The Religious Moderation Thought of the Aceh Ulama Consultative Assembly

Abstract

The concept of religious moderation developed by the Aceh Ulama Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Ulama, MPU) faces a gap between the ideals it promotes and the reality in society. Although the MPU Aceh firmly upholds moderation as a fundamental principle in religious life, its implementation often encounters social and political challenges in the field. This study aims to analyze the religious moderation thought according to the MPU Aceh and the factors influencing its implementation. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this research relies solely on secondary data obtained from scholarly literature, such as books, journal articles, and related documents. The findings indicate that while the MPU Aceh is committed to promoting religious moderation, its application in social and religious policies is sometimes hindered by external factors that influence the Acehnese community. Nevertheless, the MPU Aceh's religious moderation thought continues to make a significant contribution to fostering harmony and tolerance among religious communities in Aceh.