ABOUT
INDONESIAN CONSORTIUM
FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Communities of different religions coexist in Indonesia. Religion plays a central role, with its influence permeating across life domains including politics, economics, culture, law, and everyday life. The country bases its ideology on Pancasila which requires the citizens to adhere to the “Belief in the One and Only God”. Because of this, Indonesia faces its own unique challenges when it comes to addressing religious issues. While religious groups generally live in harmony across the country, tensions and clashes are sometimes inevitable.

Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) strives to establish a resource center at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in inter-religious education and human dignity to achieve sustainable peace in Indonesia and the world. We are three universities of different academic and faith traditions: UGM, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga and Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana. Since its establishment in October 2006, ICRS has aimed to develop outstanding research and community engagements that promote dialogue and collaborations among scholars, practitioners and students from various religions, ethnicities and nationalities. It is the only doctoral program in Religious Studies that is co-sponsored by Muslim, Christian, and non-religiously affiliated universities.

The strength of ICRS is the study of Indonesia’s religions, especially Islam, as Indonesia has the largest and most dynamic Muslim population in the world. ICRS also has strong resources for the study of Indonesian Christianity, Balinese Hinduism, Indonesian Buddhism, Indonesian Chinese religions and indigenous local religions.

We welcome students from all religions and nationalities. Currently, ICRS has admitted over 90 doctoral studies from 15 countries and produced 45 graduates. ICRS has signed MOUs with top universities in Asia, Europe, the US, and Australia for research collaborations, publications, exchange programs and other essential programs. Through these MOUs, ICRS members have had ample international exposure and recognition.

We are committed to advancing inter-religious study and providing comprehensive dialogue to the complex challenges facing the society today. Our partner institutions assist us to develop and implement our programs. Through networks of colleges, ICRS is able to conduct excellent inter-religious studies, arrange the faculty development, and build a mutual inter-religious dialogue.