“MUSLIM MODERAT†DALAM KONTEKS SOSIAL-POLITIK DI INDONESIA

“Moderate Muslims†is a problematic, in the sense that it is too wide for the debate and the plurality of meanings. Everything depends entirely on the perspective, mindset, or even a subjective interests of the maker of meaning itself. This paper describes the debate over the meaning, sociological reality and the role of “moderate Muslims†in Indonesia. With a sociological explanation, this paper concluded that in the context of socio-political constellation today, the meaning of the term “moderate Muslim†can actually be identified easily. The term refers to the majority of Muslims who live and move to and in the midst of the society, seeking a change from ground, and reject religious extremism, violence, and terrorism. The existence of a moderate wing of Islamic organizations such as NU and Muhammadiyah is a guarantee for the establishment of democracy optimism in Indonesia in the midst of “the storm†of radical Islamic groups today.Keywords: Moderate Muslims, radicalism, democrac