Kemenag emphasizes Mediator State-Civil Society, Menag: Must be able to play the role of a balancer
JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar emphasized that the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) must play a strategic role as a bridge and mediator between the state and civil society, in order to maintain harmony in religious life in the midst of the ever-evolving social dynamics.
English:
"The Ministry of Religion must really be present as a balancer. Not too quick to intervene, but also not indifferent when the state must indeed be present," said Nasaruddin Umar in Tangerang, Monday, quoted by Antara.
English:
The message was conveyed by the Minister of Religion while giving a keynote speech at the Ministry of Religion Workshop with the theme "Preparing the Future People". This activity is part of the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Ministry of Religion in 2025.
English:
The Minister of Religion hopes that in the future the Ministry of Religion must have measurable targets so that it can play this role. Therefore, the Minister of Religion hopes that in the workshop attended by religious figures, academics, representatives of religious organizations, to officials of the Ministry of Religion, the direction of the Ministry of Religion can be formulated in the future.
English:
"Today we present stakeholders, religious figures, academics, and religious organizations. So that all parties feel that they have the Ministry of Religion, then we involve everyone," said the Minister of Religion.
English:
"We have to formulate what the future of the nation is and what the Ministry of Religion must do. Tomorrow we will follow up on what was formulated today in the National Conference. I hope the Ministry of Religion can play this balancing role," he said.
English:
According to Nasaruddin Umar, without a strong balancing role, the relationship between religion and the state has the potential to suppress each other and create new problems in the community.
English:
"Countries that are too dominant in regulating religion, he continued, can erode religious autonomy. On the other hand, if religion too much influences the state, it risks bringing Indonesia to the direction of a religious state.
English:
"The Ministry of Religion must be in the middle position as a fair bridge," he said.
English:
The Minister of Religion also highlighted the increasingly complex challenges of immunization due to the distance between normative religious teachings and the reality of modern society which is rational, open, and fast-moving.
English:
This condition requires the presence of a proportional state in religious affairs so as not to cause social tension.
English:
"This is where the Ministry of Religion must be able to bridge the two worlds that are emotionally and intellectually different," said the Minister of Religion.
English:
English:
English:
English:
English:
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Religion, Kamaruddin Amin, in his report said that this workshop was held to support the preparation of the Outlook on Religious Life of the Ministry of Religion in 2026 as a strategic policy document.
English:
"Religious life today faces serious challenges, ranging from digitization, changes in the spiritual orientation of the younger generation, polarization of identity, the prevalence of religious hoaxes, minority issues, house of worship conflicts, to global challenges such as the climate crisis," said Kamaruddin.
English:
According to him, this condition requires a responsive, inclusive, and data-based religious policy. The Outlook on Religious Life 2026 is expected to map trends, issues, risks, and directions for religious policies that will serve as a reference for the Ministry of Religion's programs and services in the coming year.
English: