THE CONTRIBUTION OF INTERFAITH YOUTH COMMUNITY TO REDUCE

RADICALISM IN INDONESIA
M. Royyan Nafis Fathul Wahab

Introduction
Religious radicalism has become a hot debate among Muslim scholars and even a national
issue of youth problems. For example, the Khilafah movement was initiated by the
Indonesian Hizb at-Tahrir organization which targets youth as militant cadres in which the
organization has been disbanded by the government because it is indicated as a radical
movement and has the potential to turn the government system into a Khilafah. Anti-thesis of
several radical movements that targeting youth makes Young Interfaith Peacemaker
Community bring up the concept of peace values to de-radicalize religion that targets youth
as its object. The issue of peacemaking based on the concept of the Young Interfaith
Peacemaker community program can be an alternative to the process of de-radicalization of
youth who are exposed to radical ideologies. The climax peace values can be spread
massively to become counter radical narratives.
Youth who are the nation's assets must be defended from radical ideology to continue
national ideals. In its journey in Indonesia, the spread of radicalism through the internet,
especially social media, is indicated as a way for radicals to target youth as their consumers.
According to data from the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers (APJII), the
survey results show that of 143.26 million internet users, 49.52% are youth with a vulnerable
age group of 19-34 years. This proves that young people are vulnerable to being influenced
by radical ideologies through the internet. The government through the Ministry of Youth and
Sports (Kemenpora) gives very serious attention to the spread of radicalism among youth.
Nahrawi said that there were at least a number of acts of terror in the name of religion
involving youth with an age range of 17 to 30 years. From data above, de-radicalization is the
focus of problem solving for youth who are exposed to the ideology of radicalism
Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community has succeeded in recruiting thousands of young
people to fuse radical narratives into counter-radical values. In research conducted by
Andreas Jonathan, Paulus Widjaja, and Fatimah Husein who researched on Fostering
Religious Exclusivism and Political Pluralism in Indonesia through Interfaith-Based Student
Communities emphasized that the Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community program model
could be one of the counter-extremism and social-political exclusivism in Indonesia. In the
research, they saw how Muslim and Christian youths sat in a forum and threw prejudices at
one another and then clarified each other with the aim of building friendships and eliminating
the prejudices that were the source of conflict. At the end of the discussion, they emphasized
that as long as youth proceed in the Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community, these two
different religious communities can respect each other's beliefs and share their beliefs
through dialogue and interaction in various aspects. This article will explore how the Young
Interfaith Peacemaker Community has a role to counter radical ideologies in the youth
environment and carry out the process of de-radicalization in the reeducation domain using
the role theory perspective. In addition, the author also reviews how the foundations of Islam
and Christianity in constructing counter-radical narratives in Young Interfaith Peacemaker's
programs. The program in Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community is also comprehensively
reviewed because it is a community strategy to spread the value of peace which is the basis of
the narrative of de-radicalization.

Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community Indonesia

The formation of YIPC began with 2 ICRS students named Andreas Jonathan and Ayi Yunus
Rusyana holding a Young Peacemaker Training at UGM Yogyakarta Post Graduate Building
on 9-12 July 2012. ICRS (Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies) is an International
Ph.D program in the field of inter-religious studies in collaboration with Gajah Mada
University, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University and Duta Wacana Christian University.
The training was attended by 25 Muslim and Christian undergraduate students from various
campuses in Yogyakarta and became the forerunners of Jogja's Young Peacemaker
Community (YPC). In this training, 12 Peace Values from Peace Generation were studied.
The vision of Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community is a peaceful generation based on
love for God and others. The mission of Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community is: First, to
conduct interfaith dialogue openly, honestly and deeply routinely. Second, Moving young
people and society to live in peace and love one another. Third, Young Interfaith Peacemaker
Community is involved in the process of transformation of the nation and the world in
realizing global peace. The activities that are the focus of YIPC are peace education for
undergraduate students and interfaith dialogue for youth. This interfaith dialogue is done to
break the chain of prejudice and hatred between two religions and to build a harmonious life
between two religions (Islam and Christianity). At present, in addition to continuing to
collaborate with ICRS, Peace Generation and the Campus Peace Movement, YIPC is also
expanding its wings by joining in several international institutions, namely Masterpeace and
the United Network of Young (UNOY) Peace Builders.
The concept of the value of peace as a foundation for religious de-radicalization is at the core
of the Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community movement in order to spread peace. The
status of the organization that labels itself as a forum for interfaith takes the concept of peace
from the scriptures of the two religions namely Islam and Christianity with the aim of being
the foundation of mutual respect and understanding between one another. When referred to in
the two holy books, the concept of peace in both the Qur'an and the Gospel and the Torah
does not differ significantly. Some concepts of peace as a reference for Young Interfaith
Peacemaker Community in running their movements as a peaceful generation and de-
radicalizing religion are: accepting oneself, overcoming prejudice, celebrating diversity,
conflict without violence, reconciling with the environment, reconciling with God,
apologizing and forgiving.

