The Role of Religious Leaders in Promoting Religious Moderation in Society
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31943/afkarjournal.v9i1.3231Keywords:
Religious Leaders, Religious Moderation, Tolerance, Interfaith Harmony, PluralismAbstract
This study aims to analyze the role of religious leaders in promoting religious moderation among communities, particularly in the context of a pluralistic and diverse social life. Religious moderation is a religious approach that emphasizes tolerance, fairness, balance, and the avoidance of extreme attitudes in practicing religion. Religious leaders hold a strategic position as role models and communicators of religious values who can influence the attitudes and behaviors of the community.
The method used in this study is a descriptive qualitative method, with data collection techniques including in-depth interviews with religious leaders from various faiths (Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism), participatory observation of religious and social activities, and documentation studies from literature and policies related to religious moderation.
The research location is focused on areas with a high degree of religious diversity, allowing for the direct exploration of moderation practices.
The results of the study indicate that religious leaders play a significant role in conveying messages of moderation through sermons, lectures, interfaith dialogues, and religious social activities. The main findings show that religious leaders who are active in interfaith forums and tolerance- strengthening programs tend to be more effective in instilling the values of moderation in their congregations.
On the other hand, there are still challenges such as the lack of training, the influence of identity politics, and resistance from conservative groups that hinder the optimal role of religious leaders. The conclusion of this study is that religious leaders are key actors in grounding religious moderation within a diverse society. They can serve as agents of change who bridge differences and prevent conflicts based on religion.
The implementation of this research's findings can be carried out through strengthening the capacity of religious leaders in terms of religious moderation literacy, government policy support in mainstreaming tolerant preaching, and collaboration among religious and educational institutions to create constructive dialogue spaces.
Downloads
References
Abdul Wahid. “‘Moderasi Beragama Dalam Perspektif Pendidikan Agama Islam: Implementasi Dalam Pendidikan Multikultural Di Indonesia.’” Scholars: Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Dan Pendidikan, Vol. 2, No. 1 (2024): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.32528/tarlim.v7i2.2464.
Abid Nurhuda Surakarta & Nur Aini. “Bergandengan Di Tengah Keberagaman (Moderasi Beragama Di Indonesia).” Sudut Pandang, Vol. 2, No. 9 (2021): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.55314/jsp.v2i9.196.
Ahmad Hermawan & Jesus Alberto Valero Matas. “Religious Moderation in Shaping Interfaith Relations: A Comparative Study of Indonesia and Malaysia.” Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama Dan Lintas Budaya, Vol. 8, No. 2 (2023): 95–110. https://doi.org/0.15575/rjsalb.v8i2.20273.
Ali Iskandar Zulkarnain, Diar Mukti Asri, & Rica Amelia Putri. “Analisis Faktor-Faktor Pendukung dan Penghambat Moderasi Beragama dalam Lingkungan Sekolah.” Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, Vol. 9, No. 1 (2025): 10630–10636. https://doi.org/10.31004/jptam.v9i1.26355.
Astuti, Tri Sulistianing, Ridwan Ridwan, dan Djayadi Hanan. 2024. “Examining New Public Diplomacy and Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia: Cases of World Peace Forum (WPF) and Religion Twenty (R20).” Studia Islamika 31, no. 3: 477–510. https://doi.org/10.36712/sdi.v31i3.38376.
Athoillah Islamy. “Pengarustamaan Moderasi Beragama dalam Penyelenggaraan Majelis Taklim di Indonesia.” Journal of Religious Policy, Vol. 2, No. 1 (2023): 103–132. https://doi.org/10.31330/repo.v2i1.17.
Atika Muallifah & Imam Sutomo. “Moderasi Beragama Dan Teologi Toleransi: Peran Tokoh Agama Di Desa Jelok, Boyolali.” Academic Journal of Islamic Principles and Philosophy, Vol. 5, No. 2 (2024): 283–302. https://doi.org/10.22515/ajipp.v5i2.9991.
Avav Masruroh & Arina Qisthi Adilla Masruroh. “Moderasi Beragama Sebagai Solusi Mengatasi Konflik Internal Antarindividu Sekolah.” Majemuk: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2025): 98-105. https://ejurnal.uij.ac.id/index.php/mjk/article/view/3712?.
Fitri Wulandari, Sigit Raharja, Andi Arif Rifa’i. “Internalisasi Moderasi Beragama Di Pondok Pesantren Tahfidzul Wa Ta’limul Qur’an Masjid Agung Surakarta Menangkal Radikalisme.” Al-Mutharahah: Jurnal Penelitian Dan Kajian Sosial Keagamaan, Vol. 20, No. 1 (2023): 160–172. https://ojs.diniyah.ac.id/index.php/Al-Mutharahah/article/view/748.
