Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kementerian Agama), Indonesia
Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kementerian Agama), Indonesia
- Muhamad AliMuhamad AliDepartment of Religious Studies, University of California, Riverside
Summary
A special ministry was established soon after the declaration of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia to have the specific task of managing the religious affairs of particularly Muslim-majority population. First seen as a contentious move but later regarded as a political compromise between those advocating for a secular state and those promoting an Islamic state for Indonesia, the ministry continues to provide a variety of programs and activities that shape the dynamic development of Muslim education, law, ritual (including the hajj), and intra-Muslim as well as interreligious relations. The ministry offers a case study of the bureaucratization of religion and its impact in the politics and culture of a Muslim majority country and provides opportunities for further research.
Keywords
Subjects
- Islamic Studies
