STRENGTHENING RELIGIOUS MODERATION: DERADICALIZATION EFFORT IN GENERAL UNIVERSITY

ABSTRACT     Religious moderation is a discourse that has been very much discussing recently. The government, community leaders, including educational institutions are very active in building this narrative. This paper aims at how religious moderation can counteract religious radicalism, especially in public universities. This study indicates that religious moderation applied will reduce radicalism in public universities or as part of deradicalization efforts. The dangers of radicalization and intolerance that have already spread in several universities can be neutralized with the concept of religious moderation, which provides guidance and understanding to the community, especially in this case the community on public university campuses about the importance of understanding Islam correctly and adequately, maintaining harmony in differences. The conclusion shows that religious moderation must be strengthened to prevent radicalism in public campuses by instilling the spirit of nationalism based on the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila, and the 1945 Constitution and defending the state to students, teaching students Islamic insights that are Rahmatan Lil Alamin, moderate, open, and tolerant, fostering ukhuwah Islamiah, ukhuwah Wataniya, and ukhuwah basyariah, instilling critical thinking in students.