Confucian Youth: Diversity is Like Music

PPIM.UINJKT.AC.ID – “Diversity is like music. It can create a beautiful melody,” said the Head of Indonesian Konghucu (Confucianism) Youth – Bogor chapter, Meilan Rahayu Putri. 

She was speaking on Friday (24/7) in a virtual seminar series of #ModerasiBeragama (Religious Moderation) themed “Interfaith Millennials Talking about Religious Moderation”, which was organized by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta through Convey Indonesia program.

Meilan, who is also an accountant engaged in a humanitarian sector, has been actively speaking up about “Religious Moderation” among the Konghucu youth community in Cibinong, Bogor, West Java. She believes in a Konghucu teaching of “Zhong Shu” about Satya and Tepasarira (tolerance), which teaches that besides a vertical relationship with God (Satya), there should also be a horizontal relationship among humans, as stated in Ting Yong: Chapter XII: 3. 

She said that Konghucu, under its holy book Genta Rohanmi /mu duo/ Bok Tok, taught about tolerance and respect towards notable figures, including Prophet Muhammad, Jesus Christ, Siddhartha Gautama, and so on.

“We celebrate every religious celebration and make banners of them, and we publish them on social media,” Meilan said.

She and other Konghucu youths implemented the tepasarira concept by distributing free breakfasts and takjil (light breaking-of-the-fast snacks usually sold during Ramadan), collecting funds for victims of floods, as well as distributing hand sanitizers and masks through “Donate for Religious Tolerance” fundraising activity in Bogor. The donors were not only Konghucu followers but also people from different religions.

“In the four corners of the ocean, we are all brothers and sisters [Lun Gi],” Meilan said.

Besides Meilan, the discussion that was moderated by Convey Indonesia Team Leader Jamhari Makruf also presented several other young figures from different religious backgrounds, such as Fernanda Ambar Pratiwi (a Catholic nun), Ida Ayu Prasati (a representative of Hinduism), Yerry Pattinasarany (a Protestant Pastor), Anes Dwi Prasetya from HIKMAHBUDI, and Fikri Fahrul Faiz from Convey Indonesia.

Writer: Tati Rohayati
Editor: M. Nida Fadlan