INTERNATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC

POLICY AND MANAGEMENT

FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
UNIVERSITAS GADJAH MADA
Syllabus

Religious Studies
Suhadi, Ph.D.
1. Description
The aim of this course is, first, to understand religious diversity in diverse
Indonesian contexts. In addition, we also elaborate religious diversity in
the world shortly. The way we learn about religious diversity is trough
studying beliefs, rituals, and communities of those religions/ beliefs.
Besides on the world religions, we pay our attention to the indigenous/
local religions of Indonesia. Second, how to deal with the religious
diversity. Here, we will discuss the way we study religions which is an
approach in the religious studies discipline. Moreover, we analysis
different positions in dealing with religious diversity such as exclusivism,
inclusivism, and pluralism. Third, to understand human common
problems. Part of our discussions will be on conflicts and acts of violence
in which religious texts, symbols and communities were involved. Here,
analysis toward states policies on religions in Indonesia is an
indispensable. Besides that we want to discuss human common problems
in natural disaster context where Indonesia has been enclave of natural
disasters. Finally, fourth, to build inter-religious cooperation. The way we
learn about inter-religious cooperation is by studying the theory of interreligious dialogue and the practices of inter-religious dialogue in the
society.
2. Requirements and Classroom Etiquette:

Students must arrive at class on time and are required to attend

minimum 11 of the 14 class sessions (75%).
Submitting weekly response paper (one page) to assigned reading
OR another home-work one day before the meeting at 19.00 WIB. It
must be submitted to www.suhadicourse.blogspot.com [comment
point within MKP UGM (S-1) Religious Studies] (the lecture will
explain further at the first meeting).
Laptops and other electronic devises should remain turned off
during class unless being used for presentations and class learning
activities.
Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated and is grounds for
immediate failure. Please take a look at these guidelines on what
constitutes plagiarism: http://lib.ugm.ac.id/ind/?page_id=327
1

The final grade consists of (a) attendance and discussion

participation 20 %; (b) weekly response paper 30 %; (c) UTS & UAS
50 %.
When needed, students may discuss with the lecturer by meeting outside the class or
by e-mail on missed any information on the class progress or for other academic
purposes, including on grading clarification. The lecturer email is
suhadi_cholil@ugm.ac.id

3. Schedule of Courses
N
o
1
2

Date

Subject

Introduction
Religious diversity at
international level
Religious diversity at
national level
Perspective of
academic study of
religion
Christianity

Islam

Hinduism

Ethno-religions in
Indonesia

3
4

9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Method

Reading/ Method

Discussion
- Lecture
- Class work
- Lecture
- Class work
- Lecture
- Discussion

Syllabus
Barret and Johnson
2002: xxvii-xxxviii
Suhadi et. al.
2010: 12-20
Smart 2000: 1-10

Small group
discussion
Small group
discussion
Field visit

Michel 6-10, 28-41

- Lecture
- Video
- Discussion

- Ruthven 1997: 121

McDaniel 2010: 93111
Schiller 1996: 409417

UTS (Mid-term Exam)

Attitude toward
diversity
State policy on
religions in Indonesia

- Lecture
- Discussion
- Policy
analysis
- Discussion
Religious freedom in
- Lecture
Indonesia
- Discussion
Religion, conflict, and
- Lecture
peace
- Video
- Discussion
Inter-religious dialogue - Lecture
and inter-religious
- Video
cooperation
- Discussion
Discussion and
Discussion
reflection

Eck 2001: 26-79

The bill PNPS No.
1/ 1965
Bagir 2014: 27-39
Al Qurtuby 2013:
1-19
Swidler 2008: 9-24
-

16 Tenta
-tive

UAS (Final Exam)

4. Reference:
Al Qurtuby, S. (2013). Peacebuilding in Indonesia: ChristianMuslim
Alliances in Ambon Island, Islam and Christian Muslim Relations,
Routledge, 1-19.
Bagir, Z.A. (2014). Advocacy for Religious Freedom in Democratizing
Indonesia. The Review of Faith & International Affairs. Institute for
Global Engagement.
Barret, D.B. and Johnson, T.M., (2002). A Statitical Approach to the
Worlds Religious Adherents, 2000-2050 C.E., in Melton, J.B. and
Baumann, M. Religion of the World A Comprehensive Ensyclopedia
of Beliefs and Practices, Santa Barbara: Abc Clio.
Eck, D.L. (2001). A New Religious America. San Fransisco: Harper.
McDaniel, J. (2010) Agama Hindu Dharma Indonesia as a New Religious
Movement: Hinduism Recreated in theImage of Islam. Nova
Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, pp. 93111.
Michel, T. (.). A Christian Explains His Faith to Muslims. (.).
Ruthven, M. (1997). Islam A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Schiller, A. (1996). An Old Religion in New Order Indonesia: Notes on
Ethnicity and Religious Affiliation in Sociology of Religion, Vol. 57,
No. 4 (Winter), pp. 409-417.
Smart, N., (2000). Worldviews Cross-cultural Explorations of Human Belief,
third edition, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Suhadi, et. al. (2010). Annual Report on Religious Life in Indonesia 2009,
Yogyakarta: CRCS UGM.

Swidler, Leonard. (2008). Understanding Dialogue in Mays, R.K.,

Interfaith Dialogue at the Grass Roots, Pennsylvania: Ecumenical
Press, pp. 9-24.
The bill PNPS No. 1/ 1965 on religious blasphemy, etc.