Halim, Ismail, dan Faisal Faisal. 2024. “Perspectives of Interfaith Figures on Religious Moderation in an ‘Intolerant City’: A Study in Padang.” Abrahamic Religions: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama 4, no. 1: 71–83. https://doi.org/10.22373/arj.v4i1.22866.
Hanifayu Khoiriah & Fani Agung Mulyani. “Communication Patterns of Pasundan Synod Christian Church Pastors in Building Interreligious Relations in a Muslim Majority Environment.” Hanifiya: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama, Vol. 8, No. 1 (2023): 117–128. https://doi.org/10.15575/hanifiya.v8i1.41610.
I Nyoman Santiawan & I Nyoman Warta. “Dialog Lintas Iman Sebagai Upaya Memperkuat Moderasi Beragama.” Widya Aksara: Jurnal Agama Hindu, Vol. 14, No. 1 (2023): 102–110.
https://ejournal.sthd-jateng.ac.id/index.php/WidyaAksara/article/view/152.
Indah Novitasari. “Peran Pemuka Agama Dalam Membangun Moderasi Dan Pencegahan Konflik Diantara Umat Beragama Di Kampung Sawah Bekasi.” Syntax Literate: Jurnal Ilmiah Indonesia, Vol. 9, No. 6 (2024): 3745–3752. https://doi.org/10.36418/syntax-literate.v9i6.15779.
Isnatin Ulfah & Luthfi Hadi Aminuddin. “Pluralitas Orientasi Ideologi Muslim Klepu Sooko Ponorogo.” Kodifikasia: Jurnal Penelitian Islam, Vol. 18, No. 1 (2024): 107–127. https://jurnal.iainponorogo.ac.id/index.php/kodifikasia/article/download/9680/3468/27946?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Izzatul Mardhiah, Muhamad Ridwan Effendi, Surya Hadi Darma, & Sa’dullah. “Strategi Penilaian Sikap Toleransi Mahasiswa Dengan Mengintegrasikan Teknik Pete Ward Dalam Pendidikan Teologi Berbasis Moderasi Beragama.” Paedagogie: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Studi Islam, Vol. 6, No. 1 (n.d.):35–55. https://www.ejurnal.staimuttaqien.ac.id/index.php/paedagogie/article/download/2845/352/7230?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
John W. Creswell & J. David Creswell. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 6th Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2023, hlm. 45–47.
Kathryn Roulston, Janie Copple, & Kathleen deMarrais. Qualitative Research Design and Methods: An Introduction. Sterling, VA: Myers Education Press, 2023, hlm. 60–64.
Kurniawan, Ahmatnijar Puji, dan Liah Rosdiani Nasution. 2024. “Cultivating Harmony: Strengthening Religious Inclusivity Through Interfaith Dialogue in Rural South Tapanuli.” Afkaruna: Indonesian Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Studies 21, no. 1: 88–95.
https://journal.umy.ac.id/index.php/afkaruna/article/view/24161/11800.
Linda Dwi Novita Wardani. “Peran Tokoh Agama Dalam Meningkatkan Kesadaran Moderasi Beragama Masyarakat Multikultural (Klepu, Sooko, Ponorogo).” ETNOREFLIKA: Jurnal Sosial Dan Budaya, Vol. 14, No. 2 (2025): 164–176. https://doi.org/10.33772/etnoreflika.v14i2.2903.
M. Irfan Islamy, M. Kholis Amrullah, & Lutfiatuz Zahroʾ. “Moderasi Beragama: Penanaman Pada Lembaga Pendidikan Formal Dan Nonformal.” Jurnal Studi Agama, Vol. 9, No. 2 (2021): 57–69. https://e-journal.metrouniv.ac.id/nizham/article/view/4308?.
Mardhiah, Izzatul; Effendi, Muhamad Ridwan; Sa’dullah, Sa’dullah; & Ihsan, Faqih Fathul. “Penguatan Peran Da’i dalam Pengembangan Program Moderasi Beragama.” Satwika: Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Desember 2024): 128–136. https://doi.org/10.21009/satwika.040206.
Martyn Hammersley. What Is Qualitative Research? London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023, hlm. 12–13.
Muhamad Ridwan Effendi, Surya Hadi Darma, Sa’dullah, & Izzatul Mardhiah. “Strategi Penilaian Sikap Toleransi Mahasiswa Dengan Mengintegrasikan Teknik Pete Ward Dalam Pendidikan Teologi Berbasis Moderasi Beragama.” Paedagogie: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Studi Islam, Vol. 6, No. 1 (2025):35–55. https://www.ejurnal.staimuttaqien.ac.id/index.php/paedagogie/article/download/2845/352/7230?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Muhammad Alhada Fuadilah Habib & Sulvinajayanti Mahyudin. “Dinamika Pengarusutamaan Moderasi Beragama Dalam Perkembangan Masyarakat Digital.” Asketik: Jurnal Agama Dan Perubahan Sosial, Vol. 6, No. 1 (2022): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.30762/asketik.v6i1.181.
