PENGEMBANGAN KARAKTER RELIGIUS SISWA SMP DALAM PERSPEKTIF FILSAFAT IDEALISME PLATO

Abstract

The decline in morality and spirituality among adolescents has become a significant challenge in modern education. Junior high school (SMP) is a crucial phase for character formation, particularly in instilling religious values. This study aims to describe and analyze the development of students' religious character at SMP Birrul Walidain Muhammadiyah Plupuh through the lens of Plato’s philosophy of idealism. Using a qualitative case study approach, this research provides a rich, in-depth analysis supported by detailed observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The findings indicate that religious character development is conducted through daily religious habituation, teacher role modeling, and the integration of Islamic values into the learning process. Activities such as congregational prayers, daily Qur'an recitation, weekly Islamic studies, and teachers’ religious examples demonstrate the school’s efforts to guide students toward Plato’s ideals of truth, goodness, and beauty. This study confirms that religious character education goes beyond cognitive learning and serves as a spiritual and moral journey toward the ideal self.