Christian and Muslim Theologians Seek Common Understanding on Freedom and Responsibility

LWF Joint Theological Study for Constructive Interfaith Relations

Christian and Muslim scholars participating in a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) consultation in Indonesia's south-central region of Java deliberated perspectives on the understanding of freedom and responsibility for theology, faith identity and mutual relations for common good in society.

"There is a long history of argument about the relationship between human freedom and responsibility, on the one hand, and God's creative agency and sovereignty, on the other-both within the Christian tradition and within the Islamic tradition, but occasionally spilling over into Christian-Muslim discussions," said Prof. Mark Swanson of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, USA.

Swanson was among the 23 theologians attending the 15-20 June dialogue meeting organized by the LWF Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) in cooperation with the Center for Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies (CRCS) and the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) at the University Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta. "We struggle as Christians and Muslims to live out our faith so that freedom will be exerted and meet the challenge posed by our time," said Rev. Dr Martin Sinaga, DTS study secretary for Theology and the Church. He introduced the international dialogue on the topic "Freedom and Responsibility in Society: Joint Theological Explorations by Christians and Muslims."

Faith Perspectives

Freedom is perceived as a God-given gift in Islam. A guest lecturer at the ICRS Dr Amina Wadud (USA) spoke about the Qur'an's emphasis on "the need and mandate for freedom from oppression." Prof. Osman Tastan, teaching at Ankara University, Turkey, explained the Qur'an was the principal source of Islamic law, primarily underlining the right to life, equality, solidarity and justice.

The Bible speaks about "freedom from" as a liberating act - from sin, the law, the past and its binding force - said Dr Hans-Peter Grosshans, professor of systematic theology at Muenster University, Germany. However, there is a corresponding creative act of "freedom to" - come to God, love and take on responsibility, hope, and contribute to shaping the future. Pastor Saliba Rishmawi from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) explained how ELCJHL's educational and social institutions further freedom and responsibility in society and strengthen interfaith relations.

In his presentation on the culture of "shame" and "guilt," ICRS director Prof. Bernard Adeney-Risakotta, argued that shame as a dominant factor in social interaction for Christians, Muslims and others in Indonesia, affected perception and reaction to moral challenges such as corruption or sexual behavior. In contrast, the guilt notion internalizes moral norms and is thus driven by an individual sense to choose right or wrong.

Challenges

ICRS associate director Dr Siti Syamsiyatun presented a paper on a recent "silent revolution" by Indonesian women to reclaim their freedom in religious communities and society. "Entering higher training or education in theology or Islamic studies has been a pivotal point for women to argue for formal social recognition and authority to speak about religion in their own right," she said. Rev.

Deborah Sinaga, the first woman superintendent in Indonesia's Protestant Christian Batak Church, pleaded for male and female collaboration in transforming unjust gender relations. Participants heard about the constitutional challenges for religious freedom in Ethiopia and Indonesia at individual and community level.

It was noted that conflicts within one faith can be even more divisive than disagreements between different faiths. Tanzanian Lutheran pastor Dr Thomas Kangeizi, teaching Islam and interfaith relations at the Lutheran Theological College in Ruhija, explained how Christians and Muslims collaborate in caring for people affected by HIV and AIDS in the country's northwestern region.

Inter-religious Dialogue

Sociologist Dr Ignas Kleden from the Indonesian Community for Democracy highlighted the importance of formal democratic structures and an actively engaged civil society in creating space for freedom and responsibility. "In both education and religious life, the maturity of a person is measured against the extent to which one has been released from total dependence on external authority."

In a final, joint Christian-Muslim paper, ICRS professors J. B. Banawiratma and Fatimah Husein argued for collaboration between people of different faiths not only in academic circles, but also in religious communities and society at large. Accepting the other's freedom, does not imply that the different perspectives would remain isolated. "Inter-religious dialogue is the way to perform freedom and responsibility," they stated.

"This consultation in itself gave an example of how to live out freedom and responsibility together with others," remarked Rev. Simone Sinn, former DTS theological associate, citing the candid and constructive interaction throughout the consultation.

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