January 15, 2012

         If on the first day we learned to know more about the 20 Indonesian Students or the SUSI Participants, today we will learn more about our beloved staffs from Dialogue Institute and also from ICCE. From the introduction of the staffs’ background we are really amazed at their achievements and capacity as staffs who will teach us! These staffs itself already represents religious pluralism through various religions/ faith they believe in, Jewish, Islam, Christianity from different denominations. Through the institution they involved in, they devote themselves to promote peace, religious pluralism and using dialogue for cease conflicts through all over the world. Yes, all over the world! Not only in United States, have they also invited people from Indonesia, and Middle East students to promote peace.

                After that, we’re heading to a serious session, where our lovely Professor, Professor Leonard Swidler ( you may want to prove how great he is by googling it) he introduced us about the definition of religion, pluralism and dialogue. Through what he said, we started to get to know better of this subject. Prof Len ( that’s how we called him) has learned the teaching of quite many religions such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, including Atheist and more. Wow. And according to his knowledge and understanding, he could underline the similarity of each faith that could create understanding and religious pluralism. If in Indonesia atheist is really taboo, here in Philadelphia we, Indonesians were challenged to open our heart and mind to be able to know, without being an Atheist, how Atheist perceive their understanding about the world.

Professor Leonard Swidler

                Be patient guys, this is just the beginning! We’ll back to it later on! So, to make our pluralism experience more alive the staffs brought us to St. James Memorial United Methodist Church where there was held an event to welcome MLK (Martin Luther King) day of service by doing Interfaith Worship Service which really represents religious pluralism by doing the worship together even though there were Moslem, Jews, and other religion community.

                Have you ever thought that a Moslem could enter a church? Well, that’s what we experienced there. Our Moslem friends, including friends who wore head covers (hijab), enter the church with warm welcome “Nice to meet you” from the church community. It’s not just us, all the people, whether you’re Christian or not, whether you’re in the same denomination or not you could join this event. This service began with prayer that is led by Imam (unfortunately he couldn’t come, so someone else replaced him), and then speech from some religious figure such as Pastor and Rabi, followed by songs from Jews and Christians. It’s really beautiful, this is our first experience. Really, if you ask us now, does religious pluralism exist? Well yes it does. We’ve been part of it.   

             After the service it’s time to chit chat with all the guest there with some American snacks ( it’s delicious!! ) Their welcome was so warm we’re like part of them, and our conversations with them are worth to be remembered. Americans for us are so friendly and open-minded. They asked us about our life in Indonesia, they gave us a lot of information about Philadelphia, and we even found our inspirational persons from these sweet people! One of my experiences was a friendly lady offered herself to become our tour guide, she even gave us her number! Wow, we are strangers! Yet, they are friendly to us, wow can this is happened in your own country? Well, save the answer! :)