Study of Interfaith Materials as the Foundation of Peace

Interfaith study material in Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community uses the application of
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) which is based on document A Common Word (ACW). Scriptural
Reasoning (SR) is the practice of reading other religious scriptures (interfaith), small groups
of Jews, Christians and Muslims, and sometimes from other faiths, gather together to read a
short chapter of the holy book of the religion. SR participants must not agree because it is not
a legal consensus. Participants may not accept other texts as Scripture or otherwise agree with
others. SR is a process that runs even when the participants are very different, and the
difference is meaningful to them. This is not about seeking agreement, but about
understanding each other's differences.
Scriptural Reasoning deepens relationships. Participants will spend time with people from
different religions, and discuss scriptural texts that they care about the texts that are central to
their lives. Participants do not have to, politely, agree on everything - you can talk about
things that are in your deepest heart. This does not lead to approval, but in SR what must be
found is a form of friendship. Scriptural Reasoning is not a process that teaches the correct
way to read / interpret scriptures, but rather the opportunity to listen to other religious
scriptures and understand them. It is okay to find that participants are not sure, or have
questions, or the inequality between participants who come from the same tradition.
For Example in humanities domain, Alquran Al-Maidah verse 8 Said:
َّ ‫علًَ أَال ت َ ْع ِدلُىا ا ْع ِدلُىا ه َُى أَ ْق َربُ ِللتَّ ْق َىي َواتَّقُىا‬
َ‫ّللا‬ ِ ‫ش َهدَا َء بِ ْال ِقس‬
َ ‫ْط َوال يَجْ ِر َهٌَّ ُك ْن َشٌَآىُ قَ ْىم‬ ُ ِ‫يَا أَيُّ َها الَّذِييَ آ َهٌُىا ُكىًُىا قَ َّى ِاهييَ ِ َّلِل‬
)٨( َ‫ّللاَ َخبِير بِ َوا تَ ْع َولُىى‬
َّ ‫إِ َّى‬
O You who believe! stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and Hatred of others
make You avoid justice. be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well Acquainted with
what you do.

And in the Bible Leviticus 19:15 Said:

‫ֹא־תשָ א פְׁ נֵי־דָ ל וְׁ ל ֹא תֶ הְׁ דַ ר פְׁ נֵי גָדֹ ול בְׁ צֶ דֶ ק ִּת ְׁשפֹ ט ע ֲִּמיתֶ ָך׃‬
ִּ ‫ל ֹא־תַ עֲׂשּו ָעוֶל בַ ִּמ ְׁשפָט ל‬
Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor
fairly

