Indonesian clerics want rules for Facebook
Indra Harsaputra and Niniek Karmini , Associated Press | Thu, 05/21/2009 2:52 PM | National
Around 700 clerics, or imams, gathered in the world's most populous Muslim nation on Thursday were considering guidelines forbidding their followers from going online to flirt or engage in practices they believe could encourage extramarital affairs.
Facebook says Indonesia, a nation of 235 million, was its fastest-growing country in Southeast Asia in 2008, with a 645 percent increase to 831,000 users -outpacing China and India. And with less than 0.5 percent of Indonesia's citizens wired, there is a huge potential for growth.
"The clerics think it is necessary to set an edict on virtual networking, because this online relationship could lead to lust, which is forbidden in Islam," said Nabil Haroen, a spokesman for the Lirboyo Islamic boarding school, which is hosting the event.
Though followers could still be members of the networking site, guidelines dealing with surfing the Web and Islamic values are urgently needed, he said.
Facebook officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ninety percent of Indonesians are Muslim, though most practice a moderate form of the faith.
An edict by the clerics would not have any legal weight. But it could be endorsed by the influential Ulema Council, which recently issued rulings against smoking and yoga. Most devout Muslims adhere to the council's rulings because ignoring a fatwa, or religious decree, is considered a sin.
Amidan, who heads the Ulema Council, said the growing number of Facebook users in Indonesia was a controversial subject among Muslim leaders and that he favored a ban because of possible sexual content.
"People using Facebook can be driven to engage in distasteful, pornographic chatting," said Amidan, who was monitoring the two-day conference in the town of Kediri, in eastern Java.
Many clerics are concerned that "inappropriate content" on Facebook could be accessed by children, said Amidan, who like many Indonesians goes by a single name.
Facebook is the top ranked site in Indonesia, ahead of search engines Yahoo and Google, according Alexa.com, which tracks Internet traffic. Nearly 4 percent of all Facebook visitors are from Indonesia, making it the largest source of visitors after the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Italy.
Over in the UK, another religious leader has a different take on social networking online:
Bishop warns Roman Catholics against 'inane' internet Twitterings
Social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook are full of "inane chatter" and are no substitute for real friendships, a leading Roman Catholic bishop has warned.
In a message to be read out at mass in every Catholic parish in Scotland this weekend, the Bishop of Paisley, Rt Rev Philip Tartaglia, speaks against the "obsessive" reliance on new technology.
In a pastoral letter to Scotland's 500 Catholic parishes, Bishop Tartaglia, president of a Bishops' Conference of Scotland communications group, praises the benefits of the internet but also warns of the dangers such as so-called cyberbullying.
Echoing a message on the same theme from the Pope, he said it would be "profoundly sad" if online friendships became a substitute for the real thing.
"The fact that we can instantly communicate doesn't mean that we must," he added.
"We should avoid an obsessive need for virtual connectedness and develop primary human relationships, pursuing true friendship with real people."
Recognising the "wonder and no little envy" felt by many older people at the ease with which children can access the internet, he went on: "Yet with opportunities, come dangers.
"What parent has not wondered what their child is doing on the internet? What material are they accessing?
"Who are they talking to in social networking sites?"
His warning comes despite growing enthusiasm for the internet and mobile communications within the church, which has even seen the introduction of a dedicated Vatican channel on the video sharing website YouTube.
Last month the leader of Ireland's Catholics, Cardinal Sean Brady, suggested posting prayers on Twitter, the popular "microblogging" site, or sharing them with other believers by email or text message.
Fr Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican's radio and television operations, delivered a lecture to media executives in London on Tuesday entitled 'Blessed be the Net?'.
Meanwhile the Pope has made high profile efforts to connect with what he called the "digital generation".
During World Youth Day celebrations in Australia last summer he sent out daily inspirational text messages to thousands of the faithful.
He also gave his blessing to a dedicated Catholic social networking site called Xt3.com, which was set up on the model of Facebook and MySpace.
But the church's enthusiasm for the all things digital has met resistance in some quarters.
Eyebrows were raised at reports that French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, had been seen glancing at text messages during an audience with Benedict XVI.
Bishops in Italy issued an unprecedented call for believers to give up text messaging and social networking for Lent earlier this year.
