Muslim-Christian Relations in the New Order Indonesia

The relationship between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia is an important subject. Apart from a few investigations on certain conflicts in different areas of Indonesia, little effort has been devoted to thoroughly examining the complexity of the relationship. This study is an attempt to investigate the perspectives of the exclusivist and inclusivist Muslims on Muslim-Christian relations in Indonesia, especially during the New Order period (1965-1998). In dealing with the this subject, the theological and legal precepts on the religious 'other' as developed in some classical texts are explored briefly. In order to provide the historical background of current Muslim-Christian relations the study also investigates the policies of the Dutch, Old Order, and New Order governments on Muslims and Christians. In separate chapters, the study explores further the backgrounds and concerns of exclusivists and the inclusivists regarding Muslim-Christian relations. It found that among both exclusivists and inclusivists the degree of their 'exclusiveness' or 'inclusiveness' varied, as they were influenced by their different backgrounds. In addition, within each group or among individuals, the concerns on issues related to Muslim-Christian relations differed.