A THOUGHT FOR NOW - THE MACHINATIONS OF THE 'ISLAMIC DEFENDERS' FRONT. THE END.

For you to have to 'defend' your religion could be a sign of its structural weaknesses, and it might be better if you were to spend your time trying to perfect it; making it more human-friendly. 

Islam does not need a 'Front' to defend it; especially when it is the largest religion with the most followers in Indonesia. That would be like the Catholic Church in Rome, or the Anglican Church in Britain, having 'The Christian Defenders' Front' to protect them. And from whom do these religions need to be defended? From the religions with less followers, such as the Christians in Pakistan, or Egypt, or Iraq? 

From whom does Islam need to be defended, if not from the divisions within itself, which have been created by humans need to make their institutions in the form of their own image and understanding? To free themselves from the dictatorship of pseudo theism and religious orthodoxy?

Finally, is it not the case that religious, all theistic religions, need to 'defend' themselves from the power of rational human thought, which threatens their irrationality?

The feared threat of humans declaring that the faiths are naked, and that they/we do not believe in them anymore? Is it not this that you, Mr Shihab, and all of the 'defenders of Islam and other religions' over the world fear? Allowing the light of rational discourse to illuminate, analyse and evaluate your faiths and their capacity to promote or hinder human enlightenment?

Of course in this case, it is encouraging that President Joko Widodo has made some preliminary intervention, which has defused some of the 'manipulated anger' against Mr Purnama. Although his non re-election might be a forgone conclusion, as Muslim demagogues whip up an-Christian sentiments against him. 

Thus has darkness, again, prevailed over the attempt of the light to present Indonesians of all faiths with the opportunity to unite as humans and not be divided by their religions.

In living your life and aspiring towards the attainment of pleasure, endeavour to see and respond first the humanity in your fellow human, and not the religious faith to which he/she belongs; nominally of as a practitioner. If a so-called heathen or non-believer shows you his/humanity by way of humility, and the so-called faithful shows you pride, arrogance, hatred and intolerance, with whom will you feel more comfortable?