Religious but corrupt?

Thanks for printing the article titled "We are religious but also corrupt", by Usep Abdul Matin. (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 14).

It is obvious that corruption has to have a connection to religious beliefs. After all, religion is one of the foundation stones of any culture, isn't it?

Indonesia has been called the land of contradictions. The author's logic provides a prime example. He says that Indonesians convicted of corruption "are guilty of not listening to their consciences, the principles of which are formed by religion". That's true.

Yet he concludes: "so corruption is independent of religion". If the Beijing Olympics had a mental gymnastics competition, surely this logic would qualify for gold.

How can "corruption be independent of religion" if "the principles of conscience are formed by religion"? Why not acknowledge the obvious inconvenient truth that Indonesia's culture of corruption has thrived because of morally ineffective religious practices?

The most important religious instruction in this country is provided by neighborhood ngaji (Koranic reading) classes. Unfortunately, most students are not sufficiently fluent in Arabic to get the essential spiritual vitamins to "strengthen willpower and make the inner voice irresistible" to corruption.

Indonesian translations of the Koran are both legal and available in most bookstores throughout Indonesia. I was asked to teach English using such a bilingual translation at the Istiqlal Mosque some years ago.

I remember that at that time, my wife made the suggestion that an Indonesian translation of the Koran be used, along with the Arabic, in all ngaji classes throughout Indonesia so that the moral instruction received by the children could be more relevant in providing effective moral guidance. Had her suggestion been implemented at that time, true reformation could have been nurtured.

If Einstein's discovery of the essential role of light (E=MC2) could dramatically transform our world, couldn't God's spiritual light multiplied diffuse corruption and powerfully transform Indonesian culture? The light of the "Book" will "heal our land" if it is allowed to speak for itself in a tongue we understand.

DAN ADAMS
Jakarta

dear dan adams

if u remember the great event of Jesus trying to sweep the temple of god clean of the power-elite, the whole story of the catholic church since its inception by peter in Rome or Constantinople, where only very late state and church were separated, and the origin of the sicilian mafia imported into america, and italy between 1950 and its entry into the EU, these are mighty examples of religious corruptors (godfather).
remember also why maria antoinette was beheaded, france hand in hand with the pope, archbishops, cardinals had their frivolous corruptions....for ages.....

so corruption has nothing to do with religion, it is a human inclination and religion failed from the start of gods genesis story in paradise : apple seduction, and chain slaying able (mental corruption)

we will need another 50+ years to mature going through the dark decennial other countries went through for 100++ years....

If Einstein's discovery of the essential role of light (E=MC2) could dramatically transform our world, couldn't God's spiritual light multiplied diffuse corruption and powerfully transform Indonesian culture?

I am not looking at this from logic. First a person must truly believe in God and wanted to worship God. He must felt it if he carried out an act that He knows will make God angry.

Unfortunately, when religion is mixed with politics or business, God becomes the means to an end. People do not worship God but make use of God. The most unfortunate of all is that the masses of the religion cannot discern this and continue to support that person in the name of religion.

So the critical person here is the religious teachers or preachers. They must tell the people the truth. When a person is using God, it is their duty to enlighten the followers.

So the best way to solve this problem is to have religious authorities that is truly a believer. Sad to say it is also not possible.

So knowing the Koran and living it out are actually two separate issue. Even if the person knows the Koran it will not necessary mean that they will walk the Way.