Tantangan dan Peluang Gereja Kristen dalam Membangun Kerukunan Umat Beragama di Sumatera Utara

Abstract

In an era of globalization marked by increasing interaction between various religious groups, the Christian Church faces various challenges and opportunities in building religious harmony. The challenges faced include doctrinal differences, inter-religious tensions, and social prejudices which sometimes trigger conflict. In addition, different theological interpretations can also complicate interreligious dialogue efforts. However, the church also has significant opportunities to contribute to religious harmony, such as through teaching the values of tolerance, love, and supporting interfaith dialogue. Through active participation in dialogue, education, and various social activities, the Christian Church can encourage the creation of a more harmonious and mutually respectful society. This study aims to analyze the challenges faced and opportunities that can be utilized by Christian Churches in building harmony between religious communities in Indonesia, with the hope of strengthening social cohesion and reducing religious-based conflicts. The literature review research method, which is a data collection strategy focused on evaluating relevant and current scientific literature related to the research problem, is used in the publication