Societas Dei: Jurnal Agama dan Masyarakat
type: channel
description: Societas Dei: Jurnal Agama dan Masyarakat is a national journal providing authoritative sources of scientific information for researchers in academics, research institutions, and government agencies. We publish the original research papers to facilitate any idea for academics about religion and society associated with human resource development in Indonesia and human life as God's creation in this world. The articles of various authors' perspectives with different religious backgrounds aim to disseminate religion values that can contribute positively to the nation. This journal publisher is the Reformed Center for Religion and Society (RCRS). The Societas Dei: Jurnal Agama dan Masyarakat is published twice a year, in April and October, with the number of each article edition being five articles minimum. The first edition had published in April 2014. Since Volume 4 No. 2 2017, it has been accredited nationally by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia, No. 30/E/KPT/2019. The journal got accreditation from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, the Republic of Indonesia, Number 105/E/KPT/2022 since Vol.6 No.2 Tahun 2021 to Vol.11 No.1 Tahun 2026 (SINTA 3).
publisher: Reformed Center for Religion and Society
language: en
publication name: Societas Dei: Jurnal Agama dan Masyarakat
issn: 2407-0556
items: Authors Biography, Reviewers, & Author Guidelines
items: Editorial Boards
items: Peace Activist
items: Psalms and the Theology of Land
items: "They are Corrupt and Vile"
items: In Vitro Fertilization Policy in Indonesia Based on Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2025
items: Theology of Death Based on the Perspective of Metaphysical Anthropology for the Toraja and Javanese Death Ritual Traditions
items: Pangala Tondok Christology
items: Decolonizing Religion
items: Editorial Boards & Contents
items: Transformative-Contextual Theology of I Wayan Mastra in the Development of the Protestant Christian Church in Bali (GKPB) from the 1970s to the 1990s
items: Comparative Study of Torah Law and Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 2 of 2015 concerning the Protection of Domestic Workers
items: The Stories of Death in Abangan
items: Agama Konghucu Is A Religion
items: Leuit Badui
items: The Influence of External Elements on The Human Decision-Making Process
items: Abangan, Kejawen, and the Dream Sellers in Coastal Java
items: The Response of Christian Youth to Interfaith Scriptural Reasoning:
items: Israel Then and Now
items: (Social) Justice in Biblical Theology Persepective
items: From Dominance to Advocacy
items: Reinterpreting the First Principle of Pancasila through John Calvin's Political Thought
items: Post-Conflict Discriminatory Narratives in Christian Communities
items: The Meaning of Self-Emptying of the Trinitarian God in Javanese Perspective
items: The Borobudur Folk Art Revitalisation in the Perspective of Religious Aesthetic Walter Benjamin

Authors Biography, Reviewers, & Author Guidelines
type: item
subject: Back Matter
  topic: section
creator: Dodi Kurniawan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-01-17
publication date: 2026-01-17

Editorial Boards
type: item
subject: Front Matter
  topic: section
creator: Dodi Kurniawan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-01-17
publication date: 2026-01-17

Peace Activist
type: item
description: The study of peace and religion cannot be separated from the study of politics because most of us live in countries or political communities, namely, communities that bind citizens and governments, which at least aim to uphold and maintain justice. In other words, peace activists will be involved in politics, both at the operational and ideological levels. The former leads to public policy. Mapping actors and their relationships is a valuable skill for activists as an advanced skill. Afterward, ideology is absolutely essential to study because it is what gives rise to policies that promote peace or, conversely, violence.
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
subject: peace activist
  topic: keywords
subject: political vision
  topic: keywords
subject: political ideology
  topic: keywords
creator: Semy Arayunedya
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-01-17
publication date: 2026-01-17
starting page: i
ending page: iv
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i2.578

