Neutral Monism: The Existence of Karo Human Beings and Inspiration for the Development of Religious Moderation in Indonesia's Plural Religious Society

Abstract

This writing discusses the divine aspect within the traditional faith of the Karo people. The aim of the writing is to uncover the roots, structure, and conceptual model of the divine within the traditional Karo faith, and its influence on the Karo community's existence. It also explores its relevance and contribution to the development of religious moderation within Indonesia's pluralistic religious society. Data for this study was collected through interviews with traditional leaders, in-depth observations, and document analysis. The collected data was analyzed using Schleiermacher's hermeneutic circle technique. The results of the data analysis reveal that the divine structure in the traditional Karo faith resembles a tripolar structure, rooted in natural revelation experiences, and bearing similarities to the pattern of neutral monism. This structure underpins the existence of the Karo people. These findings provide inspiration for the development of religious moderation within Indonesia's pluralistic religious society, particularly fostering interfaith dialogue, universal brotherhood, and cooperation to build a more civilized world.