Penguatan Moderasi Beragama Sebagai Strategi Mencegah Intoleransi di Indonesia

Abstract

Religious intolerance and radicalism represent a latent threat to Indonesia's multicultural foundation, particularly among the youth vulnerable to exposure to digital extremist narratives.1 This research aims to analyze the implementation of the Religious Moderation (RM) program promoted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) as a preventive strategy based on Wasathiyah Islam. Employing critical literature review and policy analysis methods, this article examines the extent to which the RM pillars— including the pillar of thought (tawassut) and movement (i'tidal)—have been effectively implemented through a multilevel approach. Findings indicate that strengthening RM requires synergistic strategies at three levels: formal education (cultural habituation in schools/universities), policy (utilizing the 2024 Religious Harmony Index/IKUB), and the digital space (social media counter-narratives). The implication of this study is the necessity for a more systematic and measurable integration of RM, especially within curriculum and digital platforms, to achieve sustainable IKUB scores. The scientific novelty of this study lies in formulating an adaptive strategic framework that bridges the idealism of Wasathiyah with the reality of contemporary digital challenges, providing specific policy recommendations to fill the gap between concept and the practice of intolerance prevention.