Have you ever thought what it would be like if the map of the world was redrawn according to beliefs? There will be Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and others. The agnostics can create a country of its own while the atheists will happily live where they won’t see GBU strewn across their twitter timelines.
In today’s global world, none of the 196 existing countries can stand alone. To move ahead, they need neighbors to share resources or faraway lands to transfer technology. Divided based on major religions, the world could have no more than a dozen authorities, each big enough to be self sufficient, living happily on its own.
Because let’s face it, religions don’t seem to like each other, right? They have this burning desire to force others to follow their ways. Just look at all the wars, attacks, threats, and fear spread in the name of faith. According to Setara Institute, at least 99 cases of conflicts and violence related to beliefs held by minorities occurred in Indonesia as of July this year, more than the total number for 2010. Breaking the world by religion makes more sense than by ethnicity or nationality. Thanks partly to ease of travel and colonialism, I have mixed blood of Batak, Manado and Dutch, not to mention other “minority” heritages that I’m proud of. By ethnic, I’d need to be split four, five, six ways. By nationality, well, I’m Indonesian, but how come I felt more accepted and safe in the UK or the Netherlands?
Religion bonds are also likely to be stronger as they make promises for the afterlife. With the pursuit of eternity of heavenly pleasures, living peacefully today with fellow humans looks insignificant and unimportant.
This will bring an end to religious intolerance. People can worship freely without worrying that the next time around they will be on the street, or even dead. The fear that your followers will be converted into another faith is removed because there is no need for conversion. Each religion then will have to deal with their own extremists – perhaps then they’d feel the need to act. No suicide bombers or mass murderers will be branded as terrorists. They will be called madmen instead. Most importantly, people can’t use religions anymore to hide their actual ugly perverted motive, whether it’s hunger for power or blatant violent streaks inside.
I don’t believe that any of this will ever work, of course. The beliefs and sects with smaller number of followers, whether it’s in the depth of Papua or Sumatra or in the cities of Java, need their space. The Ahmadis will still be rejected. Even more tragic than the 3-6 months jail time given to those who smashed their skulls, the murderers of Ahmadis may even be rewarded and heralded as heroes – wait, that’s already happening now. Even the major denominations within a religion, like the Sunni and Shia in Islam or Catholics and Protestant in Christianity, will retain their suspicion of each other. The Jehovah Witnesses may have to have their own island.
I guess I’m just dreaming to live in this special corner of the world where people believe that religion and spirituality are personal. It is between you and God or whatever it is you believe in. There’s no need to convert, no need to force. In that place, one’s attempts to reach heaven won’t create hell for others.
The seed of this piece came as I stared at a collection box that came in and out of my vision in a service held in a school hall. I couldn’t help but feeling sorry for the congregation that devotedly dropped their notes and coins. Even if they raise the funds, the likelihood of they’re actually building their dream church is close to zero, as the law requires that they secure the approval of the majority of the neighborhood. In a country where 86% of the population is Moslem, what are the chances? Even those that want to help are pressed by others.
Today, I read one of the most idiotic stories ever: the mayor of Bogor, the city where I work, said that churches couldn’t be built on streets with Islamic names.
I’m sick of religious intolerance. Aren’t you?
