Islamic Religious Education in Indonesia and the Netherlands (A Brief Comparison)

Description

Having differences of geographical location, size of territory and character, the two countries being examined in this study, Indonesia dan the Netherlands, have something in common. Both have diverse populations in terms of ethnic background, language and religion. These two countries have different policies in terms of providing and organizing of Islamic religious education. Indonesia requires its procurement and includes it in the curriculum, while the Netherlands does not require it but leaves it entirely to the school management concerned.

In Indonesia there is Nusantara Islam that adopts local wisdom so that Islam can be well received and does not pose a threat to other groups outside of Islam. The writer then views that it is necessary for the Muslims in the Netherlands to develop a European or Dutch Islam that adopts its traditions and culture within the European context as a democratic and multicultural society, not a kind of Islam that adopts and imports Arab culture and traditions. It is necessary that wasathiyyah (moderate) Islam be strengthened in the campaign in the Netherlands, one of which is by the teachers who organize Islamic Religious Education in Islamic schools. For both countries mainstreaming wasathiyyah Islam is a must in order to create a peaceful and harmonious society around the world.