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Home > HCAS > HCAS_PUBS > HCAS_JOURNALS > TQR Home > TQR > Vol. 31 > No. 3 (2026)

 

Abstract

The existence of local religion adherents amidst a majority population is marked by structural and cultural rejection. This condition highlights fundamental issues surrounding freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia. This study aims to explore the experiences of local religion adherents in confronting structural and cultural resistance from an emic perspective, situating local religions within the broader academic discourse on the interaction between local wisdom and global religions. The participants consist of 11 adherents of local religions affiliated with Majelis Luhur Kepercayaan Indonesia (MLKI), an organization that supports followers of local religions and indigenous beliefs throughout Indonesia. Using a qualitative case study approach, this research combines observations, interviews, regulatory and literature reviews to provide a holistic understanding through an interdisciplinary analytical framework. Findings reveal that local religion adherents negotiate global religious values, which often conflict with local values, and develop adaptive cultural practices to sustain their existence. These findings show that resistance is linked to both individual resilience and group survival strategies as communities adapt to societal changes. The study contributes not only to theoretical understanding but also offers practical insights for policymakers in designing inclusive interventions to foster social harmony between minority and majority groups.

Keywords

resistance, local religions, majority religion, social harmony, multiculturalism, case study

Author Bio(s)

Tri Astutik Haryati (, Corresponding Author) is an associate professor of Islamic Studies, Department of Sufism and Psychotherapy, State Islamic University of K. H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan.  Her concerns as editor and reviewer are in the scope of Islamic Studies and Islamic Thought. Please direct correspondence to tri.astutik.haryati@uingusdur.ac.id

Amat Zuhri () is an associate professor of Islamic Studies, Department of Sufism and Psychotherapy, State Islamic University of K. H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan.  Her concerns as editor and reviewer are in the scope of Islamic Studies and Sufism. Please direct correspondence to amat.zuhri@uingusdur.ac.id

Annisa Mutohharoh () is a master in psychology and a psychologist, Department of Sufism and Psychotherapy, State Islamic University of K. H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan.  Her concerns as clinical psychology. Please direct correspondence to annisa.mutohharoh@uingusdur.ac.id

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Rector of State Islamic University of K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan and the Chairman of LP2M (Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat, Institute for Research and Community Service) for their support in the implementation of this 2024 research. The authors also sincerely thank all the participants who generously shared their time for this study. Your valuable contributions were essential in shaping the findings of this research. The results of this study are entirely the responsibility of the authors.

Publication Date

3-30-2026

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

ORCID ID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4952-9031

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