HEGEMONI BARAT DAN NASIB KONTEKSTUALISASI TEOLOGI DI INDONESIA

Authors

  • Robert Setio

Keywords:

hegemony, contextualization, clash of Islam - Christianity

Abstract

Western Hegemony and the Destiny of Indonesian Contextualization

 

In “the Next Christendom” Philip Jenkins infers that the popularity of the charismatic movements among the Christians in the southern hemisphere is caused by its close affinity with the indigenous beliefs. It is as if a turning point of the history of Christianity in the South. Since the planting time of the missionaries, the ancestral beliefs of the local people have been suspected and expelled from the church. By the arrival of the charismatic movements, the beliefs may still be unacceptable, but, they have a family resemblance. The type of belief and rite of the charismatic are a reminder of the local beliefs. That is why charismatism is welcome by the people, more than the mainstream churches. In other words, Jenkins wants to say that the day of the mainstream churches has gone. It is now the time for the charismatic churches or movements.

In this article, however, I would argue that the influence of the mainstream churches within the Christians in Indonesia is still strong. The suspicion towards the local beliefs and any irrational mode of thinking and behaviour has been prolonged. They way the churches in Indonesia organize themselves may also show the legacy of the European churches. In short, charismaticism has not brought a major change in Indonesian churches. It does not mean that the new movements have not influenced the churches at all. There are some evidents which show the influence of charismaticism, including those that impact the mainstream churches. For that reason, I would emphasize that charismaticism is actually a reflection of the U.S. hegemony which might be a replacement of the European hegemony, but, still of the same northern contingent.

Since the influence of European churches and American charismaticism is still factual, Indonesian churches have not gained their independence. Contextualization which endorses an independent and mature church is rightly to be questioned. Whether Indonesian churches have done enough to contextual their theology and the church life. Unfortunately the answer is not a happy one. Contextualization is still on its way to happen. Nevertheless, contextualization is more helpful in bringing a peaceful relationship between the churches and their non-Christian environment. The future of Indonesian churches, whether it be like Jenkins’ prediction, i.e., conflict with Islam, or, peacefully coexist with Islam, depends on how contextualization works. The failure of contextualization would make Jenkins’ nightmare come true.

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Author Biography

Robert Setio

Pdt. Robert Setio, Ph.D. adalah Dosen pada Fakultas Teologi Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, Yogyakarta

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Published

2008-04-29