Muhammad Nurrosyid Huda Setiawan & Afiyatin Nur Izzah M. Kharis Majid. “Fostering Religious Harmony: The Role of Religious Leaders in Pancasila Village, Indonesia.” Abrahamic Religions: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama, Vol. 4, No. 2 (2022): 189–199. https://doi.org/10.22373/arj.v4i2.25818.
Nanda Khairiyah & Nurpini Aulia Rapika Sugiyono. “Resiliensi Kerukunan Umat Beragama Melalui Dialog Interaktif Lintas Agama Pada Tokoh Agama Di Jakarta.” Dharmakarya: Jurnal Aplikasi Ipteks Untuk Masyarakat, Vol. 13, No. 3 (2024): 299–305. https://doi.org/10.52083/dharmakarya.v13i3.52083.
Ni’matuz Zuhrah Muthoharoh, Samsuri, & Nurdin. “Strategi Sosialisasi Moderasi Beragama Kantor Wilayah Kementerian Agama Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara.” Jurnal Mercusuar: Bimbingan, Penyuluhan, Dan Konseling Islam, Vol. 3, No. 2 (2023): 31–40. https://doi.org/10.31332/jmrc.v3i2.9513.
Nurman Said & Emily Nur Saidy Mubarak Taswin. “Revitalisasi Budaya Lokal Dalam Bingkai Moderasi Beragama.” Ruang Komunitas: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2024): 43–54. https://doi.org/10.24252/rkjpm.v2i2.51140.
Nurul Malahayati. “Peran Tokoh Agama Dalam Mempertahankan Toleransi Antarumat Beragama.” Komunika: Journal of Communication Science and Islamic Dakwah, Vol. 8, No. 2 (2022): 45–58. https://doi.org/10.32832/komunika.v8i2.17821.
Olih Solihin, Sahra Berlianti, Zikri Fachrul Nurhadi, & Ummu Salamah. “Strategi Komunikasi Penyuluh Agama Dalam Mensosialisasikan Moderasi Beragama.” Alhadharah: Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah, Vol. 22, No. 1 (2023): 67–83. https://doi.org/10.18592/alhadharah.v22i1.8845.
S. Ropiah. “Moderasi Beragama dalam Bingkai Akhlak.” At-Tajdid: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pemikiran Islam, Vol. 9, No. 1 (2024): 1–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.24127/att.v9i1.4150.
Sahra Nurhadi, Zikri F., Salamah, Ummu, Solihin, Olih, & Berlianti. “Strategi Komunikasi Penyuluh Agama Dalam Mensosialisasikan Moderasi Beragama.” Alhadharah: Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah, Vol. 22, No. 1 (2023): 67–83. https://jurnal.uin-antasari.ac.id/index.php/alhadharah/article/view/8845?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Sawia Tjindrawati Pattilauw. “Strategi Komunikasi Penyuluh Agama Islam Kota Ternate Dalam Mensosialisasikan Moderasi Beragama.” Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, Vol. 10, No. 5 (2024): 1003–1015. https://doi.org/0.5281/zenodo.10791097.
Scott Tunison, Keith D. Walker, & Janet Mola Okoko. Varieties of Qualitative Research Methods: Selected Contextual Perspectives. Cham: Springer, 2023, hlm. 60–64.
Siti Ropiah & Sahlani Hafiz. “Moderasi Beragama Di Ruang Digital: Studi Kasus Pada Harmonisasi Moderasi Beragama Di STAI Haji Agus Salim Cikarang Bekasi.” ARJI, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2025): 112–125. https://journal.nahnuinisiatif.com/index.php/ARJI/article/view/268.
Sulvinajayanti Mahyudin & Muhammad Alhada Fuadilah Habib. “Dinamika Pengarusutamaan Moderasi Beragama Dalam Perkembangan Masyarakat Digital.” Asketik: Jurnal Agama Dan Perubahan Sosial, Vol. 6, No. 1 (2022): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.30762/asketik.v6i1.181%0A.
Sulvinajayanti. 2024. “Interfaith Harmony: Optimizing Digital Media and Stakeholder Collaboration in Communicating the Message of Moderation.” International Journal of Religion 5, no. 10: 4757–4765. https://doi.org/10.61707/frs7yn36.
Sutrisno, Martino Edy, dan Marsidi. 2024. “Potret Kerukunan Antar Umat Beragama dalam Bingkai Moderasi Beragama: Studi Kasus di Desa Sidodadi, Malang.” Harmoni 23, no. 2: 291–310. https://doi.org/10.32488/harmoni.v23i2.699.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Neneng Khuliah, Siti Ropiah, Siti Salamah, Nanang Kosim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
