Four factors make Gen Z intolerant and radical

Jakarta, NU Online
Director of Center for Islamic Studies and Society (PPIM) Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta said that there were four important factors causing the Generation Z (born in 1995-2012) intolerant and radical. First, Islamic religious teachers.

"(Islamic religious) teachers or lecturers have the potential to contribute to the emergence of intolerance and radicalism among Z generation," Saiful said at Jakarta's Le Meridien Hotel on Wednesday (8/11).

Second, internet access to gain religious knowledge. Apart from Islamic religious education lessons, the Z generation could easily get information about religion from social media. The sources of religious knowledge accessed by the Generation Z is mainly through social media and websites amounted to  54.87 percent, 48.57 percent from books, 33.73 percent from TVs, and 14.31 percent from public sermon.

"Those who do not have internet access tend to have moderate points of view compared to those who have the internet," explained the graduate of the Islamic College Mathali'ul Falah Kajen Central Java.

Third, the perceptions about government performance, especially in economic and legal issues. The Generation Z considers the economic gap between the rich and the poor to be at a severe level. Some 52.29 percent even stated severe and very severe. Meanwhile, 43.46 percent others considered moderate or quite severe.

"In the legal matter is the same. Approximately 69.80 percent said that the implementation of the law is poor and even very unfair," he explained.

Fourth, the perception of Muslims commonly being considered as victims. The majority of Generation Z considers that Muslims are currently in a state of being oppressed. They were also of the opinion that non-Muslims are more profitable in the economic field.

"Some 36.79 percent of students in schools and universities believe that non-Muslims are responsible for socio-economic inequality in Indonesia," he explained.

This is the result of a survey conducted by the PPIM UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The survey was conducted from 1 to 7 October 2017 and involved some 2181 respondents: 264 teachers, 58 lecturers, 1522 school students, and 337 university students. (Muchlison Rahmat/Masdar)