORATION: A THEOLOGICAL APPROACH TO TRAUMA AND RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN INDONESIA

Introduction

Religion as a means of restoration: a theological approach to trauma and religious violence in indonesia. Explore religion's role in restoring peace and healing trauma from religious violence in Indonesia. A theological approach challenges secularist stigmas, revealing religion's potential for good.

Abstract

This article advocates for a constructive theological approach, in which theology is employed to interpret and give meaning to human experiences within the public sphere and daily life. One of the most profound traumatic experiences faced by individuals and societies is violence. Religious violence, in particular, represents a collective trauma, as it involves the misuse of religious symbols and language to legitimize acts of aggression. Consequently, theological efforts are essential to rediscover and reaffirm the noble values that constitute the essence and true purpose of religion, ensuring their revitalization. Importantly, the phenomenon of violence perpetrated in the name of religion does not indicate that religion itself is inherently violent; rather, it underscores the propensity of certain religious adherents toward conflict and aggression. This article also seeks to challenge and correct the stigmatization imposed by secularist perspectives, which unjustly portray religion as a fundamental source of violence, as a dangerous entity, or as a force that contributes more to harm than to good. On the contrary, this study highlights the richness of religious traditions, which encompass profound teachings of virtue, nobility, and moral greatness—values that hold significant potential for fostering healing, peace, solidarity, and reconciliation. Furthermore, this article explores the necessity of religious engagement in contemporary global and pluralistic societies. It examines how religious communities should embody their theological commitments within the public sphere in ways that contribute to minimizing human suffering and addressing the traumas that pervade modern life .  

Review

The article, "RELIGION AS A MEANS OF RESTORATION: A THEOLOGICAL APPROACH TO TRAUMA AND RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN INDONESIA," proposes a highly relevant and timely intervention into ongoing discussions about religion's role in society, particularly in contexts marked by violence and trauma. The abstract effectively articulates its central thesis: advocating for a constructive theological approach that reinterprets human experience, especially collective trauma from religious violence, by reaffirming religion's inherent noble values. Its commitment to challenging the often-reductive secularist stigmatization of religion as a primary source of conflict is a significant and welcome contribution, positioning the study to offer a more nuanced and restorative understanding of faith. The proposed constructive theological framework is ambitious and holds substantial promise. By identifying religious violence as a profound collective trauma, the article underscores the critical necessity for theological efforts to reclaim and revitalize the true purpose and essence of religion, highlighting its inherent capacity for fostering healing, peace, solidarity, and reconciliation. The abstract successfully conveys the richness of religious traditions in offering profound teachings of virtue and moral greatness, emphasizing their potential to minimize suffering and address trauma within contemporary global and pluralistic societies. The focus on how religious communities should embody theological commitments in the public sphere is particularly pertinent. To fully realize its significant potential, the developed article would benefit from detailing the specific methodologies and theological traditions it intends to employ in its analysis. For instance, explicating *how* this constructive theology will concretely interpret and give meaning to traumatic experiences, beyond a general reaffirmation of noble values, would greatly strengthen its argument. Given the explicit mention of "Indonesia" in the title, it would be invaluable for the study to engage with particular Indonesian religious traditions, specific case studies of religious violence, or existing reconciliation efforts within that context. Elucidating these practical applications and the concrete mechanisms by which religious traditions foster healing and counter violence will be crucial for the article's impact.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.