DINAMIKA ILMU - Vol. 18 No. 2 - Exploring Teachers’ Perception on the Teaching of Multicultural-based Religious Education

Oct 15, 2026

Multicultural-based religious education is presented as essential for schools and society because it can address disintegration problems and strengthen brotherhood across religious communities. The study aims to identify the importance, implementation, and school-developed forms of this approach at SMPN 1 Samarinda and SMPN 1 Sangatta, East Kutai, East Kalimantan. Using qualitative methods with semi-structured interviews, the research finds both teachers agree on its high importance for junior high students, while highlighting shortages in multicultural integration and implications for the Indonesian curriculum.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Communication, information technology, and multicultural challenges

Religious education and multicultural awareness

Pluralism in Indonesia and sources of conflict

Role of multicultural-based religious education

DINAMIKA ILMU Vol. 18 No. 2, 2018 P-ISSN: 1411-3031; E-ISSN: 2442-9651 doi: [http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/di.v18i2.11](http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/di.v18i2.1155)[55](http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/di.v18i2.1155) Exploring Teachers’Perception on the Teaching of Multicultural-based Religious Education Muchammad Eka Mahmud IAIN Samarinda, Indonesia e-mail: [eka.mahmud@yahoo.com](eka.mahmud@yahoo.com) Abstract Multicultural-based religious education becomes very important to be applied at schools as well as in society. It is because its present can be a solution of varied disintegration problems in our country. In addition, religious education should strengthen brotherhood among religious society. It means that all schools in Indonesia should provide space and high attention to religious education as well as arising the attitude of respecting each other, because without religion as basic element in life and involve it in conflicts is a contradictive problems based on the principle of religion itself. The objective of this research is to figure out the importance of development of Multicultural-based religious education, its implementation as well as forms developed at schools at SMPN 1 Samarinda and SMPN 1 Sangatta, East Kutai, East Kalimantan. Moreover, this is a qualitative research where it studies about natural phenomenon which rely on fact. In this case, the researcher uses semi-structured interview to capture the teachers’ of religious education subject perception. The result of the study shows that both teachers at SMPN 1 Samarinda and SMPN 1 Sangatta, East Kutai, agree that Multicultural-based religious education in very important to be applied in education, especially to the lower level such Junior High School. The shortage of the application of multicultural aspect in religious education is pointed out in this research as well as the future implication related to Indonesian curriculum. Keywords: Teachers’ perspective, religious education, multicultural aspect A. Introduction Many years ago, before information and technology developed, people can limit to whom they what to communicate and associate, but it is no longer working since the era has changed where people communicate in a wide range and many platforms of communication (Asmani, 2011) . It is very easy find any information we need where it becomes social transformation happened during this modern era. In the same time, there are many varied and complex challenges appear because of the transferability of information nowadays and world has become a borderless state (Hamka & Rafiq, 1989) . Modern technology to access information is like two sides of a coin where it can be an advantage or disadvantage for people who use it. Even though many problems are possible to be faced because of the challenges of information and technology era, we should act as a kind, respectful, thankful, and appreciate one to another in order to build convenient and peaceful atmosphere. In this case, we cannot leave aside multicultural aspect where it is also related to religious education especially Islam. This phenomenon needs to be investigated, studied, as well as discussed in detail to avoid hesitation and misunderstanding (Suprayogo, 2009) . Religious education such as Civil Education at schools often assume as a social system which is responsible for building society’s multicultural awareness. Religious education in many years is always considered as dogmatic, doctrine, monolithic, and leave aside the multicultural aspect. In one side, religion can drive people to build society’s cultural types, even to a certain and special culture that makes it appear in a very exclusive form sociologically. Consequently, this phenomenon will also happen to any religion where people with certain religion will have specific characteristics in their religion that makes it different among others. Therefore, this exclusiveness is potential to trigger conflict among society with differe

FAQs

What problem does the study claim multicultural-based religious education can solve?

It is considered a solution for varied disintegration problems and a way to strengthen brotherhood among religious communities, helping students respect one another.

Where is the research conducted and who is interviewed?

The research focuses on SMPN 1 Samarinda and SMPN 1 Sangatta in East Kutai, East Kalimantan, using semi-structured interviews to capture teachers’ perceptions in religious education.

What do the teachers conclude about implementing multicultural-based religious education?

Teachers at both schools agree that it is very important, especially for junior high (lower level) education, and the study points out a shortage in applying multicultural aspects in religious education.

Oct 15, 2026

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