Being an Indonesian Christian: Exploration of a theology of nationalism in the history of the proclamation of Indonesian Independence on 17 August 1945

Despite the fact that the introduction of Christianity in Indonesia coincides with the arrival of Portugal and Dutch Colonialism in the 16th–19th centuries, Christianity in Indonesia could not be claimed as a colonised religion. This study emphasises the importance of Christianity as an integral part of the history of Indonesian nation-building. It also has significance and relevance for Christianity, and how people of different religions should live together in Indonesia. Using historical theology analysis, we argue that being Christian in Indonesia has theological meaning as God’s work in Jesus Christ. God that has called and sent Christians to Indonesia has bestowed independence on the country, as a nation that accepts and recognises all people in their plural existences. At the end of the research, the authors emphasise that by understanding the independence of Indonesia as God’s gift, Christians are to make Indonesia a theatre for glorifying God. They should do it by dedicating themselves to participate in togetherness with all citizens to build and develop this country in all dimensions of life. Therefore, various actions that discriminate against Christians deny the history of Indonesian independence, which accepts and recognises the equality of all citizens as a gift from God.Contribution: This article contributes to constructing a theology of nationalism as a kind of contextual theology, which is based on the particular context of the history of the proclamation of Indonesian independence. It also enriches the interreligious theology from the Christian perspective on Indonesian history.

Diabolical perspectives on healthy morality in times of COVID-19

PurposeThe paper combines the systems theoretical perspective on the evolution of societal differentiation and the emergence of codes in communication. By combining the approach by Niklas Luhmann with a historical theology on the development of Christian morality split between God and Devil, it recreates a sociological point of observation on contemporary moral forms by a temporary occupation of the retired Christian Devil.Design/methodology/approachThe article combines a Luhmannian systems theoretical perspective on the evolution of societal differentiation with a concept of emerging codes in communication. The latter is based on on the development of a Christian view of morality being split between God and Devil. It establishes a sociological point of observation on contemporary moral forms through the temporary invocation of the retired figure of the Christian Devil.FindingsThe proposed perspective develops a healthy perspective on the exuberant distribution of a health(y) morality across the globe during the pandemic crisis of 2020–21. The temporary invocation of the retired Christian Devil as point of departure in this sociological analysis allows for a disturbing view on the unlimited growth of the morality of health and its inherent dangers of dedifferentiating the highly specialised forms of societal differentiation and organisation.Originality/valueBy applying the diabolical perspective, the analytical framework creates a unique opportunity to observe the moral encodings of semantic forms in detail, while keeping the freedom of scientific enquiry to choose amongst available distinctions in the creation of sound empirical knowledge. This article adopts a neutral stance, for the good of sociological analysis. The applications of the term “evil” to observations of communication are indifferent to anything but itself and its qualities as scientific enquiry.

Expanding Historical Theological Perspectives through Transdisciplinary Meta-methodological Engagement

Transdisciplinarity emerged at the end of the twentieth century and has come to be conceived of as a meta-methodology that seeks to transcend the different methodologies of segregated disciplines. The meta-methodology of transdisciplinarity finds expression in four different frameworks advanced by Rimondi and Veronese. This paper will expand historical theological perspectives by engaging with this transdisciplinarity meta-methodology. Since transdisciplinarity inherently goes beyond any one discipline, it can therefore influence historical theology without becoming it, and vice versa. Transdisciplinarity is set to increasingly influence theology with transdisciplinary theologians seeking to perceive more clearly the boundaries and potentialities of theological reflection.

