Views of Religious Leaders on Radicalism in Palu City

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Views of Religious Leaders on Radicalism in Palu City

Rus’an¹, H. Juraid Abdul Latief², Muhammad Khairil³, Hasan Muhamad^4
1Social Science Study Program Postgraduate Doctoral Program, Tadulako University, Palu-Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
²Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Tadulako University, Palu-Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
^3,4Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Tadulako University, Palu-Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract: The view of Religious Figures towards Radicalism in Palu City, Central Sulawesi. This study aims to: 1) find out the views of religious figures in Palu City about radicalism in the context of thoughts or ideas, 2) to find out the views of religious figures in Palu City about radicalism in actions and movements, 3) To find out the strategies in overcoming radicalism. This research employed a qualitative method with an inductive approach. The research informants consist of interfaith leaders in Palu City. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and document studies. The study results show that the views of religious figures in Palu City on radicalism in the context of thoughts or ideas are not disputed and not to be concerned because every religious adherent wants to return to the basis of his religious purity. Therefore, the truth claim, which is considered one of the radical characteristics, is wrong. Religious adherents must believe in the fact of their religion and must believe that anything Contrary to their religion is wrong. Believing in the truth of religion is a condition of faith in every adherent. Thus it should not be a concern as long as it is not followed by violence. The view of religious figures in Palu City towards radicalism in the context of actions and movements violates all religious values. No religion justifies violent actions. The strategies in anticipating and reducing the growth of radicalism, namely maintaining and reviving the culture of local wisdom and building interfaith communication through the Religious Communication Forum (FKUB).

Keywords: Radicalism, Religious Figure

I. INTRODUCTION

The issues of radicalism are currently back into a hot and interesting discussion. Radicalism is seen as a serious problem for many people. Since the WTC tragedy, September 11, 2001, issues of radicalism and terrorism have surfaced in the mass media, published in books and academic journals. However, some assumptions are that the categorization is a Western fabrication to divide Muslims and prevent Muslims from advancing and uniting. Therefore, it is not strange that when the Bali Bombings I in 2002 and Bali Bombing II in 2005, among Islamic leaders who stated that the terrorists were only “engineered” by the West to damage the image of Islam so that they were always associated with terrorism, we can say that radicalism and terrorism not purely Western creations, but indeed real facts because there are those who believe, embrace, and develop it from among the Muslims themselves. (Ahmad Fuad Fanani, 2013:4).

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