Indonesian Christianity: The Chinese


Figure 1.--The photo was taken during a worship service in a Catholic church in Jakarta. This was a Chinese Catholic church. Jakarta is the see of a Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Indonesia recognises five religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity (Evangelical and Catholic), and Confucianism. The Indonesian Government requires Indinesians to nregister a religion with whichthey are affiliated. Most of the Chinese community have registered as Chrustians.

General Suharto seized control of Indonesia to prevent a Communist take over (1965). Large numbers of people believed sympathetic to the Communists were killed. Non-religious persons were labelled atheists and as a result, potentially vulnerable to accusations of Communist sympathies. Many Christian churches reported a growth in membership. Some Indonesians turned to Christianity because they were uncomfortable with the political orientation of many mosques and Islamic parties. The Chinese in particular were suspect because of China was a Communist power. Many Chinese adopted Christianity to prove that they were not Communists. The Indonesian Government required Indonesians to proclaim an approved religion. This signidicantly increased Chinese commitment to Christianity. There was, however, a general reluctance to convert to Islam. We are not sure just why. We suspect that riting Muslims have on occasions attacked the Chinese is a factor. A reader suggesrs, "The eastern Chinese religious tradition was Confucian which has at its core a search for the harmony and moderation. I think that the Chinese as a result are not attracted by a religion like Islam which has such extreme elements and often tolerates extremism." This has angered Islamicists who see it as another example of the Chinese as an alien people in their country." The Offical Census reported 35 percent of the Chinese community was Christian. [2000 Census] Some observers believe that the Chuinese were undercounted. Even so this Christian orientation has continued with Indonesia's Chinese population into the 21st century. Some speculate that as many as 70 percent of Indonesia's Chinese are Christian.






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Created: 2:12 PM 3/13/2013
Last updated: 2:13 PM 3/13/2013