The church is marking "Communications Sunday" this weekend with messages urging believers to embrace new technology as a "gift to humanity".
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At least the Catholics are not calling for a ban and can find uses for the Internet. They realise that it's how you reach young people. But people often talk to their friends both online and face-to-face, not exclusively one or the other. And sometimes online communication is the only way to keep up with friends and family living far away from you.
But like anything else, there is etiquette involved in the new forms of communication. Looking at your text while you're supposed to be talking with someone is rude, whether they're VIPs or not. So Monsieur Sarkozy definitely needs a nice rap on the knuckles.
11 comments:
Personally, Facebook has allowed me to get back in touch with college friends whom are strewn across the four corners of planet Earth. Of course, it can be time-wasting, but then again, what doesn't have that potential if one is not mindful or exercises self-control?
The sexually repressed often call for repression unto others, I have observed, and see any mundane thing in a potentially sexual manner.
But I find the following quite interesting:
'... he favored a ban because of possible sexual content.
"People using Facebook can be driven to engage in distasteful, pornographic chatting," said Amidan, who was monitoring the two-day conference in the town of Kediri, in eastern Java.'
The guy obviously has never used Facebook - I checked, and there are 2 "Amidan"s, neither of them likely to be the one quoted.
In any case, if "distasteful & pornographic" chatting is the concern, might as well shut down the Internet and phone networks, and ban human contact altogether, because that kind of chatting can be done anywhere, not just on Facebook.
Not just illicit sex ..i did a no brainer quiz..not even a quiz..u just need to provide your birthdate called what God/Goddess are you? and i received an email warning me that my aqidah is at stake LOL
Why don't they lighten up ..Gosh
I do agree with your "moderate" sentiments concerning the positive benefits of a facility such as Facebook. However, like most other human inventions it can be misused or abused. Yes Facebook is used by faith groups to help facilitate discussion, debate and fellowship. However, it is also used by "hate groups". I have joined a number of Facebook groups dedicated to combatting the large number of anti-muslim/Islamic groups that have been promoting extremely offensive messages. It is a real battleground. And who is responsible for saying what should be allowed or disallowed? Perhaps Facebook and the likes are just mirror images of the world today? Do we need protecting from ourselves? Perhaps that is what the religious men in Indonesia are getting at?
DON'T JUDGE BOOK BY ITS LOOK
The problem is not with Facebook
But those who abuse it as crooks
Do we stop eating due to 'faulty' cooks
Or can we do better by not judging the book by its looks
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 220509
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Fri. 22nd May 2009.
LOL..i must agree with your thoughts on Mr. Sarkozy....i think it's REALLY rude if one does that.....
well..i hope our beloved Malaysia's respective units won't echo what our Indonesian counterparts are doing....God help us!!
And it is in an Indonesian beach in Bali and elsewhere where you see topless foreigners soaking in the sun and you have little kids and families all over the place. Yet you don't hear of any lust driven frolicking or the kind of sexually destructive crimes! Somehow their religious authorities have not imposed themselves on these . That is what I can't understand really. Unless of course Bali is hands off for these guys.
These 700 odd (pun intended) clerics need to keep themselves relevant by fulfilling their quota of fatwas per annum.
i hold the believe that religious clerics of any religion should limit themselves to running the affairs of their temples, churches or mosques, and motivating their faithfuls, NOT deciding how everyone must or must not run their lives.
Is our country getting better? In the areas of :
(1) race relations
(2) academic achievements
(3) press freedom
(4) human rights
(5) public safety
(6) religious tolerance
(7) health care
(8) political maturity
(9) corruption index
Next question - is there hope?
Dear Sis,
This trend will not last forever as the following stated it cleary; Psalm 37:9-11,
For evildoers themselves will be cut off,
But those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.
And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more;
And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be.
But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.
Well, IT control implementation could perhaps did the trick - instil user accessibility or ban unnecessary pornographic sites, censor inappropriate, tasteless porno chatting.
:-) Ha, religious leaders as always 'suci' - need to send the 'All the good & none the bad' message through or else they wouldn't be called religious leaders.
Btw, what about the circulation of pornographic magazines in countries that allows it? Those who get hold of them too would indulge in illicit sexual activities or porno chatting.
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