The Agama Jawa

It is not always possible to trace as clearly as in the two approaches discussed in the previous chapter a certain method in the reflection on Indonesian images of Jesus. It is sometimes more a matter of tracing a certain attitude that can be brought into association with the context. Here a traditional view of life and, in connection with that, the traditional religions often play an indirect role. Especially on Java, where such an attitude is determined by – what Western observers call – the agama Jawa (the religion of Java) in which elements of Islam and the old Javanese Hinduism and Buddhism are included, it is difficult to make sharp distinctions.

Because of this typical Javanese syncretism, people speak of the santri wing, which strictly follows the rules of official Islam, and the abangan wing, which also includes elements of Hinduism, Buddhism and the traditional religions. It is usually assumed that Hinduism and Buddhism especially have contributed to the mystical character of Javanese Islam, even though that mystical character is strongly rooted in the nature of the Javanese people and Islam itself also has highly developed mystical schools.