Iman Kristen dan Ranah Publik: Sketsa Pemikiran Abraham Kuyper

Abraham Kuyper was arguably a Christian who had brought the implications of the Christian faith to the public sphere in a remarkable way. For Kuyper, the Christian faith had equally emphasized the importance of transformation of the heart and transformation of the society. Using a historical theology approach, this article attempts to present a sketch of Kuyper’s thought on the public implications of the Christian faith, which includes his concept of sphere sovereignty, visible organic church, and common grace. By elaborating on those three Kuyperian concepts, this article seeks to provide an introduction to Kuyper studies and to increase the reception of Kuyper’s theology in Indonesia.AbstrakAbraham Kuyper merupakan seorang Kristen yang dapat dikatakan cukup sukses dalam membawa implikasi iman Kristen ke ranah publik. Di mata Kuyper, iman Kristen yang memiliki penekanan kepada bagaimana hati seseorang diubah atau dilahirbarukan, harus juga menekankan, bagaimana iman tersebut diaplikasikan ter-hadap perubahan masyarakat, di mana seseorang tersebut tinggal, ke arah yang lebih baik. Melalui pendekatan teologi historika, artikel ini berupaya memberikan sebuah sketsa atas konsep-konsep pemikiran Kuyper seputar implikasi iman Kristen terhadap ranah publik, meliputi: ranah kedaulatan (sphere sovereignty), Gereja organik yang kelihatan (visible organic church), dan anugerah umum (common grace). Melalui ela-borasi atas ketiga konsep pemikiran tersebut, artikel ini diharapkan dapat menjadi pengantar kepada studi Kuyper sekaligus meningkatkan minat dan penerimaan atas teologi Kuyper di Indonesia.

The Doctrine of Trinity and its Implications for Contemporary African Society

The doctrine of Trinity is key to human understanding of the character and nature of God. A proper understanding of this doctrine has the potential of deepening one’s rela-tionship with God and with other human beings. This doctrine embodies the biblical sto-ry and also informs Christian soteriology. In spite of its relevance, the doctrine of Trini-ty remains one of the most complex and misunderstood doctrines in Christianity. The challenge is how to reconcile the affirmation that “there are three distinctly fully divine Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)” with the fact that “there is only one true God.” The paper briefly examines this doctrine from the perspective of biblical and historical theology and explores how its teaching should inform relationships within the African society. This is a literature-based study that uses data from books, theses, journal arti-cles, Bible commentaries, among others as its sources. The methodology used comprises qualitative analysis of biblical data on the subject of Trinity and the African worldview of human society. The study revealed that the divine Trinity underscores unity in diver-sity and therefore that contradicts any form of egotistic individualism that leads to the destruction of communion and of life. Therefore, Christians must develop and promote a communal worldview of life through an appreciation of their diversity. The main con-clusion is that human society will be improved if people appreciate human diversity and then learn to live in peace and harmony in spite of their differences. The paper contrib-utes to scholarship by contextualizing the doctrine of the Trinity for the needs of the Af-rican society which shows diverse cultural traditions.

The Doctrine of Trinity and its Implications for Contemporary African Society

The doctrine of Trinity is key to human understanding of the character and nature of God. A proper understanding of this doctrine has the potential of deepening one’s rela-tionship with God and with other human beings. This doctrine embodies the biblical sto-ry and also informs Christian soteriology. In spite of its relevance, the doctrine of Trini-ty remains one of the most complex and misunderstood doctrines in Christianity. The challenge is how to reconcile the affirmation that “there are three distinctly fully divine Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)” with the fact that “there is only one true God.” The paper briefly examines this doctrine from the perspective of biblical and historical theology and explores how its teaching should inform relationships within the African society. This is a literature-based study that uses data from books, theses, journal arti-cles, Bible commentaries, among others as its sources. The methodology used comprises qualitative analysis of biblical data on the subject of Trinity and the African worldview of human society. The study revealed that the divine Trinity underscores unity in diver-sity and therefore that contradicts any form of egotistic individualism that leads to the destruction of communion and of life. Therefore, Christians must develop and promote a communal worldview of life through an appreciation of their diversity. The main con-clusion is that human society will be improved if people appreciate human diversity and then learn to live in peace and harmony in spite of their differences. The paper contrib-utes to scholarship by contextualizing the doctrine of the Trinity for the needs of the Af-rican society which shows diverse cultural traditions.