The Urgency of the Kalam Science Approach in Countering Religious Radicalism Among the Young Generation of Indonesian Muslims

Abstract

The phenomenon of the increasing spread of radical religious understanding among the young generation of Indonesian Muslims is a serious challenge in building a moderate and inclusive religious life. This article aims to examine the urgency of the Kalam Science approach in forming a moderate religious understanding and as a preventive instrument against radicalism and intolerance. Through a qualitative study with a literature approach and secondary data analysis from the BNPT survey (2023) which states that more than 30% of students are vulnerable to being exposed to intolerant ideologies, this article reviews the contribution of Kalam Science rationality in instilling the values of tawassuth (moderation), tasamuh (tolerance), and ta'adul (balance). Kalam Science education, if integrated contextually in formal and non-formal curricula, has proven to be a medium for dialectics between reason and religious texts. However, the challenges faced include the lack of critical religious literacy, the dominance of narrow textual approaches, and the lack of competent educators in the field of Kalam Science. Thus, strengthening the study of Kalam Science is a strategic need to stem the flow of radicalism and form a young generation that is both religious and tolerant in religion.