Benedict XVI and Islam: Indonesian Public Reactions to the Regensburg Address

Author: Al Makin ^a

Affiliation:

a International Consortium for Research in the Humanities, 'Dynamics in the History of Religions between Asia and Europe', Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany

Published in: Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Volume 20, Issue 4 October 2009 , pages 409 - 421

Subjects: Christianity; European Politics; Religion;

Abstract

This paper examines the responses of the Indonesian public sphere in the reform era to Pope Benedict XVI's call for interfaith dialogue in his speech made in Regensburg on 12 September 2006. It explores five op-ed (opinion and editorial) columns published by Indonesian newspapers (Republika, Harian Pikiran Rakyat, The Jakarta Post and Gatra), a piece posted by the online Wahid Institute, and an interview posted online by Eramuslim. Not only do the arguments contained in these pieces offer a glimpse into the 'battle' between opinions in the public realm in Indonesia, but they also portray the relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country. This paper will present the Muslim responses to the Pope's speech and the 'reassertion' of his original message conducted by two Catholic priest-intellectuals.

Read more...