Religion and Colonialism by Nihayatul Wafiroh

From the articles, I am able to figure out that colonialism influenced in the religious revival movement in Indonesia. Sartono Kartodirjo in his book, The Pesants’ Revolt of Banten in 1888 in chapter V, described that there were three important elements of the religious revival, which were Haji, pesantren and tarekat. I do agree with this author for this argument. However, for me Kartodirjo exaggerated when he explained about the tension among tarekat groups. He said in page 163 that, “it seemed as though the rivalry was based on the personal issues between the leaders of the orders rather than on religio-sosial factors.” In my understanding, the tension among tarekat groups was just intrigue not physical tension. I think that tarekat is just the way to be closer to the God, so as far as I know that the leaders just guide the followers to do certain rituals in order to help them to be closer to Allah. However, my understanding might be depended on my knowledge of tarekat in recent years.

In fact, living under colonialism made people to gather in order to release from the colonialism. From the novel Bumi Manusia by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, I could get the picture of Indonesia situation in 19 century under colonialism. Pribumi or Indonesia indigenous people became the servants in their mother land, and colonialists who indeed were the comers had more power to control everything. The sentiment of religion, race and nationality ignited the revival movement against colonialism.

The questions that come to my mind are that I think that right now Indonesia is still under colonialism with different form, can religions become the locomotive of the revival movement to release Indonesia from the economical colonialism.