--- Interfaith Tolerance ---
A Pilgrimage to Confucian Churches in Indonesia
(September, 1999, 2000, January, 2001)
By: Dr. Thomas H. Kang.
My
Impression and Proposals:
It was my dream to visit Confucian Churches in Indonesia. Because while many people in the Confucian cultural zone are still not sure whether Confucianism belongs to a religion or philosophy. Confucians in Indonesia has been practicing Confucianism as one of the six religions on the basis of the constitutional rights of Indonesia.
The Foundation of Confucian Religion in Indonesia: The Pancasila, this is the word for the official political philosophy of the country. It consists of five principles:
Belief in One Supreme God;
Just and Civilized Humanity;
The Unity of Indonesia;
Democracy Guided by the Wisdom Arising Out Deliberations Among Representatives of the People;
Social Justice for the Whole of the People of Indonesia.
These five principles were stated in the constitution drafted and adopted in 1945. Indonesia changed constitutions several times between 1945 and 1959, finally returning to the 1945 constitution on July 5, 1959, the Pancasila has continued to be the basis of Indonesian law and government. Belief in One Supreme God? Cannot be changed. While the vast majority of Indonesians are Muslims, the Pancasila allows for freedom of worship for all faiths based on belief in one God. The question is that One for all or for each.
The former President Soeharto had said once that the differences among Indonesians "should blend us together to perfect harmony like the beautiful spectrum of the rainbow." But he changed his mind in 1967 and denied to practice Confucian religion outside the church, also denied the marriage license to the Confucian members in the Confucian churches. Furthuremore, Chinese businessmen were afraid of contributing fund to Confucian churches. Confucian couple, Budi Wijaya and Lany Guito have been fighting for their marriage license. Now Mr. Soeharto has been out of power and the new Indonesian government declared to allow the religious right to Confucian religion. On February 17 and 19, President Wahid with Vice President and other top officials attended the Confucian New Year celebration in Jakarta and Surabaya and guaranteed freedom of worship by saying, "A religion is a religion when its followers believe in its truth. Even without the government's acknowledgement the religion still exists." This is the best time to promote not only Confucianism as the world religion under One God but also all other religions in Indonesia under Confucius' motto: "All within the four seas are brothers and sisters."
The History of Confucianism in Indonesia
The history of Confucianism in Indonesia has not been long. It began with the Chinese diaspora after the Chinese political crises at the end of 19th century. In 1906 the first Confucian shrine, "Boen Bio" was built in Surabaya, East Java. In 1918 The Confucian Religion Council of Solo was legally founded In 1923 a Congress held at Yogyakarata, Central Java, which established Khong Kauw Tjong Hwee, the Center for Confucian Religion Assembly, and finally in April 16, 1955 it was renamed as MATAKIN for Majelis Tinggi Agama Khonghucu Indonesia (The Supreme Council for Confucian Religion of Indonesia). Mr. Tjhie Tjay plays the important role to the construction of modern Confucianism and Confucian church organization in Indonesia.
My Impression of Confucian Relilgion in Indonesia:
From my observation, the organization and practices of Confucian religion have deeply impressed me in many varieties and their qualities itemized as follows:
The MATAKIN as the highest administrative authority of Confucian churches (MAKINs) presided by Mr. Chandra Setiawan
More than 100 Lithang (Churches) spread all over Indonesia - 40 in the West Java, 25 in the Central Java, 15 in the East Java, 3 in Jakarta, 1 in Bali, 7 in Sulawesi, 2 in Sumatra, 4 in Kalimantan, etc.
Number of members: over one million
The organization of priesthood: Haksu (Top Priest); Bunsu (Confucian Teachers); Kausing (Missionaries)
Confucian Literature: Holy Bible - Four Books and Five Canons
Church emblem: Mu Tu, or Bok Tok (Gent Rohany)
Priest robes (insigns for Haksu, Bunsu and Kausing)
Rites and Ceremonies: Chinese New Year - January 9; Confucius' Annual Memorial (death) - February 18; Cing Ming - April 5; Confucius' Birthday - August 27; MU TU day - Dec. 22
Sunday and Monthly services (1, 15)
Funeral and Marriage services
Procedure of the church services
Altar boys and girls
Hymn (at least 173 songs of praise, Tian) and Choir
Church organization buildings and altars
Their communication system among Confucian churches works efficiently.
My Proposals:
So far not well known outside of Indonesia is the fact that Confucianism is a religion. Since I had visited Confucian churches in Indonesia, I began to believe that Indonesia should unify all religions under One Supreme God like Confucianism, but make them diverse practices. In other words, the Pancasila, one principle for all the religions should be the universality at the top and the diversity in their practices at the bottom. Confucianism is perfect for the idea of Pancasila. First, Universality means One and Only Supreme God, not only for Asian but also for the whole world. Second, Diversity means Coexistence of Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, Mahomet, and all other religions under Confucius' motto, "All within the four seas are brothers and sisters".
Confucianism should be a secular religion for the people; in other words, God is for the people; not only for God himself. Humanity is Confucian Democracy based on the seven principles: innovation, egalitarianism, individualism, pluralism, liberalism (freedom), democracy and serving the people. It should stress in general on social, educational and economic equality, specially on "constant livelihood and constant mind". Peace and happiness can be achieved only through human relationships.
Confucian theology should be "Science of Tian (Heavenly Lord, Hananim), Tianxue" but not Science of spirits or ghosts, Shenxue".
Globalization and open door policy: Initiation of international activities, e.g. with human right organizations and their activities; propagating the news of Confucian religion in Indonesia.
Modernization: (a) Mobilization of the members (women and children) for volunteer works; (b) Integration of all aspects of arts dramatization (all kinds of arts, fine art, calligraphy, music, graphic, photography, video); (c) Recruitment method of members; (d) Westernization of music writings by changing the traditional notation like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; (e) New method of education using communication system and mass media, e.g. computer, internet; e-mail, fax, phone, web page; newspapers and magazines; (f) Cultural exchange, library collections.
Commercialization: To produce Confucian materials and sell them to the members and other general people.
Mystification of Tian (Heavenly Lord) to make the people feel, see, hear, touch and believe in Him is much more important than merely to know Him.
My Prayer to Tian:
May Tian allow to build the Confucian Holy Land in Indonesia and to create Your Paradise on Earth (the World Community of Datong).