DI SEKITAR MASALAH AGAMA DAN KOHESI SOSIAL:PENGALAMAN DAN TANTANGAN
ABSTRACT: Religion is the
sacred relationship between human-being and the transcendent concept of
Gidhead. But as a social and cultural phenomenon, religion is the strongest
factor that determines the form and the strength of social integration and cohesion.
In a plural society religion can become a barrier to an undifferentiated social
cohesion. Looking religion as the sacred foundation of social relationship from
historical perspective it may appear in four different faces, though by means
exclusive to each others. Understanding on the teaching of the adhered can be
the important source of social dynamics -- it is the basis of a certain form of
social change. Secondly, despite the fact that science has consistently opened
up the secrets and even the laws of nature, it cannot replace the role of
religion as the source of the ultimate answer to the questions of the “real”reality.
Third, religious pluralities and more importantly the differences in the
understanding of the “true teachings” of the commonly adhered religion may
become a source of interna conflict, although at the same it strengthens the
internal cohesion of the believers of the same religious orientation. Four, in
the conflict situation, the understanding of one’s religion can easily become a
non-negotiable stand in the relation with the others. Despite its noble idea,
the New Order -sponsored “three strategies of harmonious life”-- the Pancasila,
“the three harmonious religious lives” (among co-religionists, among the
followers of different religions, and between religious followers and the
government) and “three brotherhood or uchuwah (Islamic, national, and
intentional brotherhood) lost its credibility the moment the state undergone
the crisis of legitimacy. The
religion-based social cohesion can only be guaranted by a healthy democratric
life and the continuing effort to strengthen the tradition of the spirit of
tolerance.
Keywords: Agama, kohesi
sosial, Durkheim, Max Weber, struktural-fungsional, fenomenologi, “tiga
strategi dasar”
Penulis: Taufik Abdullah
Kode Jurnal: jpantropologidd090010