According to the sources of the two holy books above, we can draw the equation that for
humanitarian matters both the Koran and the Bible affirm that humans must do justice to each
other. One example of Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is to try to find similarities between two
different sources of religion to be understood as a foundation for peace.
A Common Word document which became the foundation of peacemakers in carrying out
their movements is inseparable from the contribution of Islamic scholars throughout the
World. On October 13, 2006, exactly one month after Pope Benedict XVI's speech in
Regensburg on September 13, 2006, 38 Islamic authorities and scholars from all over the
world, representing all denominations and thought groups, united to provide answers to the
Pope in the spirit of open intellectual exchange and mutual understanding. In their Open
Letter to the Pope, for the first time in modern history, Muslim scholars from each branch of
Islam spoke with one voice about the true teaching of Islam.
Now, exactly one year after the letter, Muslims have expanded their message. In an Equality
Between Us and You, 138 Muslim scholars, scholars and intellectuals unanimously agreed to
gather together for the first time since the time of the Prophet SAW to state the same basis in
Christianity and Islam. Like the previous Open Letters, the signatories to this message come
from every denomination and thought group in Islam. Every major Islamic country or region
in the world is represented in this message, which is addressed to the leaders of all the
churches in the world, and of course to all Christians everywhere.
The final form of the letter was shown at a conference in September 2007 organized with the
theme "Love in the Qur'an," by the Royal Academy of the Aal al-Bayt Royal Institute for
Islamic Thought in Jordan, with the support of His Royal Highness King Abdullah II. Indeed,
the most fundamental basis in Islam and Christianity, and the best basis for dialogue and
understanding in the future, is love for God and love for others.
Never before had Muslims made such a definitive consensus statement about Christianity. To
not get involved in polemics, signatories use traditional and general Islamic positions in
respecting the Christian gospel and inviting Christians to become more, not less, loyal to him.
This document is expected to provide a general constitution for many commendable
organizations and individuals who are carrying out interfaith dialogue throughout the world.
Often these groups are unaware of the existence of other groups, and return to doing the same
work done by other groups. Not only can we give them a starting point to work together and
coordinate around the world, but this letter gives it on the basis of the most solid theology
that is most likely to be obtained: teaching from the Qur'an and the Prophet SAW, and law of
the laws described by Jesus the US (Jesus Christ) in the Gospels (the Bible). So despite
differences, Islam and Christianity not only share the same Divine Origins and the same
inheritance of Abraham (Abraham), but the two main laws are the same.

The Role of Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community in Counteracting Religious

Radicalism in Indonesia
Speaking of roles, it must be understood in advance how the program and how to manifest an
organization's program. The program formulated by Young Interfaith Peacemaker
Community in the efforts of religious de-radicalization, namely: student interfaith peace
camp (SIPC), thematic studies and scriptural reasoning studies, dissemination of values of a
common word in collaboration with various institutions and organizations, and social action
activities and peace campaigns.
How to embody the Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community program in the efforts to de-
radicalize religion by reeducation by conveying peace values in the SIPC program framed by
interfaith youth training, conducting interfaith discussions in order to find common ground to
respect and respect one another, cooperating with agencies and organizations to discuss with
each other and understand the values contained in a common word document, and conduct
community building by synergizing Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community to collaborate
with youth and other organizations in carrying out social activities aimed at strengthening
brotherhood even in religion, races and different tribes. From the explanation of the program
and how to embody the program above, a role can be drawn from the Young Interfaith
Peacemaker Community as a forum and facilitator for interfaith youth who concentrate on the
concept of peace education and interfaith dialogue based on the scriptures to build peace
through peaceful cadres by spreading peace cadres by spreading peace fourteen basic values
of peace to reduce the ideology of radicalism and intolerance.
Conclusion
Radicalism is still a national issue that must be considered by the Government. In the 21st
century, the spread of radicalism became quite massive and systematic using internet media
where the majority who were targeted by this ideology was Indonesian youth. Therefore, one
of the youth elements namely Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community takes part as a
government participant to help de-radicalize religion and spread peace values with the basic
concepts of peace including accepting oneself, overcoming prejudice, celebrating diversity,
conflict without violence, make peace with the environment, make peace with God, apologize
and forgive. By using this basic peace value, the ideology of radicalism and intolerance can
be reduced. That way, Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community has role as a forum and
facilitator for interfaith youth who concentrate on the concepts of peace education and
interfaith dialogue based on the holy book to build peace through peaceful cadres.