The article quotes an Indonesian Muslim: “When Christians celebrate Christmas here we do not disturb them… because they have the right to practise their religion.”
The dispute seems to be political more than religious.
Purnama has been responsible for implementing policies that adversely affected the poor and other segments of society, which generated opposition to his political aspirations.
Is Purnama qualified to interpret the Qur’an for Indonesian Muslims? It seems that he is the one who was trying to “dupe” the Muslim majority into supporting his own political aspirations.
It is remarkable that Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country, actually only requires the official state belief in a non-religious national political ideology called “Pancasila” to be upheld by its head of state; Pancasila is a summation of “common cultural elements” of Indonesia.
There are many other countries that require the head of state, or ceremonial monarch to be a Christian or have Christian affiliation, and there are those as well, who use the Bible to justify the claim that Christians should not be led by non-Christians. But we don’t hear much protest from Christians about this.
It is well known that Christians often direct their political support according to their own religious belief and bias, backing leaders who are Christian or who will act in the best interests of Christians.
By what double standard should we NOT expect Muslims to act in their own collective political interests as well (as long as they do so peacefully) by supporting a Muslim leader for their own Muslim majority country?
“This is a test for tolerance and our multi-faith society. Indonesia is a pluralist nation that has great respect for different faiths. We cannot let this case sink the dream of our founding fathers who wrote our national motto: ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’.” This motto means “Unity in Diversity”.
indonesia’s pluralism stems from its animism, not Islam. As the largest so called Muslim nation, it would also be the largest nation of those practicing shirk, since in indo Islam is only a facade- most practices and core beliefs are animistic in nature. Just ask Eric how many Indonesias pray to there ancestors and gurus as intercessors, or those that use coins to tear apart their backs to release the “wind” and illness that has entered their body.
You may be right Paulus. One thing we can say with certainty is that pluralism won’t benefit from the increased influence of islamism in the country. We see it already, in the capital of Jakarta, where the city’s first non-Muslim governor is fighting not only for re-election but to stay out of jail. His so called blasphemy trial can be seen as a test of Indonesia’s religious tolerance.
Blogging Theology 
Reblogged this on Islamic updates, welcome.
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In the worlds largest Muslim country the Islamists are becoming more influential, which is bad news for members of other religions in the country:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38902960
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The Jews are very happy there as the video proves. Christians can be trouble-makers though.
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The article quotes an Indonesian Muslim: “When Christians celebrate Christmas here we do not disturb them… because they have the right to practise their religion.”
The dispute seems to be political more than religious.
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“But for the protesters calling for Mr Purnama to be jailed, the reasoning is clear: they don’t accept him as a senior leader because he is Christian”
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alledgedly
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Purnama has been responsible for implementing policies that adversely affected the poor and other segments of society, which generated opposition to his political aspirations.
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“Mr Purnama, known widely as Ahok, angered many after he referenced a Koranic verse while on the campaign trail last September.
He told voters they should not be duped by religious leaders using the verse to justify the claim that Muslims should not be led by non-Muslims.”
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Is Purnama qualified to interpret the Qur’an for Indonesian Muslims? It seems that he is the one who was trying to “dupe” the Muslim majority into supporting his own political aspirations.
It is remarkable that Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country, actually only requires the official state belief in a non-religious national political ideology called “Pancasila” to be upheld by its head of state; Pancasila is a summation of “common cultural elements” of Indonesia.
There are many other countries that require the head of state, or ceremonial monarch to be a Christian or have Christian affiliation, and there are those as well, who use the Bible to justify the claim that Christians should not be led by non-Christians. But we don’t hear much protest from Christians about this.
It is well known that Christians often direct their political support according to their own religious belief and bias, backing leaders who are Christian or who will act in the best interests of Christians.
By what double standard should we NOT expect Muslims to act in their own collective political interests as well (as long as they do so peacefully) by supporting a Muslim leader for their own Muslim majority country?
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“This is a test for tolerance and our multi-faith society. Indonesia is a pluralist nation that has great respect for different faiths. We cannot let this case sink the dream of our founding fathers who wrote our national motto: ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’.” This motto means “Unity in Diversity”.
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His remarks about London were telling. Must be some nasty Christians there. Or maybe he meant he ran in to trouble with another group. He didn’t say.
I don’t think he would dear to dress conspicuously as a Jew. He didn’t say.
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Yes there are some very nasty Christians here in London. I see some of them at Speakers Corner.
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indonesia’s pluralism stems from its animism, not Islam. As the largest so called Muslim nation, it would also be the largest nation of those practicing shirk, since in indo Islam is only a facade- most practices and core beliefs are animistic in nature. Just ask Eric how many Indonesias pray to there ancestors and gurus as intercessors, or those that use coins to tear apart their backs to release the “wind” and illness that has entered their body.
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Or even read a religious scholar on Islam- animism is the core of their worldview
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So the west is “tolerant” because of christianity?
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You may be right Paulus. One thing we can say with certainty is that pluralism won’t benefit from the increased influence of islamism in the country. We see it already, in the capital of Jakarta, where the city’s first non-Muslim governor is fighting not only for re-election but to stay out of jail. His so called blasphemy trial can be seen as a test of Indonesia’s religious tolerance.
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