Gusdurian: Women Main Actors in Religious Moderation

PPIM.UINJKT.AC.ID – National Coordinator for the Gusdurian Network, Alissa Wahid, underlined the important roles of women in succeeding the religious moderation concept, emphasizing that women were powerful actors to win the “contestation” over religious views. She believed that women were multitasking, capable of carrying out multiple roles as individuals, wives and mothers, and could contribute to the society in the implementation of religious moderation.

Alissa was speaking on Friday (14/8) in a virtual seminar series of #ModerasiBeragama (Religious Moderation) themed “Women Talking about Religious Moderation”, which was organized by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) of the UIN Jakarta through Convey Indonesia program.

“The main concept of religious moderation is diversity, like in Indonesia’s diversity,” said the eldest daughter of late fourth president Abdurrahman Wahid.

In socio-political context, Alissa saw tensions between two Islamic practices in Indonesia – exclusive Islam and inclusive Islam – although religious exclusivism, indeed, was not only a domestic issue, but also a global one. Religious extremism and exclusivism, she said, existed in all religions around the world.

She went on to say that the concept of religious moderation was in line with the mission of the Gusdurian Network, saying that her organization reflected the characteristic of Gus Dur as a figure of pluralism. The point was not about defending the minorities, but more about upholding justice.

“Religious moderation is like a house that is built with goodness and the spirit of wathoniyah [unity], fairness and balance, and has the pillars of national commitment, tolerance, anti-violence, and acceptance to tradition,” said Alissa.

The virtual seminar on Religious Moderation is held every Friday via “Convey Indonesia” official Youtube channel. Besides Alissa, the discussion that was moderated by Convey Indonesia Team Leader Jamhari Makruf also presented notable female figures as speakers, including Oki Setiana Dewi (actress and doctoral candidate of UIN Jakarta’s Graduate School), Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin (Main Expert Staff of the Indonesian Presidential Office), and Yunita Faela Nisa (a PPIM researcher and Deputy Dean of Psychology Department from UIN Jakarta).

Writer: Aptiani Nur Jannah

Editor: Aziz Awaludin