Psalms and the Theology of Land
type: item
description: Agrarian issues are a serious structural problem in Indonesia, especially through land-mafia practices involving the seizure of indigenous lands, certificate manipulation, and collusion with those in power. In this context, the Book of Psalms offers a relevant theological reflection for critiquing agrarian injustice. This article analyzes the theme of land in several key passages—Psalm 24:1, 37:11, 65:9–13, 85:12–13, 19:1–4, 104, 79, and 137—using a biblical-theological approach. The study finds that, in the Psalms, land is understood not as a commodity but as God’s gift—one that must be managed justly, entrusted to the vulnerable, and cared for in its fertility. This perspective presents a prophetic critique of land-mafia practices that violate principles of justice, rob marginalized communities of their rights, and damage the environment. By positioning the Psalms as voices of prayer, lament, and hope, the article proposes an active role for the church and public theology in advocating for agrarian justice, asserting that resistance to land-mafia systems is an act of faith to preserve the land as God’s possession and as a shared source of life.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Psalms
  topic: keywords
subject: land
  topic: keywords
subject: land mafia
  topic: keywords
subject: agrarian issues
  topic: keywords
subject: social justice
  topic: keywords
creator: Dwi Maria Handayani
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-17
publication date: 2025-12-17
starting page: 113
ending page: 128
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i2.553

"They are Corrupt and Vile"
type: item
description: Religious beliefs are often intertwined with emotional responses, particularly toward stimuli perceived as impure or morally deviant. The way individuals internalize religious teachings may shape how they experience emotions like disgust. This study examined the influence of religious orientation–both intrinsic and extrinsic– on disgust sensitivity among adults in the Greater Jakarta area. To explore this, 375 participants (Mage = 32.18, SD = 2.82) were recruited using snowball and purposive sampling methods and completed an online survey. Religious orientation was measured using the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS), while disgust sensitivity was assessed with the Three Domains of Disgust Scale (TDDS). Analysis revealed that extrinsic religious orientation significantly predicted higher levels of disgust sensitivity, and this relationship was more pronounced among women. These findings suggest that individuals who approach religion for instrumental or social purposes may exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to disgust-related stimuli, with gender differences indicating a potentially stronger sensitivity among women.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: religiosity
  topic: keywords
subject: religious orientation
  topic: keywords
subject: moral disgust
  topic: keywords
subject: sexual disgust
  topic: keywords
subject: pathogen disgust
  topic: keywords
creator: Laura Precious Bless
creator: Karel Karsten Himawan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-12
publication date: 2025-12-12
starting page: 165
ending page: 186
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i2.530

In Vitro Fertilization Policy in Indonesia Based on Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2025
type: item
description: This article examines the ethical and theological implications of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the context of Indonesia’s Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2025 on Reproductive Health. IVF is widely practiced, including among Christians, but raises moral concerns—particularly regarding the status of embryos, the freezing of surplus embryos, and their potential destruction. Using a qualitative approach with normative-comparative analysis, this article analyzes the regulation from a Christian theological perspective and compares it with Germany’s more embryo-protective policies. The theological discussion examines three positions on the moral status of the pre-implantation embryo: non-personal, pre-personal, and personal. Emphasis is placed on the personalist view, which asserts that human life begins at fertilization and must be protected from the earliest stage, i.e., an embryo is already bearer of God’s image (Imago Dei) since the inception. The article proposes an ethical-theological framework for Christian engagement with IVF, including: limiting embryo production to those intended for implantation, avoiding embryo freezing, rejecting embryo destruction, and affirming the theological meaning of children as a fruit of marital love. This work aims to serve as a contextual and responsible ethical guide for churches and Christian leaders in Indonesia.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: In Vitro Fertilization
  topic: keywords
subject: The German Embryo Protection Act
  topic: keywords
subject: Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2025
  topic: keywords
creator: Denni Boy Saragih
creator: Arlina Permatasari Wiguna
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-11-24
publication date: 2025-11-24
starting page: 148
ending page: 163
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i2.537

