MODERASI BERAGAMA SEBAGAI PILAR PERDAMAIAN DI MASYARAKAT MULTIKULTURAL

Abstract

Indonesia's religious, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity is a national asset, but it can also generate social tension when differences are managed through exclusion, prejudice, or violence. This article examines religious moderation as a framework for sustainable peace in a multicultural society. The study uses a descriptive qualitative approach through a literature review of academic articles, books, official documents, and relevant empirical studies. The literature was classified into four indicators of religious moderation: national commitment, tolerance, non-violence, and accommodation of local culture. The analysis shows that these indicators form an interconnected social architecture. Tolerance creates space for dialogue, non-violence directs conflict resolution toward deliberation, national commitment provides a shared civic framework, and local wisdom makes moderate values contextually acceptable. Religious leaders and educational institutions are strategic actors in internalizing these values, while digital radicalism, exclusive interpretation, group polarization, and low diversity literacy remain major challenges. Strengthening peace therefore requires inclusive education, interfaith dialogue, credible digital counter-narratives, public policy support, and the revitalization of local wisdom. Religious moderation should be positioned not merely as religious discourse, but as a civic and cultural strategy for maintaining justice, cohesion, and peaceful coexistence.