Negotiating Religious Moderation in Pontianak City: Formal Constraints and Everyday Coexistence

Putri Handayani Lubis; Maria Puspitasari; Helva Zurayah; Muhammad Rachimoellah

doi:10.22373/jsai.v7i1.9798

Authors

Putri Handayani Lubis Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9837-5980
Maria Puspitasari Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6277-1295
Helva Zurayah Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia
Muhammad Rachimoellah Politeknik Negeri Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6026-0656

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22373/jsai.v7i1.9798

Keywords:

Religious Moderation, Formal Constraints, Inclusive Education, Informal Public Space, Pontianak

Abstract

This study examines how religious moderation is implemented and experienced in Pontianak City, with particular attention to the tension between formal institutional arrangements and everyday social interaction. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 24 informants from religious-bureaucratic, educational-academic, and civil society backgrounds, complemented by non-participant observation in informal public spaces. The findings show three recurring patterns. First, formal regulatory mechanisms, particularly in the establishment of houses of worship, may impose uneven procedural burdens on minority groups. Second, inclusive educational initiatives may encounter social suspicion and limited institutional support, making moderation difficult to sustain in practice. Third, informal public spaces such as warung kopi provide more ordinary and flexible opportunities for interaction across religious and social boundaries, thereby supporting practical coexistence in everyday life. These findings suggest that religious moderation should not be understood only through policy discourse and formal programs, but also through the uneven ways it is negotiated and practiced in daily social settings. The study argues that strengthening religious moderation requires not only institutional design, but also wider community engagement and greater attention to informal spaces of coexistence in plural urban contexts.

References

Arifianto, Alexander R. 2020. “Rising Islamism and the Struggle for Islamic Authority in Post- Reformasi Indonesia.” TRaNS: Trans -Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia 8(1):37–50. doi:10.1017/trn.2019.10.

Arifinsyah, Arifinsyah, and Ahmad Sofian. 2021. “Regulation on Worship House Establishment and Implication towards Minority Relation of Religious People Majority in Indonesia.” International Journal of Social Sciences 4(1):106–13. doi:10.31295/ijss.v4n1.1396.

Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. 2023. “Toward Good Practice in Thematic Analysis: Avoiding Common Problems and Be(Com)Ing a Knowing Researcher.” International Journal of Transgender Health 24(1):1–6. doi:10.1080/26895269.2022.2129597.

Chotimah, Chusnul, Saifuddin Zuhri Qudsy, and Mirna Yusuf. 2025. “Superficial Implementation of Religious Moderation in Islamic Educational Management.” Cogent Education 12(1). doi:10.1080/2331186X.2024.2442235.

Crouch, Melissa. 2007. “Regulating Places of Worship in Indonesia: Upholding Freedom of Religion for Religious Minorities?” Singapore Journal of Legal Studies 96–116. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24869039.

Crouch, Melissa. 2010. “Implementing the Regulation on Places of Worship in Indonesia: New Problems, Local Politics and Court Action.” Asian Studies Review 34(4):403–19. doi:10.1080/10357823.2010.527921.

Hidayanti, Ulfah, and Mukti Ali. 2023. “Communication of the Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) in Developing Religious Moderation in Salatiga City.” Islamic Communication Journal 8(2):267–84. doi:10.21580/icj.2023.8.2.16207.

Imamah, Fardan Mahmudatul, and Hongsok Lee. 2024. “Bridging the Gap: Exploring Religious Literacy as an Alternative Approach to Religious Education in Indonesia.” Analisa: Journal of Social Science and Religion 9(1):1–19. doi:10.18784/analisa.v9i1.2136.

Jati, Wasisto, and Hasnan Bachtiar. 2024. “Redefining Religious Moderation Education for Urban Muslim Youth.” EDUKASI: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Agama Dan Keagamaan 22(1):153–66. doi:10.32729/edukasi.v22i1.1832.

Kartono, Drajat Tri, Bagong Suyanto, Rahma Sugihartati, M. Turhan Yani, Mun’im Sirry, Theofilus Apolinaris Suryadinata, Bakat Jati Prasetyo, and Lutfi Andriani. 2025. “Tolerance of High School Students in an Urban-Transition City: A Study in Batu City.” Cogent Education 12(1). doi:10.1080/2331186X.2024.2445364.

Mazya, Thita M., Kholis Ridho, and Ali Irfani. 2024. “Religious and Cultural Diversity in Indonesia: Dynamics of Acceptance and Conflict in a Multidimensional Perspective.” International Journal of Current Science Research and Review 07(07):1–28. doi:10.47191/ijcsrr/V7-i7-32.

