South Tangerang, FAH Online News - Faculty of Adab and Humanities through the Master of History and Islamic Civilization Study Program held a Book Talk on Friday, November 21 2025. This event took place in the Courtroom on the 2nd Floor of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities and presented Dr. Erica M. Larson was the main resource person, and was attended by Masters students in History and Islamic Civilization at UIN Jakarta.

Dr. Larson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore (NUS). He is a cultural anthropologist who holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Boston University, with a research focus on Indonesia and Southeast Asia. His work has appeared in various reputable international journals such as the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute and Social Compass. He is also the author of the book Ethics of Belonging: Education, Religion, and Politics in Manado, Indonesia (2024) which was the centerpiece of the discussion at the event.

Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities, Dr. Ade Abdul Hak, S.Ag., SS, M.Hum., CIQnR., warmly welcomed the presence of resource persons and expressed his support for activities like this, which can increase the insight of students, especially MSKI students. The Dean also thanked Prof. Dr. Jajat Burhanuddin MA, as Head of MSKI Study Program and Dr. Mauidlotun Nisa' M.Hum., who has presented great sources in this activity.

In his presentation, Dr. Larson explains the main idea of his book which discusses the dynamics of “belonging” or a sense of belonging in Manadonese society. This book reveals how religious identity, education, and political context shape relations between groups in the region. He highlighted two main frameworks of coexistence that emerge in society: aspirational coexistence, namely the hope of an inclusive harmonious life, and majoritarian coexistence, namely a view that places the majority Protestant group as the guarantor of the legitimacy of minority groups.

Furthermore, Dr. Larson explained that schools are an important arena in the process of forming religious and civic ethics. Through ethnographic research in state schools, Catholic schools and madrasas in Manado, he shows how the values of pluralism are negotiated through educational practice. This book also discusses interfaith exchange programs that provide space for dialogue between students to reflect their identity, social position and forms of relationships in a pluralistic society.

The book Ethics of Belonging emphasizes that ethical reflection is not just a philosophical concept, but is part of an active pedagogical process. Through education, students learn to form an understanding of plurality, citizenship, and the boundaries of tolerance in social life. Dr. Larson also highlighted tensions regarding the demographic concerns of the majority group and how religious ethics are practiced at the individual, educational institution and public levels.

This Book Talk event is an important forum for students and academics to deepen their understanding of religious pluralism in Indonesia through an educational anthropology approach. The direct presence of the author makes the discussion interactive and in-depth, providing valuable insight into the complex relationship between education, religion and politics in shaping the ethics of diversity in Manado and the broader Indonesian context.

Documentation: