Religious Pluralism in the Perspective of Muhammadiyah Youth in Surabaya
Keywords:
religious pluralism, Muhammadiyah, youth, religious moderation, surabayaAbstract
Indonesia’s social cohesion depends on how citizens, including young Islamic cadres, interpret religious pluralism. Within Muhammadiyah, internal debates persist between cadres embracing pluralism as a sociological necessity and those rejecting it as theological deviation. This qualitative case study examines how young Muhammadiyah members in Surabaya construct their understanding of religious pluralism and how it shapes their everyday social attitudes. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with sixteen purposively selected youth wing cadres (Pemuda Muhammadiyah and IMM) in Surabaya, alongside non-participant observation and documentary analysis. Data were analyzed using interactive qualitative modeling (condensation, display, conclusion drawing) with source and method triangulation. The findings reveal three dominant orientations: inclusive-pluralist, tolerant-exclusivist, and selectively pragmatic. Most informants distinguished social pluralism (coexistence and civic cooperation) from theological pluralism (equal salvific validity), affirming the former while rejecting the latter. These orientations are shaped by family socialization, higher education, interfaith exposure, Majelis Tarjih doctrine, and urban social interactions. The study concludes that Muhammadiyah youth in Surabaya practice a moderate, dialogical pluralism anchored in Islamic boundaries (tasamuh) rather than religious relativism. This contributes to the sociology of religion literature on youth religiosity, moderation, and intra-organizational diversity.
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