Theology of Death Based on the Perspective of Metaphysical Anthropology for the Toraja and Javanese Death Ritual Traditions
type: item
description: The objective of this study is to formulate a theological framework for the concept of death, utilizing the lens of metaphysical anthropology. This study serves as a scholarly reference on the preservation of death ritual traditions in Indonesia, focusing on those observed by the Torajans and Javanese. The significance of this objective lies in the inclination of the Christian tradition in Indonesia to marginalize indigenous cultural practices. This study employs the primary perspective of Gijsbert van den Brink, which is subsequently subjected to constructive analysis by the perspectives of Tibor Horvath, Robert Setio, Ebenhaizer I Nuban Timo, and Jürgen Moltmann. This study presents a theology of metaphysical anthropology of death, specifically focusing on the concept of posse mori in posse non mori. The objective is to propose a solution to preserve the death ceremonial traditions observed by the Torajans and Javanese.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: theology of dead
  topic: keywords
subject: slametan
  topic: keywords
subject: rambu solo'
  topic: keywords
subject: metaphysical anthropology
  topic: keywords
subject: posse mori in posse non mori
  topic: keywords
creator: Daniel Fajar Panuntun
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-10-31
publication date: 2025-10-31
starting page: 129
ending page: 146
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i2.532

Pangala Tondok Christology
type: item
description: Discussion about Pangala Tondok Christology began when the Torajan Church decided on Tongkonan Sangullele terms for cultural and religious identity. This study aims to foster fruitful discussion regarding Pangala Tondok Christology in Toraja's multireligious setting (interdenominational church and interreligious). Library research is used in this study, and I created a synthesis model based on Stephen B. Bevans. The first outcome is that Jesus Christ can be portrayed as a new Pangala Tondok in an interdenominational church. The Tongkonan offspring descended from him. The Torajan Church promotes an inclusive, modest, amiable, and transparent approach to interreligious discourse, embracing a respectful attitude toward other religions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Pangala Tondok Christology
  topic: keywords
subject: Toraja Church
  topic: keywords
subject: Tongkonan
  topic: keywords
creator: Frans Paillin Rumbi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-10-30
publication date: 2025-10-30
starting page: 113
ending page: 129
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i2.523

Decolonizing Religion
type: item
description: The perceived binary between “world religions” and indigenous traditions is a colonial construct. The editorial asserts that dismantling this oppositional framework is essential for decolonizing religion and enabling constructive conversations with local and indigenous episteme and practices. The five articles in this edition demonstrate how engaging with local practices and indigenous knowledge creates space for resilience, relationality, and ecological stewardship. Such a decolonial approach offers a crucial framework for responding to contemporary global problems, including the climate crisis, economic precarity, and systemic injustices. Ultimately, this editorial calls for more holistic religious praxes and alternative socio-ethical imaginaries.
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
subject: local practices
  topic: keywords
subject: indigenous knowledge
  topic: keywords
subject: transformative praxis
  topic: keywords
subject: decoloniality
  topic: keywords
subject: pluriversal epistemologies
  topic: keywords
creator: Siti Sarah Muwahidah
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-08-12
publication date: 2025-08-12
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i1.543

Authors Biography, Reviewers, & Author Guidelines
type: item
subject: Back Matter
  topic: section
creator: Dodi Kurniawan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-08-06
publication date: 2025-08-06

Editorial Boards & Contents
type: item
subject: Front Matter
  topic: section
creator: Dodi Kurniawan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-08-06
publication date: 2025-08-06

