Indeed. From my personal experience, a proper dialogue between Catholics and Islam in Indonesia has been through a lots of mines, however, it is growing and heading to a positive direction since much of the dialogue is through the so-called “liberal muslim” represented by the likes of the late Dr. Nurcholis Madjid, the former President Adurachman Wahid, Uli Abdallah ( from Liberal Islam Network).
The government still “cooking” to remove any discrimination, especially in regards to build churches, temples, viharas, etc.
Only in this spirit of two ways dialogue that an understanding and tolerance can be nurtured and developed.
The only remaining problem for Islam in Indonesia is in fact in dealing with the so-called hardliners. For the past two months or so there has been a road show from Department of Religious Affair (yes, Indonesia has this department) to Islamic boarding school in order to socialize a different face of Islam. The fact that most Bali bombers were graduated from Islamic boarding school says for it self.
What I said about the Vatican being silence is more political than theological. I do believe - put theological aside - the role of Vatican in global geopolitics is in fact has been able to open up a new perspective on dialogue with various religions especially Islam. Although I don’t have a proper statistic, Islamic movement is growing well in the West - and this, of course, in the future will be seen as something that will influence the direction of Western civilization that has been known have its roots - amongst other thing - by Christianity.
The potrayal of Mohammad is also seen in different light. Like an Ahmadiyah movement beside put Mohammad as its figure but it also reverred to its founder Gulan Mirza. A sufi movement called Syech Siti Djenar has its founder executed by others Indonesian Fathers of Islam due to his statement that not only Mohammad is a prophet but God also within Djenar.
A strict monotheism in Islam reminds me lots with Judaism, and Mohammad embraced this concept. For me he is simply a man that brought a new light to his people in the midst of domination of the Monophysite movement in 6th century Arab. I can understand Mohammad confusion on the Trinity, let alone to acknowledge Jesus is God - although he reverred Jesus as the Word of God.
I cannot say that Mohammad is the last prophet because what he claimed to be “Islamic revelation” in the form of the Quran is nothing but a set of book consisting similarities with the Old Testament. Also his view in rejecting Trinity (may be because he doesn’t understand what the concept is all about, may be he thinks the Catholics worshipped three god) is enough for me to see him as a person with more emphasize on the fiqh or the Laws based on a strict monotheism perspective.
There are many stories on how he actually tolerated the Jews and the Christian during his reign. His model of governing is called “the Medinah Charter” It’s supposed to be the concept or stereotype for Islamic countries. Let the Moslem claim him to be the last prophet, it’s up to them to be able to justified it but if they want to tell me (in order to convert me like many time happened before in my experience) then I said: Convince me that the so-called Quran is an inspired book. Under whose authority this book is called holy, then we talk about who Mohammad is.
I mean pope Ben XVI
