The Forgotten Baduy Tribe, Now Supported By Religious Organization PBNU

Photo by Weli Ayu RejekiImam

Chief Executive of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), Imam Aziz supports if the government enters a "ethnic religions" in religious columns on electronic identity cards (e-ID cards). He reasoned, it is part of freedom of religion and belief.

Previously, the elders of Baduy In Kampung Cibeo, Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar District, Lebak Regency, Banten Province, Mursid's father requested that the "Badam Sunda Wiwitan" religion adopted by Baduy residents was posted on e-KTP.

According to Mursid, the Beduy people are part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), but the beliefs that have been so far are not recognized in the e-ID card column. Supposedly, he said, the government officially recognizes the belief of "Sunda Wiwitan" as the religion of Baduy society that is a relic of the ancestors.

During this time, the Ministry of Home Affairs, emptied the religious column for believers in e-ID cards. Currently, the religions listed in the e-ID card are only six officially recognized religions, namely: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

However, according to Imam Aziz, the existence of the official religious term is simply to facilitate the government in recording the population for their political performance. "Confucianism was not an official religion, but because many followers of Gus Dur [Abdurrahman Wahid] inaugurated as [official] religion," he said.

Imam Aziz asserted that the freedom to embrace religion and belief in this country is regulated in Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution. So that the flow of beliefs such as Sunda Wiwitan, Kejawen, Parmalim, and others can still be embraced by the followers.

"If the adherents want to put on the ID card, yes please. I think it is not like the New Order era [New Order] forced to use official religion, "he explained.

It's just that, continued Imam Aziz, to call the flow of beliefs as the same religion, such as the religion of heaven and the religion of ardhi (earth) can not be completely. "The flow of religion that is sociologically religious enter into religion is not terinstitusi. That is, they do not have a universal shari'a like other major religions, "he said.

However, Imam Aziz added, it is not impossible that even the flow of trust can eventually become an institutionalized religion. Can have a book that contains the structure of religious law.

The opinion of Imam Aziz is contrary to the statement of the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Din Syamsuddin. Din even mentioned Sunda Wiwitan is not a religion and does not need to be included in e-ID card.

"In my opinion, it is not a religion. Not in a scientific sense of religion. Based on revelation or based on some kind of inspiration. Then form the holy book, there is a carrier, there is a ritual system, "said Din.

He also requested the definition of religion by law to be clarified. "Is an existing, official religion, recognized by the state and society, or is the community's beliefs?" Din said.

"If the beliefs of society, let alone any root in a particular religion, it can not be understood as a religion," he added.

According to Din, the government should ask this question to the people of Baduy Dalam. He asked the government to ask them "Are they Muslim or not Muslim, try to ask first. Because religious criteria are scientifically limited, "said Din.

This, continued Din, aims to clarify the roots of religion Sunda Wiwitan. Because, said Din, if all the flow of trust is considered a religion, then there will be thousands of new religions that appear. ( M. Ahsan Ridhoi)