Transformative-Contextual Theology of I Wayan Mastra in the Development of the Protestant Christian Church in Bali (GKPB) from the 1970s to the 1990s
type: item
description: This study examines the transformative-contextual theology model developed by I Wayan Mastra in revitalizing the Protestant Christian Church in Bali between the 1970s and 1990s. Using historical methods, transforming contextual theology into praxis necessitates the leaders' presence, who are grounded and reflective within their context. They are characterized by three qualities: first, existential sensitivity to the social context in which they operate, as defined in Paulo Freire's concept of conscientization; second, a willingness to be shaped through “candidate training”—both in academic and non-academic spheres—which produces innovative, open, critical, and practical individuals; and third, an inner drive rooted in compassion (splagcnizomai) that motivates leaders to act concretely amid crisis. The Mastra’s methodological framework demonstrates a systematic and visionary approach. Starting from the root causes’ identification, a transformative vision emerges: (1) the core values’ formulation as a catalyst for social transformation; (2) theological renewal through hermeneutical decolonization; and (3) holistic praxis that addresses spiritual, cultural, educational, and economic dimensions. Implementing these practices includes contextualizing the Gospel, strengthening human resources through vocational and formal education, and empowering the congregation economically based on local potential. Thus, this theological model is reflective and operational in striving for human integrity and community liberation.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: GKPB
  topic: keywords
subject: I. Wayan Mastra
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Transfomation
  topic: keywords
subject: contextual
  topic: keywords
subject: social transformation
  topic: keywords
subject: heremeneutical decolonization
  topic: keywords
creator: Amos Sukamto
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-08-06
publication date: 2025-08-06
starting page: 84
ending page: 112
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i1.531

Comparative Study of Torah Law and Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 2 of 2015 concerning the Protection of Domestic Workers
type: item
description: Domestic workers are one of the most vulnerable groups to exploitation and structural violence in modern society. Although Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 2 of 2015 has established basic protections for domestic workers, this legal protection does not yet have adequate legal force. This situation is worsened by the fact that the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers has not yet been passed, despite being delayed since 2004 (more than 20 years). On the other hand, the Torah in the Bible contains provisions regarding slaves. Although rooted in an ancient social system, it embodies principles of justice and compassion that were radical for its time. Therefore, this article presents a comparison between the provisions regarding slaves in the Torah Law and modern regulations regarding domestic workers through a theological ethical approach. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate that principles, such as liberation, respect for human dignity, and protection of vulnerable groups, contained in the Torah Law, can serve as a reflective foundation for the struggle for social justice for domestic workers in Indonesia. In addition, this study emphasizes the significance of structural and spiritual reform of the domestic work system through a transformative faith approach.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: domestic workers
  topic: keywords
subject: Torah law
  topic: keywords
subject: slaves
  topic: keywords
subject: social justice
  topic: keywords
subject: theological ethics
  topic: keywords
creator: Ferdi Toding Bunga
creator: Dwi Maria Handayani
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-08-04
publication date: 2025-08-04
starting page: 67
ending page: 83
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i1.524

The Stories of Death in Abangan
type: item
description: This study examines the construction of death myths through eschatological concepts within the religious beliefs of the Abangan Javanese community, a subcultural group with a syncretic religious orientation rooted in Kejawen traditions. The primary issue addressed is the scarcity of scholarly attention to how localized eschatological narratives shape alternative interpretations of death, which are often overlooked by dominant religious paradigms. Employing a qualitative descriptive method with a case study approach, this research is grounded in theoretical frameworks of eschatology and religiosity to analyze how the abangan community constructs meaning around death. The findings reveal that death is not solely understood as a personal or moral endpoint but is perceived as the result of broader socio-religious dynamics, environmental conditions, and interactions with unseen entities. These interpretations reflect a unique epistemology that challenges normative theological discourses and affirms the validity of local spiritual worldviews. This study contributes to eschatological scholarship by highlighting the interpretive richness of indigenous belief systems and addressing the ongoing marginalization of religious knowledge within broader academic and theological discussions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: stories of death
  topic: keywords
subject: indigenous faith
  topic: keywords
subject: Javanese belief
  topic: keywords
subject: myth
  topic: keywords
creator: Yuniar Galuh Larasati
creator: Henky Fernando
creator: Leanne Morin
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-28
publication date: 2025-07-28
starting page: 45
ending page: 66
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i1.516

