Since its independence, Indonesia has recognized only six world religions as official religions of the state, including Islam and Christianity. Other religions, like indigenous religions or new religions haven’t been regarded as religions (agamas), but as “beliefs in One Supreme God” (kepercayaan terhadap Tuhan Yang Maha Esa), or simply “kepercayaan” or “beliefs,” and managed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The purpose of this paper is to examine the contents of the publications of the “Beliefs” Development Directorate of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Two books of the Literature Study series, one on traditional sayings, the other on the Javanese calendar system, published in the first fiscal year of the newly-born directorate, are in close ideological harmony with Indonesia’s traditional values, especially those of Java. On the other hand, an article written by the first director of the directorate in one of the books of the Development series indicated close attention to contemporary Indonesian legal circumstances surrounding “beliefs.” As a result of the strong disinclination of Islamic organizations towards “beliefs,” shifting them from “religion” to the category of “culture,” the “belief” development project became subject to many restrictions.
In late 1980s, the directorate published the results of large scale research project on the situation of “beliefs” in the main 12 provinces. Each was conducted by a team consisting of at least five specialists, and each publication could be described as the first comprehensive academic exposition on “beliefs” in that area.
Those series of publications on “beliefs” have showed that the government respected the traditional culture of its own country and intended to use its spirit for development. The “beliefs” leaders of the directorate, while acknowledging the diversity of Indonesian culture, intended to provide each “belief” group with a common foundation, specifically Pancasila’s first pillar, “One Supreme Divinity.” The 1980s was the decade when the reality of “beliefs,” which had been vague and amorphous since Indonesia’s independence, gradually became clear, and the foundation of the government’s promotion policy was built.
