Negotiating Love and Faith: Interfaith Marriage in Manado, Indonesia

Abstract

Interfaith marriages in people's lives have been practised in many areas in Indonesia, even if it's not legally registered. The rule of law in Indonesia does not accommodate interfaith marriages. When interfaith marriage happens, the registration system should follow marriage registration either at the KUA (office of religious affairs) for Muslims or in the Civil Registry office for other religions. This study aims to analyse the practice of interreligious marriage in Manado and how they maintain a good marital relationship between the spouse of different religions. This research employs a qualitative approach by collecting data through interviews with 30 informants who practice interfaith marriages in Manado. The results of this research found that many people in Manado consider interfaith marriage as permissible. They argue that religion is a relationship between humans and God, while marriage is related to human beings. The family of different religions based their relationship on the principle of "Torang Samua Basudara" (we are bound through kinship). Based on this principle, the family avoids using religious symbols in their communication that can cause tension and disrupt harmony among family members. The principle of torang samua basudara is the basis for establishing good communication in the family.

Christian Youth Preferences in Interfaith Marriage: A Study Case in Surabaya, Indonesia

“…The result showed some people think that religion is a relationship with God while love is a relationship with others so it cannot be confused. This result was the same as the research conducted in Manado regarding the negotiation between faith and love [8].…”

Interfaith Marriage Phenomenon in Indonesia from the Perspective of Sadd al-Żarī'ah and Fatḥ al-Żarī'ah

“…The interfaith marriage phenomenon in Sulawesi can be attributed to several factors (Bukido et al, 2021): The interfaith marriage phenomenon in Sulawesi reflects the complex dynamics of religious diversity and cultural exchange on the island. It signifies the changing attitudes towards interfaith relationships and the increasing importance placed on personal choice and compatibility in marriage.…”

Implications of the Law of Religious Moderation on Interfaith Marriages

“…Meanwhile, field research on interfaith marriage, especially in Manado, has not linked it to religious moderation. For example, research entitled Negotiating Love and Faith: Interfaith Marriage in Manado, Indonesia (Bukido et al, 2021) only analyzes why Manadonese people carry out interfaith marriages, research on Law Analysis Towards Judicial Review of Interfaith Marriage (Bukido et al, 2020). Then there is research entitled Interreligious Marriages in Indonesia: From Legal Disharmony to Legal Conflict (Alifa et al, 2023), which only examines legal conflicts regarding the legality of interfaith marriages.…”