Agama Konghucu Is A Religion
type: item
description: This research examines the formation of Agama Konghucu identity during the New Order era, as reflected in Confucian publications (Gentrika and Genta Rohani). Given that identity is relational, the construction process involved identifying the community itself and the perceptions of others, including those of religions and governments. Despite the government's control over the press and media during the New Order, Gentrika and Genta Rohani persistently worked to construct an Agama Konghucu identity. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis, as developed by Fairclough, as the methodology, this article aims to investigate the construction of Agama Konghucu identity discourses in the Confucian community that were published and distributed during the New Order. This thesis uses Bourdieu's perspective on language in power relations, which is integrated into the methodology. Finally, this research concludes that Confucian media play a significant role as an agent and a medium in the construction process by incorporating specific language practices.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: New Order
  topic: keywords
subject: critical discourse analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: Confucian media
  topic: keywords
subject: power relation
  topic: keywords
subject: identity
  topic: keywords
creator: Lemuel Christandi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-05-28
publication date: 2025-05-28
starting page: 22
ending page: 44
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i1.511

Leuit Badui
type: item
description: This article examines leuit as a symbol of aesthetics, food security, and spirituality in Badui community in Banten. This research is motivated by the need to explore the multifunctional role of leuit in the cultural and daily life of the Badui community in depth. The main objective of this research is to analyze how leuit functions not only as a granary, but also as an aesthetic representation and center of spirituality. The methodology used includes a qualitative approach through direct observation, in-depth interviews, and literature study to obtain comprehensive data. The results show that leuit has an important role in the food security of Badui community through sustainable and efficient storage. In addition, leuit also contains deep spiritual meaning and serves as a symbol of Badui cultural identity. This research underscores the importance of leuit preservation as part of the cultural heritage that supports the sustainability of the Badui community and provides insight into the contribution of traditional cultural practices in facing global challenges.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Badui
  topic: keywords
subject: aesthetic values
  topic: keywords
subject: food security
  topic: keywords
subject: spiritual symbolism
  topic: keywords
subject: cultural identity
  topic: keywords
subject: leuit
  topic: keywords
creator: Kiki Hakiki
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-04-30
publication date: 2025-04-30
starting page: 1
ending page: 21
doi: 10.33550/sd.v12i1.482

Authors Biography, Reviewers, & Author Guidelines
type: item
subject: Back Matter
  topic: section
creator: Sharon D. Budihardjo
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31

Editorial Boards & Contents
type: item
subject: Front Matter
  topic: section
creator: Sharon D. Budihardjo
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31

The Influence of External Elements on The Human Decision-Making Process
type: item
description: This paper is a critical analysis of two important texts in two cultural traditions, namely the story of “The Fall” in Genesis chapter 3 in the Judeo-Christian tradition and “Sang Durjodana Arsa Ngasoraké Pandawa sarana Prang Dadu” in the Mahabharata epic in the Javanese tradition, Sadjarah Pandawa Korawa, by Raden Tanojo. The analysis process of juxtaposing the two texts will use the characterization method that focuses on the speech and actions performed by the serpent and Sengkuni as a representation of external elements that are capable of influencing human actions. Both are portrayed as intelligent and cunning, and they use their cunning to tempt other characters, Eve and Yudhistira, to sin or mistake. In addition, a text reading of the Book of Genesis can provide a perspective that not everything has to end with war and violence in the Mahabharata. Also, a text-reading of the Mahabharata can provide a perspective that humans must dare to bear their faults instead of running and hiding as told in the Book of Genesis.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sengkuni
  topic: keywords
subject: Javanese tradition
  topic: keywords
subject: textual juxtaposing
  topic: keywords
subject: characterization method
  topic: keywords
subject: temptation
  topic: keywords
subject: the serpent
  topic: keywords
creator: Yohannes Bramanda Ryan Kharisma
creator: Indra Tanureja
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-27
publication date: 2024-12-27
starting page: 155
ending page: 172
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i2.480

