A Critical Lens on Peace: Examining Conflict and Resistance in Indonesian Buddhist Studies
Keywords:
Buddhist Studies, charismatic authority, pluralism, religious conflictAbstract
This paper offers a critical examination of academic literature on Buddhism in Indonesia by analyzing 30 sources—written in both Indonesian and English—published between 2015 and 2025. Utilizing a descriptive analytical approach, it conducts a literature review that engages these works in dialogue with one another to identify and address gaps in the field. The central question guiding this study is: what remains overlooked when scholars primarily interpret religion as a force of harmony and peace? The analysis reveals that framing religion solely as peaceful leads to three major oversights: (1) an emphasis on unity that ignores underlying conflicts; (2) a neglect of hegemonic power dynamics and forms of resistance; and (3) a focus on religious leaders at the expense of recognizing other actors involved in shaping religious identity. This research suggests that to fully grasp the complexity of religion—beyond its peaceful dimensions—scholars should incorporate perspectives from outside traditional Buddhist studies, as these can offer valuable insights into underexplored aspects of religious formation.
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