Belief and National Identity

MOHAMAD Syafi' Ali has been very busy since mid-June. In addition to his routine duties presiding over NU's online media and being on the organizing committee for the 33rd NU Conference, this slender long-haired man is on the front lines, promoting the concept of Archipelagic Islam (Islam Nusantara) or Indonesian Islam in the media.

Since he first came out with the concept and attacked from both sides, Syafi' had to prepare some counterarguments for his critics. "Why is Islam which appreciates Indonesian traditions suddenly being questioned?" he said, last week.

July 14, 2015