Abangan, Kejawen, and the Dream Sellers in Coastal Java
type: item
description: This study explores the socio-cultural dynamics of Javanese coastal communities, emphasizing the existence of their indigenous traditional beliefs: Javanism (Kejawen) with its unique spirituality and Abangan, which practically reflects Islam in a syncretic form blending Javanese culture and Sufism. The research focuses on six regions: Subang, Cirebon, Pekalongan, Rembang, Tuban, and Pasuruan. Using Spradley’s domain, it examines the spiritual frameworks and practices of Kejawen and Abangan, including distinctive traditions such as mysticism and cultural titles. Participatory observations reveal that Kejawen and Abangan communities continue to preserve their beliefs, actively practising them while shaping a communal identity that strengthens social bonds. Ironically, some deviant practices, such as shamanism, charms for wealth, and occultism, are often associated with these groups. The findings also highlight the critical role of religious moderation in safeguarding traditional practices, addressing misuse of beliefs, and promoting harmony. This study offers valuable insights into the resilience of Javanese culture amidst the dynamics of contemporary society.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Abangan
  topic: keywords
subject: Javanism
  topic: keywords
subject: Clifford Geertz
  topic: keywords
subject: the Java Coast
  topic: keywords
subject: sorcery
  topic: keywords
subject: Religion of Java
  topic: keywords
creator: Nely Rahmawati Zaimah
creator: Marita Ika Joesidawati
creator: Fatchiatuzahro
creator: Suwartiningsih
creator: Muhammad Henry Wahyudi
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-30
publication date: 2024-12-30
starting page: 173
ending page: 205
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i2.472

The Response of Christian Youth to Interfaith Scriptural Reasoning:
type: item
description: The reading of Scripture is susceptible to interpretation and can offer constructive values, but it can also lead to self-exclusion and destructive actions. Traditionally, the reading and interpretation of Scripture have been an internal activity within each religious community. However, in Yogyakarta, Scriptural Reasoning activities are being organized by the Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community (YIPC) Indonesia, involving participants from diverse religious and belief backgrounds. This research examines the response of Christian Youth engaged in Scriptural Reasoning activities, specifically focusing on how they create a welcoming space for the presence of the other. The research will employ an analytical descriptive method, with data gathered through participatory observation, interviews with respondents selected via purposive sampling, and the collection of relevant literature and documents. Respondents will include organizers of Scriptural Reasoning activities and Christian participants. The data will be analyzed using Marianne Moyaert’s concept of hermeneutic hospitality. This study highlights the significance of hermeneutic openness as an expression of hospitality within the Christian community and the importance of creating space for interreligious dialogue. Reading sacred texts can also help prevent conflicts of religious sentiments based on scriptural interpretation.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: scriptural reasoning
  topic: keywords
subject: Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community
  topic: keywords
subject: christian youth
  topic: keywords
subject: hospitality
  topic: keywords
creator: Gerry Nelwan
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-11-18
publication date: 2024-11-18
starting page: 39
ending page: 56
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i2.473

