Beschreibung
Indonesia is a multicultural and multireligious nation whose heterogeneity
is codified in the state doctrine, the Pancasila. Yet the relations
between the various social, ethnic, and religious groups have been
problematic down to the present day. In several respects, Christians have
a precarious role in the struggle for shaping the nation. In the aftermath
of the former president Suharto’s resignation and in the course of the
ensuing political changes Christians have been involved both as victims
and perpetrators in violent regional clashes with Muslims that claimed
thousands of lives. Since the beginning of the new millennium the violent
conflicts have lessened, yet the pressure exerted on Christians by Islamic
fundamentalists still continues undiminished in the Muslim-majority
regions. The future of the Christians in Indonesia remains uncertain, and
pluralist society is still on trial. For this reason the situation of
Christians in Indonesia is an important issue that goes far beyond
research on a minority, touching on general issues relating to the
formation of the nation-state
