Asian countries have always been renowned for their melting pot approach towards culture and religion. On the face of it, it seems impossible that the individuals of such diverse backgrounds, culture, faith and religious beliefs can live together. Indonesia was once a Hindu kingdom. Its ancient culture and history speaks of huge influence of Hindu civilization. Its dances are based on Hindu mythological stories.
However, it is a country where Muslims are in a majority today. More than eight out of every ten persons in this country are Muslims. It is the world’s largest nation in terms of population of Muslims. Despite all that has been said about Islam and its treatment of minorities, Indonesia continues to remain a country where freedom of religion is guaranteed to each and every citizen by its constitution. The minority does not consist of Hindus alone. Other minority religions include Christianity and Buddhism.
The effect of such diversity is evident in its handicrafts, attire, culture and lifestyle. At first glance, Indonesia may seem like a very chaotic country with no sense of order. However, much like other diverse countries, including America, there seems to be a fine tuned sense of order underlying the energetic chaos.
You would do well to visit Indonesia to understand how different cultures interact with each other and how people tend to focus on positive characteristics of each and every culture provided they are left to themselves and not manipulated. This is not to say that Indonesia has been completely free of religious and communal tension.
However, the majority of the population is keen on making things work and this is evident from the manner in which the country is being administered and run. All this makes a fascinating sight even as one enjoys the natural beauty of Indonesia and its beaches.