Israel Then and Now
type: item
description: Chosen people is a term often applied to Jews. However, the post-New Testament church considered Israel’s peoplehood to have ended, a theological assumption that has only been corrected since the mid-20th century. The present article re-examines the concept of the chosen people biblically. The Deuteronomic language for the election of Israel is their deliverance from Egyptian slavery to become a nation of Yahweh’s worshipers (‘ebed peoplehood). However, the Sinaitic Covenant required Israel to be more than that, namely to be a special people, an exemplary peoplehood (segullā peoplehood). The reality of ‘ebed peoplehood is unconditional and its basis is solely the God-factor, His love and fidelity (Deut. 7:6-8). On the contrary, the reality of segullā peoplehood is conditional and its basis is Israel-factor, their seriousness in keeping the covenant (Ex. 19:5-6), which then turned out to fail except for the remnant. However, Israel's failure paved the way for an expanded peoplehood, which includes non-Jews en masse, while the mass salvation of the Jews is an eschatological reality (Rom. 11:25-26).
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Israel
  topic: keywords
subject: peoplehood
  topic: keywords
subject: chosen
  topic: keywords
subject: ‘ebed
  topic: keywords
subject: segullā
  topic: keywords
subject: covenant
  topic: keywords
creator: Yonky Karman
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-10-29
publication date: 2024-10-29
starting page: 120
ending page: 136
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i2.454

(Social) Justice in Biblical Theology Persepective
type: item
description: The struggle to bring about social justice is sometimes suspected of being a form of cultural Marxism. Is this view representative from a Christian theological perspective? Of course, the answer given will depend on our understanding of social justice itself. Thus, we need to look at several passages of Scripture to get a more balanced picture of this.
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
subject: social justice
  topic: keywords
subject: social critique
  topic: keywords
subject: cultural marxism
  topic: keywords
creator: Billy Kristanto
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-10-29
publication date: 2024-10-29
starting page: 97
ending page: 101
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i2.486

From Dominance to Advocacy
type: item
description: In the study of citizenship in Indonesia, the term majority-minority is well recognized. This paper aims to challenge the power dynamics behind the majority-minority discourse in Indonesia. Discussions about minorities, which were initially intended as a means of advocacy, have transformed into a tool of domination. In the context of Identity Politics in the latter half of the 20th century, minorities were associated with the defense of Black people in the United States, as well as gay and lesbian communities, and Native American groups. In Indonesia, however, the discourse on majority and minority has shifted to numerical considerations. This discourse is evident in conversations about citizenship in Indonesia, particularly regarding religious backgrounds, leading to the terms majority religion and minority religion. Using the Netnography method, this research explores various ways of interpreting the term minority within Indonesian society. This study employs Pierre Bourdieu's theory of Symbolic Violence as its analytical framework. From this perspective, it is revealed that the prevailing discourse is not about majority-minority but rather the process of minoritization. This paper proposes a counter-current logic. The prevailing logic of domination associated with the term minority is encouraged to revert to the advocacy logic that originally inspired it.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: minoritization
  topic: keywords
subject: symbolic violence
  topic: keywords
subject: citizenship
  topic: keywords
creator: Martinus Lelono
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-10-29
publication date: 2024-10-29
starting page: 102
ending page: 119
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i2.436

Authors Biography, Reviewers, & Author Guidelines
type: item
subject: Back Matter
  topic: section
creator: Dodi Kurniawan
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-05-21
publication date: 2024-05-21

Editorial Boards & Contents
type: item
subject: Front Matter
  topic: section
creator: Dodi Kurniawan
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-05-21
publication date: 2024-05-21

Reinterpreting the First Principle of Pancasila through John Calvin's Political Thought
type: item
description: This editorial is a small step in an effort to reinterpret the first principle of Pancasila from the perspective of John Calvin's political thought. This effort was motivated by various acts of religious intolerance in Indonesia. This setting cannot be separated from the structural factors surrounding it: government intervention in internal religious affairs. Therefore, a reinterpretation of the first principle is urgently needed because this reinterpretation of the principle of Belief in One God can guarantee freedom of religion and the role of religion in the public sphere. In this way, religion can become a liberating force capable of creating democratic social and political life.
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
creator: Benyamin F Intan
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-04-30
publication date: 2024-04-30
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i1.457

