TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin stated that an approach prioritizing religious principles is more effective than military and violent intervention to create peace and maintain harmony in the community.

“We must be able to prove that the religious approach or the theology of harmony is more humane, noble, and effective in creating lasting peace compared to military and violent ways,” said Ma'ruf in his speech during the virtual event of the 2,571st Confucius Anniversary on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

According to Ma'ruf, resolving conflicts by military interventions would only cause resentment. “A peace that is built on the awareness about harmony and mutual respect will be much stronger than a military and violence approach which in historical records is proven to cause destruction and resentment,” the VP explained.

The theology of harmony, he continued, is not only teaching people to live together peacefully but more than that, it encourages people to respect and help each other regardless of religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds.

“In Islam, this principle is part of the brotherhood or ukhuwwah wathaniyah,” said Ma’ruf, who is also the inactive general chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

During the event, Ma'ruf Amin hoped the Indonesian Confucian Supreme Council (Matakin) could take a role in developing Indonesia and maintaining inter-religious harmony in the archipelago.

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ANTARA