Madrasah Aliyah Teachers Training on Religious Moderation

History has proven that religion has been the cause of bloodshed and violence among worshippers of God. The occurrence of fitnah al-kubro in Islam, the Crusades, the war between Protestants and Catholics for 30 years in Europe, the century-long religious war in Europe, are empirical evidence of how religion motivated everything. Religious believers become so violent and radical towards others, the values of humanity, brotherhood, and justice are buried tightly behind the pages of their respective holy books and seem to escape from daily religious learning.
The message of peace is a pure message from all religions. Religion needs to be put back in its original position as a force to build peace and true human civilization, while at the same time dismissing all forms of destructive ambivalence. The Religious Studies Study Study Program as one of the educational institutions that has a concern in building tolerant and moderate diversity needs to continue to try to participate in restoring cool and friendly diversity.
Religion therefore in a historical level often shows two double faces; sometimes very friendly to humans and their humanity, but not infrequently also shows a very "angry" face. This phenomenon is clearly very worrying and a threat to the integrity of the social order of society. Everyone has the right and must adhere to their religious beliefs, but how to make sure that these beliefs do not disturb groups of different beliefs and also do not damage the order of living together is part of the truth of religion itself. Moreover, if the expression of belief is pursued with repressive and radical actions in the name of religion, it clearly shows a spirit that is precisely opposite to religion.
In the context of social life, the claim of truth over a religious understanding and the judgment of other understandings as heretical and infidel so that it is okay not to be respected and appreciated will clearly disrupt the joints of social harmony and peace. If such attitudes still flourish, then building tolerance of religious life will be difficult to realize. A wise attitude in dealing with differences shows the high level of religious tolerance and that tolerance will also lead to peace.
Based on this phenomenon, the Religious Studies study program in collaboration with the Leimena Institute held a training activity for Madrasah Aliyah teachers on Religious Moderation on November 22, 2021. This activity affirms personal competence as a Muslim and also brings in speakers from other religious leaders, namely a Christian priest and a Jewish Wednesday. This activity aims to know more about religious moderation based on Islam and to open up more knowledge about other religions from its leaders, as well as a medium for interfaith communication in order to better recognize and understand differences and foster religious tolerance.
The Religious Studies Study Program needs to continue to campaign for peaceful, polite, and tolerant religious understanding for the sake of an advanced nation, state, and religious life. Because there is no progress in a country, without peace between religions in it. Therefore, this activity is an academic contribution of the Religious Studies Study Program in participating in real terms to build peace in the midst of various kinds of differences and plurality. This effort deserves to be appreciated and socialized to all elements of this nation so that the Religious Studies Study Program can make a real contribution to this nation.