The book titled Kata Bersama: Antara Muslim dan Kristen (A Common Word: between Muslims and Christians) is an extended of Indonesian version from Muslim and Christian Understanding: Theory and Application of “A Common Word Between You and Us.” The book is a follow-up to the “Kalimatun Sawa” initiative or “A Common Word,” in the form of a statement of 138 representatives of intellectual figures, muftis, and Islamic scholars throughout the world about the relationship between Islam and Christianity was published by UGM Press.
Thursday, August 23, 2019, at the UGM Senate Hall, the Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Publisher and Publication Board (BPP) launched a book edited by Waleed El-Ansary, David K. Linnan, Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, Paripurna P. Sugarda, and Harkristuti Harkrisnowo. This event presented authors and book editors, including Prof. David K. Linnan (University of South Carolina) and Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin (Special Staff of the President). Besides, comparative theology experts were also invited to dissect books, including Yenny Wahid (Wahid Foundation), Zinal Abidin B. (Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies, ICRS), and Abdul Gaffar (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UGM).
The existence of the book Kata Bersama: Antara Muslim dan Kristen is highly anticipated in Indonesia’s social situation, which is being hectic by the issue of blasphemy and various conflicts both within and inter-religious. It took more than five years for the process of publishing this book in Indonesia. Post-Presidential Election 2019 is felt to be the right time to see the condition of a society that has been calmer from various conflicts with religious backgrounds.
Launching and reviewing the book Kata Bersama: Antara Muslim dan Kristen is also one of a series of celebrations for the 70th Anniversary and 14th Lustrum of Universitas Gadjah Mada. At the age of 70 years, UGM increasingly asserted itself to be a humanist university by sticking to the values of Pancasila as the basis of the state. UGM, as a Pancasila University, views the importance of discussion space related to within and interfaith issues in Indonesia, which in the last period has become increasingly worrying and has led to the discrimination of religious minorities in various regions.
The Kata Bersama: Antara Muslim dan Kristen was officially launched by the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Alumni, Plenary P. Sugarda, with a beating of gongs in front of 350 participants and guests who came from various circles. The event invited the Rector of State and Private Universities in Yogyakarta and leaders of organizations and religious groups. Enthusiasm was seen from all participants and guests present.