Halal bi halal as a Tradition of Maintaining Relationships among Religious Believers

 

Father F.X Widyatmoko SJ (left) was celebrating the Mass (Catholicscope)

Catholicscope - Young scholar Nahdlatul Ulama, Savic Ali, said halal bi halal reinvigorated the importance of unity.

"This is an opportunity to build bridges, especially new groups that may be connected now," he said, while giving a speech in the event at Yos Sudarso Building, St. Anna Duren Sawit Church, East Jakarta, Sunday, 1/7.

Halal bi halal across religions, Savic added, could be a model for building bridges among fellow citizens and caring for the fellow children of the nation.

Moreover, according to him, currently there are about 17 to 18 percent of Indonesian youth have been exposed to radicalism and hate speech to speak to others who are different from their class.

Director General of Catholic Bimas Eusabius Binsasi, he said, the unity and unity of Indonesia
recently got the spotlight from other countries. They, Eusibius explained, were amazed by this country because it was zealous to build tolerance amidst diversity.

Indonesia has a very strong tradition where interfaith people can meet each other and celebrate religious festivals together. This is Indonesia's wealth that should not be forgotten.

By meeting and greeting each other, we can establish intimacy with each other. This is the key to taking care of Indonesia as a country we love very much.

Halal bi halal, he added, became an opportunity to attach the knot of harmony and peace together. "Halal bi halal is not only Muslim tradition, but all non-Muslim circles," he said.

The head of Parish Duren Sawit, Father F. X Widyatmoko SJ, suggested that the activity will continue to build and strengthen the bridge of unity. The gathering, he argues, is an urgent need in the midst of a nation that is rocked by a number of hate and violent acts.

We are expected to actively destroy the peace, starting from our respective dwellings. That is one of our most tangible contributions to preserving Indonesia's diversity.

Indonesia will not be a great nation if we still put our ego and group first. Precisely together with others, other religions, other tribes, we will become a strong nation.