Christian social ethics in the thought of T. B. Simatupang: The role of Indonesian Christians in social change

Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world. Approximately 87.5 per cent of its 187,000,000 people are Muslims. This means that this country claims more Muslims than any other country. The Christians, both Protestants and Catholics, comprise only about nine per cent of their country's population.;T.B. Simatupang (1920-1990), a former army general who became a lay theologian, advocated Christian participation in social change based on the Indonesian state ideology of Pancasila. This ideology provides a common ground for social action acceptable to all existing ethnic, religious, and political groups in Indonesia. By using Pancasila as their basis for social and political action, the Indonesian Christians will not act solely as members of a minority group but as responsible citizens of their country.;The study uses a socio-historical ethical methodology. Essentially, this is a method of social ethics that has its context in a particular society and a particular historical period of time. Using this method, the study shows that Simatupang, based on his theology and ethics, provides a practical Christian response to profound social challenges rooted in post-colonial Indonesia that seeks to build a nation that is pluralistic, but united; without a state religion, but theistic and just; and committed to modernization, while retaining relevant traditional values, identity and ecological harmony.;As Indonesia moves into the future, the Christians are facing not only minority problems but also new challenges presented by the rapid social change taking place in society. Will the church become a ghetto in society without playing any meaningful role in the national project of development and social change? Will it adopt an attitude of blind conformity to prevailing patterns of change? Or will the presence of the Christians and their social participation make a difference in the Indonesian society and its future? If so, on what basis, and how will they act in order to be useful in their country?...