Mulyana, Rohmat. 2023. “Religious Moderation in Islamic Religious Education Textbook and Implementation in Indonesia.” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 79(1). doi:10.4102/hts.v79i1.8592.

Musyahid, Musyahid, and Nur Kolis. 2023. “Religious Moderation Implementation in Islamic Education: A Systematic Review.” FITRAH: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman 9(2):265–84. doi:10.24952/fitrah.v9i2.9547.

Nawir, Muhammad, Sam’un Mukramin, Lukman Ismail, Mu’aliyah Hi Asnawi, Andi Nursida, and Noor Insyiraah Abu Bakar. 2025. “Local Wisdom as A Cultural Engine of Interfaith Harmony: Strengthening Religious Moderation and Mitigating Racism in Tana Toraja.” Harmoni 24(2):361–79. doi:10.32488/harmoni.v24i2.918.

Niswah, Choirun, Bety Bety, Ahmad Rofiq, Rahmat Abdullah, and Choiriyah Choiriyah. 2025. “Religious Tolerance and Multicultural Interactions Among Arabic, Chinese, and Malay Ethnicities in Palembang: A Sociological Perspective on Harmony and Social Integration.” Jurnal Sosiologi Agama 19(1):51–62. https://ejournal.uin-suka.ac.id/ushuluddin/SosiologiAgama/article/view/191-05.

Noaime, Emad, Chaham Alalouch, Abdelhakim Mesloub, Haifa Hamdoun, Hela Gnaba, and Mohmmed Mashary Alnaim. 2025. “Sustainable Cities and Urban Dynamics: The Role of the Café Culture in Transforming the Public Realm.” Ain Shams Engineering Journal 16(3):103320. doi:10.1016/j.asej.2025.103320.

Parihat, Parihat. 2024. “Religious Tolerance and Authentic Coexistence in Indonesian Urban Society.” Religió Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama 14(2):166–89. doi:10.15642/religio.v14i2.2970.

Prasojo, Zaenuddin Hudi, Elmansyah Elmansyah, and Muhammed Sahrin Haji Masri. 2019. “Moderate Islam and the Social Construction of Multi-Ethnic Communities.” Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies 9(2):217–39. doi:10.18326/ijims.v9i2.217-239.

Al Qurtuby, Sumanto. 2025. “Resurgent Religion and the Challenges for Inter-and Intra-Religious Relations and Dialogue in Southeast Asia.” Religious Inquiries 14(1):20–44. doi:10.22034/ri.2024.418540.1799.

Setinawati, Isabella Jeniva, Maidiantius Tanyid, and Merilyn. 2025. “The Framework of Religious Moderation: A Socio-Theological Study on the Role of Religion and Culture from Indonesia’s Perspective.” Social Sciences & Humanities Open 11:101271. doi:10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101271.

Tanasaldy, Taufiq. 2012. Regime Change and Ethnic Politics in Indonesia: Dayak Politics of West Kalimantan. Leiden: KITLV Press.

Wahab, Abdul Jamil, Mustolehudin, Abd Kadir Ahmad, Sitti Arafah, Joko Tri Haryanto, Setyo Boedi Oetomo, Kustini, and Fakhruddin M. 2024. “A Theological Approach to the Construction of Houses of Worship in Indonesia.” Cogent Social Sciences 10(1). doi:10.1080/23311886.2024.2356914.

Walad, Muhammad, Nur Hidayat, and Siti Fatimah. 2024. “Inclusive Pedagogy Deficit: Teacher Preparedness for Religious Moderation in Indonesian Primary Schools.” Elementary Education Online 23(2):1234–50.

Zahri, Tsulis A., Maria Puspitasari, and Putri H. Lubis. 2021. “The Narrative of Ukhuwah Wathaniyah as Nationalisme Project Based on Sustainable Development.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 716(1):12098. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/716/1/012098.

Zaluchu, Sonny Eli, Priyantoro Widodo, and Agus Kriswanto. 2025. “Conceptual Reconstruction of Religious Moderation in the Indonesian Context Based on Previous Research: Bibliometric Analysis.” Social Sciences and Humanities Open 11(November 2024):101552. doi:10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101552.

Zurayah, Helva, and Putri Handayani Lubis. 2026. “Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Religious Moderation Policies in Islamic Education.” Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education 10(1):37–51. doi:10.35723/ajie.v10i1.266.