DEMOCRACY AND THE THE PUBLIC SPHERES OF INDONESIAN TWO CITIES: A Phenomenogical Research to Salatiga and P. Siantar

Abstract

Since the revolutionary struggle for Indonesian independence until the 1998 reform, the role of religions has been very constructive for independence and democracy. Reform has become a new milestone in the emancipatory role of religions for the life of the nation.  Ironically, after the reformation, in a number of cities in Indonesia, the practice of religion-based identity politics shows another face of religion practices that are less constructive for democracy.  However, the city of Salatiga in Java, which is predominantly Muslim and of Javanese ethnicity and the city of Pematang Siantar in Sumatra, which is predominantly Christian and of Batak ethnicity, they actualize themselves as cities that have been consistently striving to care for the order of national life in the midst of diversity.  The two cities have become the living models of caring for unity in diversity of another