The Practice of Religious Politics in Plural Societies: A Perspective of Jürgen Habermas’s Theory of the Public Sphere on the Dynamics of Democracy in Salatiga City, Indonesia

Abstract

The public sphere is highly crucial for democracy because it is one of the pillars of democracy. It is a manifestation of the political participation of various elements of society, including religious groups. It can be said that when the public sphere does not function properly, this is the beginning of the collapse of democracy in a nation that upholds it. This article confirms the main argument that the role of religion in the public sphere has made a very significant contribution to efforts towards a civilized democratic society for the people of the city of Salatiga. Using a phenomenological approach, this article integrates Jürgen Habermas’s concept of the system and the lifeworld (Lebenswelt) in the public sphere towards the constructive role of Islam, Christianity, and Javanese indigenous religion. It argues that religions have become the epicenter for the development of a democratic civilization. The people of the city of Salatiga, with the characteristics of a multi-faith, multi-ethnic, and multi-political ideology, have developed a democratic life that has the potential to become a model for the development of democratic life for other communities in the world.