Liberalization of religion is part of liberalization of politics and economy

Jakarta, NU Online
There have still been many considering that the liberalization of politcs and economy as the dangerous and vulnerable thing. While the liberalization of religion has merely dealt with such efforts to develop religious thoughts and will not bring social implications capable of damaging people.

The views were denied by the former chairman of the Ansor Youth Movement, Slamet Effendy Yusuf, saying that the liberalization of religion was considerably part of efforts to endorse the liberalization of politics and economy.<>

"This should be understood, let's not be fooled by the game of others," Effendi Yusuf told NU Online here on Friday (20/11).

As for him, liberal politicians and economists viewed that religion tightly and strictly embraced would restrict the liberalization process of politics and economy. For that reason, the religion should be liberalized so that it could no longer disturb the development of politics.

The liberalization process, he said, would be dangerous for NU as organization both evolving and preserving the teachings of whta called as Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (Aswaja).

Effendy Yusuf reiterated that instead of establishing of the Nahdliyin-based organization as a fundamentalist or liberal group, the establishment of NU was aimed at upholding the teachings of Aswaja, propagating such values as moderation and tolerance.

"The supporters and defenders of Aswaja, the NU cadres should not put aside the principles ofAhlussunnah wal Jamaah," he said, adding that the nature of NU was Aswaja itself. (mdz)