Post-Conflict Discriminatory Narratives in Christian Communities
type: item
description: The 1999 conflict in Maluku left scars that lasted 20 years after the conflict. This phenomenon is directly reflected in the narratives of post-conflict society, which are still prevalent in daily conversations. During their 20 years of surviving in Ambon as refugees, the Kayeli community had various experiences forms (violent and peaceful ones). The struggle of the Kayeli refugees reflects the damages created by conflict in communal relations a year after the war's end. This condition has not been sufficiently discussed in studies of post-conflict society. This paper aims to describe the struggle of the refugee community as a vulnerable group of people living with narratives of violence in the post-conflict in Ambon. This paper is based on in-depth interviews with 8 informants from the Kayeli refugee community to collect the data in 2023. The results reveal that the conflict experiences depicted in this group illustrate discrimination and struggle in communal relations in new areas where they were resettled from their war-torn villages. This paper describes the refugees' responses to conflict narratives based on their Christian beliefs. This is how the refugee community continues to live their lives by coping with the discriminating narratives in their new community.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: conflict narrative
  topic: keywords
subject: discrimination
  topic: keywords
subject: Kayeli
  topic: keywords
subject: refugee
  topic: keywords
subject: Ambon
  topic: keywords
creator: Selvone Christin Pattiserlihun
creator: Mohammad Iqbal Ahnaf
creator: Nur Rif’ah Hasaniy
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-05-21
publication date: 2024-05-21
starting page: 76
ending page: 96
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i1.421

The Meaning of Self-Emptying of the Trinitarian God in Javanese Perspective
type: item
description: Faith in the Trinity God as the foundation of Christian faith is not easily understood by most believers. It is even less easy to understand the faith in the Trinity according to a particular cultural context. This research seeks to explain the understanding of the Trinity that is interpreted in accordance with the Javanese cultural context. This research uses a literature study method with a contextual theology and pastoral circle approach. The writer takes the character of Semar in Javanese culture to deepen it in comparison with Jesus from the perspective of comparative theology. Specifically, the writer wants to look at the concept of self-emptying in Semar and also in Jesus Christ. To arrive at this research, the writer uses Charles Peirce's semiotic theory and also the thoughts of Hans Urs von Balthasar regarding the doctrine of the Trinity. The result of this research reveals the similarities between the self-emptying of Semar and Jesus Christ. However, there are clear and distinct differences between the self-emptying of Semar and that of Jesus Christ.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Trinity God
  topic: keywords
subject: self-emptying
  topic: keywords
subject: Semar
  topic: keywords
subject: Jesus Christ
  topic: keywords
subject: incarnation
  topic: keywords
subject: Javanese culture
  topic: keywords
creator: Dominikus Setio Haryadi
creator: Emanuel Pranawa Dhatu Martasudjita
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-04-30
publication date: 2024-04-30
starting page: 6
ending page: 23
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i1.448

The Borobudur Folk Art Revitalisation in the Perspective of Religious Aesthetic Walter Benjamin
type: item
description: This article aims to capture the dynamics of Borobudur folk art, which experiences ups and downs. Some people believe that the decline of folk art initially impacted the emergence of television, one of the modernist instruments. By using that logic, folk art ideally is running to its extinction. However, in recent years, the Borobudur community has successfully revitalised the folk art that has been dead for decades, such as ketoprak. On the other hand, the Borobudur community has unique religious characteristics; They are plural in terms of religion but hold the same Javanese values. To understand the dynamics, this article uses Walter Benjamin's theory of religious aesthetics as an analytical tool. Specifically, this article will answer two research questions: How does religiosity influence folk art revitalization, and what is the social function of folk art for the Borobudur Community? This qualitative research was conducted in Borobudur District in 2022 using an ethnographic approach.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: religious aesthetic
  topic: keywords
subject: Borobudur
  topic: keywords
subject: folk arts
  topic: keywords
subject: Walter Benjamin
  topic: keywords
creator: Chusnul Chotimah
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Reformed Center for Religion and Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-04-30
publication date: 2024-04-30
starting page: 56
ending page: 75
doi: 10.33550/sd.v11i1.418