Faith in Social and Cultural Context

Faith in Social and Cultural Context

Antonius Siwi Dharma Jati, SJ

In my cultural and context, I notice that there are 2 elements that encourage and support faith. Those elements are simplicity and hospitality. We, the Javanese, do not really like the glamorous life, and we prefer the simple life. For example: If we can go by bus, we do not want to take a taxi or if we can buy our needs in Indonesia that are cheaper, we will not buy them in Myanmar that are more expensive. We are also known as friendly people. For us, it would not be difficult to relate to the people around us. For that reason, I can say that those 2 elements, simplicity and hospitality support and encourage faith very much.

However, in reality faith can be obstructed easily by our relationships with others especially with those who are different in religion. There are a lot of Catholic people leave their faith just to get married with those who are different in religion.

The institution in which we currently serve is inspired by faith in the way of proceeding. Our faith always teaches us to love one another including our enemies. Here, in Indonesia, our faith is oppressed, because we are minority, but we do not be reactive. Furthermore, we always try to love those who make us suffered. Meanwhile, we contribute to the promotion of faith in the cultural reality in our Province by providing a good example of life for others. Indirectly, they will respect us as Catholic people if we are able to provide a good example.

As far as I know, the Jesuits give testimony to their faith as men on mission by sharing their Ignatian spirituality in many ways. That sharing of Ignatian Spirituality can become an inspiration for others to live their faith. I proud of the Jesuits who can help others especially their collaborators in the mission by giving them Spiritual Ignatian through retreats, recollections, teaching, and so on.

Nowadays, our Province has 3 focuses to solve. They are preservation of the environment, concern of religious radicalism and preference for the poor. We contribute to foster dialogue of faith by making discussions with the other religions and being respectful to them. We sometimes ask the other people for collaboration with them in some missions.  This collaboration with those who are different can be a means to foster dialogue of faith and culture, faith and the promotion of justice, faith and other religious experience.

-For the greater glory of God-