Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Vice President Boediono has asked religious communities in Indonesia to continue to foster tolerance and inter-religious harmony as an important pillar of Indonesia's nation and statehood.
"Tolerance and inter-religious harmony, as well as social and cultural resilience should continue to be maintained, strengthened, and nurtured," the vice president said at a function to open the 10th Indonesian Mahasabha Parisada Hindu Dharma meeting in Bali on Sunday.
According to the vice president, religious tolerance was an important pillar to sustain the existence of the Indonesian state and nation.
Boediono said that as a pluralist country the Indonesian state and nation were formed on the basis of an agreement among all elements in Indonesia'S society of various religious and ethnic backgrounds.
"Without such an agreement, there would not be an Indonesian state and nation," the vice president said.
He said the variety of religions had the same function, namely to lead mankind to achieve peach and harmony in the world.
Therefore, he added, all religions taught the importance of mutual understanding, respect, and love; and that the founders of the Indonesian nation were well aware of that.
Boediono added that the pluralist community of Indonesia had different composition of religious adherence, meaning that a certain religious group could make up the majority in one region but in the other they could be the minority.
"Thus in a plurality like this, tolerance means that the majority group can protect the minority, and the minority group should be wise in determining their place in society," the vice president said.(*)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2011
"Tolerance and inter-religious harmony, as well as social and cultural resilience should continue to be maintained, strengthened, and nurtured," the vice president said at a function to open the 10th Indonesian Mahasabha Parisada Hindu Dharma meeting in Bali on Sunday.
According to the vice president, religious tolerance was an important pillar to sustain the existence of the Indonesian state and nation.
Boediono said that as a pluralist country the Indonesian state and nation were formed on the basis of an agreement among all elements in Indonesia'S society of various religious and ethnic backgrounds.
"Without such an agreement, there would not be an Indonesian state and nation," the vice president said.
He said the variety of religions had the same function, namely to lead mankind to achieve peach and harmony in the world.
Therefore, he added, all religions taught the importance of mutual understanding, respect, and love; and that the founders of the Indonesian nation were well aware of that.
Boediono added that the pluralist community of Indonesia had different composition of religious adherence, meaning that a certain religious group could make up the majority in one region but in the other they could be the minority.
"Thus in a plurality like this, tolerance means that the majority group can protect the minority, and the minority group should be wise in determining their place in society," the vice president said.(*)
Editor : Nyoman Budhiana
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2011