ABSTRACT
The Draft Law on Inter-religious Harmony generated public debate on the role of religion in public life and the extent to which the state can, and should, regulate religion. The Indonesian government has pursued an active programme of regulating religious affairs primarily through policies issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The proposed Draft Law on Inter-religious Harmony drafted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs addressed issues related to Muslim-Christian relations and tensions within Islam by incorporating both the existing official policies of the Ministry and the fatwa of Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI). It largely attempted to continue and strengthen the New Order approach to 'inter-religious harmony'. Draft Law appears to reinforce government rhetoric on inter-religious harmony and maintain the distinction between religions and mystical beliefs. The way the national government regulates religion is clearly a key part of maintaining social harmony and promoting equality between religious communities.
