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Indonesia is distinguished not only by being home to the largest Muslim population in the world, but also to one that comprises a multitude of diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural communities spread out across the vast Indonesian archipelago from Aceh province in the west to Papua province in the east. One of the prime forces holding this large, widely-spread population together is its dominant Muslim religion. This paper seeks to describe the major Muslim groups in Indonesia, with particular reference to those that incite the social and political unrest that has characterized the country since its inception in 1945.
Key Words: Indonesia; Muslim organizations; Religious sects; Pancasila; Sukarno; Suharto; Reform period; Terrorism.
Introduction
Formerly known to Westerners as the East Indies, modern Indonesia comprises some 250 million inhabitants, thousands of separate islands, and hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups. After independence following more than four hundred years of rule by Dutch colonialists, a nascent, shared identity was fortified by the official adoption of the motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika ("many, yet one"). The overwhelming majority of the population is ardently Muslim, but even they are divided into a multitude of sects, each with its own customs and interpretations of the Muslim religion. The result is a state of dynamic interaction between diverse religious sects that creates constant social and political tension. The state officially adheres to the five principles of Pancasila: Belief in the One and only God; Justice for all Indonesians, regardless of their ethnic or social status; The Unity of Indonesia; Decision-making through deliberations, musyawarah, to reach a consensus, mufakat; Social justice for the whole people of Indonesia
There are six internationally recognized religions in Indonesia, namely: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Kong Hu Chu (Confucianism). Based on the National Statistic Bureau (BPS, 2010) survey, Islamic believers are far the most numerous, comprising 87.18% of the total population, followed by Protestant Christians 6.96%, Catholics 2.91%, Hindus 1.69%, Buddhists 0.72%, and Kong Hu Chu 0.05%. The followers of these religions have for generations lived together side by side in Indonesia, acknowledging each other's beliefs as something that should not be questioned by others.
Under the principle of Pancasila, the Indonesian constitution guarantees its people the right to embrace and practice their belief in...