RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN ISLAM

Abstract

The respect and tolerance which society must show towards the religions of other people is one of the most important aspects of human rights issue. This includes the issue of freedom of religion. Diversity of religious traditions can ideally help people in comparing the relative strengths of the teachings of their respective faiths and in adjusting the practice accordingly. The tendency to claim truthfulness of one’s own faith and treating all others as worthy of condemnation leads not only to suffering for many, but also results in drawing many people away from the idea of taking religion seriously.

        The following is a brief overview on religious tolerance from the Islamic perspectives with a brief demography of religion in Indonesia. Some principles that show the importance of religious tolerance in Islam are discussed. It is then followed by misconceptions about Islam/Moslem and ways to address it.