Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, said on Monday
that the ministry must act as a strategic bridge between the state and civil
society to preserve religious harmony amid evolving social dynamics.
Speaking at a ministry workshop titled “Preparing the Future Religious Community” in
Serpong, Tangerang, Nasaruddin said the Ministry of Religious Affairs should
position itself as a mediator — neither intervening too hastily nor remaining
absent when state involvement is necessary. The workshop was part of the
ministry’s 2025 National Working Meeting.
“The ministry must truly function as a balancing
force,” Nasaruddin said. “It should not intervene too quickly, but it must also
not stand idle when the state is required to be present.”
He said the ministry needs clear, measurable
targets to fulfill that role and called for broad stakeholder involvement in
shaping its future direction. The workshop brought together religious leaders,
academics, representatives of faith-based organizations and senior ministry
officials.
Nasaruddin warned that without a strong
balancing role, relations between religion and the state could become strained.
Excessive state control over religion, he said, could erode religious autonomy,
while excessive religious influence over the state could push Indonesia toward
a theocratic model.
“The Ministry of Religious Affairs must remain
in the middle, as a fair bridge,” he said.
He also highlighted growing challenges caused
by the gap between normative religious teachings and the realities of a modern,
rational and fast-moving society, saying proportional state involvement was
needed to prevent social tension. Nasaruddin further cautioned against the
politicization of religion, stressing the importance of maintaining public
trust.
Separately, the ministry’s secretary general,
Kamaruddin Amin, said the workshop was aimed at supporting the development of
the 2026 Religious Life Outlook, a
strategic policy document. He said religious life faces challenges ranging from
digitalization and youth disengagement to identity polarization, religious
disinformation, minority issues and climate change.
The
workshop, he said, would help map trends and risks to inform future ministry
programs.