SNP's 'Hot' Proposal To Pray For All Religions, Ferdinand: Smart But Stupid?

Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Menag Twitter Photo)

JAKARTA - The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 'heats up' after Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas proposed that in every event in his ministry could be filled with prayers of all religions.

According to the MCC there are 2 interpretations in the proposal of the Minister of Yaqut. First, there is one person who recites the prayers of all religions and secondly, there are 6 people who take turns reciting prayers according to their religion.

"The first possibility belongs to the category of syncretism, which is mixing one religion with another. Everyone simply reads the prayer according to the teachings of his religion alone, should not be forced,"

"The second possibility, this is still possible, but the implementation will take a lot of time and many times the budget," said Indra Kusumah, President of GEMA Keadilan PKS uploaded by PKS twitter account, @PKSejahtera.

The MCC's views were criticized by former Democratic politician Ferdinand Hutahaean via his twitter account. Ferdinand said, MCC does not fully understand what the Minister said.

"So call SYNCRETISM. There is no mixing there but give the same space bg all adherents of religion in acara2 @Kemenag_RI bkn acara2 religion," explained Ferdinand, @FerdinandHaean3

In his last tweet, Ferdinand gave a scathing critique of the MCC's outreach. "Angry if you say smart but stupid?" explained Ferdinand.

Back to the MCC, what has become a habit all along should be continued only. The recitation of prayer is sufficient by one person according to the majority religion present while the other adjusts the prayer according to their respective religions.

Suppose in West Java the recitation of prayer is usually by Muslims, in North Sulawesi usually by Christians and in Bali by Hindu religious leaders.

"Participants from other religions adjust to pray according to the teachings of their religion. That's tolerance. All respect each other without having to mix the teachings of one religion with another."

Separately, Minister yaqut Cholil Qoumas has provided clarification on this proposal. According to him, the prayers of all religions are only delivered for the activities of the national working meeting of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Rakernas Kemenag), not to change the procedure of reading prayers in all activities.

"That also only applies in the Ministry of Religious Affairs pas Rakernas, where all employees participate, and do I try to change the practice of prayer at state events? No," said the Minister of Religious Affairs in a meeting with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives in Jakarta reported from Antara, Thursday, April 8.