Soothing, Portrait of Religious Tolerance in Sawah Village in Bekasi

Sawah village in Bekasi, West Java, is known as a village that has a high tolerance level. The reason is that the village is inhabited by a plural society of different religions: Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism.

Even three places of worship stand close together. The distance between the Servatius Catholic Church, the Pasundan Christian Church, and the Great Mosque of Al-Jauhar Fisabilillah is no more than 100 meters.

On Christmas Day, Wednesday (25/12) yesterday, Muslims in Kampung Sawah participated. They welcomed the arrival of the congregation who wanted to worship at the Saint Servatius Catholic Church.

In addition, Muslims also help regulate vehicle traffic that passes through the Kampung Sawah Highway. They also arrange parking for congregants who are going to church.

"Yes, we help traffic order, right? The name is on the side of the road. And insufficient parking spaces in the church, (vehicles) can be in the parking yards of the mosque, "said Chairman of the Fisabilillah Education Foundation and Muslim leader in Kampung Sawah, KH Rachmadin Afif, told AFP on Thursday (12/26/2019).

Afif said that almost every Christmas celebration, Muslims help regulate traffic. This is a form of religious tolerance. Because of their tolerance, positive and negative comments were addressed to the people of Kampung Sawah

"If people are radically extreme, yes maybe yes, or maybe the catch of thought that is indeed narrow, it could be 'what the hell use it so well'. Islamic teachings are like that, right? We are ordered to do good (fellow humans), "Afif said.

"This is religious tolerance. So we help our fellow human beings, "he continued.

Community leader from the Catholic Betawi in Sawah Village, Jacob Napiun, said religious tolerance in Kampung Sawah not only occurs during the celebration of the feast, but has become a daily habit. Even so, he was very grateful that Muslims in Kampung Sawah participated in the 2019 Christmas service.

"Something that was very moving for me. It really helps us, giving something pure from the heart. I celebrate (Christmas) also (calmly), "Jacob said.

In addition to the celebration of Christmas, other forms of tolerance in the form of giving each other food among residents if they get abundant fortune. Or when one of the residents is grieving, the people of Kampung Sawah stay in touch and help in a sincere manner regardless of ethnicity, race or religion.

"I hope, if indeed Kampung Sawah is considered to be an icon, it can be an example in other places, yes please. Hopefully that can indeed be an example, yes. It is my hope that all of us by respecting each other, respecting differences, we can be friends with one another, and become brothers and sisters to each other. I think departing from this moment might be my hope, "he said.

Source: detik.com