Summing up Wuni Findings

During Suharto’s reign (1967-1998), building a national identity as Indonesians was an important part of politics. First you were an Indonesian, then you had a regional identity, and religious and political identities were subordinated and should not play any role.

But nine years later our answers and observations showed that this has changed. The tendency showed clearly a higher importance of religion in the forming of identity.

Religion plays an important part in the people’s everyday life, and they put their trust for a better life in religion. The teacher also pointed out that religion, together with education, are the keys to development. But through our observations we discovered that practice of religion did not affect their daily life to a large extent. Agricultural activity to provide secular needs were more pressing than the actual practice of religion.

As we see it, Wuni and the surrounding areas are facing a crossroad when it comes to development and which set of values that will form their society. If religion comes to play a more important part, how will that affect people with entrepreneurial minds and the freedom of personal development? While on the other hand, are the premises for less religious influence there? And is there knowledge and will to develop the society without religious impact?

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