RELIGIOUS MODERATION: The Middle Way in the Midst of the Noise of Differences in the Digital Era

Abstract

Religious moderation is one of the important strategies in maintaining the harmony of the lives of the pluralistic Indonesian people in the midst of the rapid development of digital technology. The uncontrolled flow of information through digital media presents opportunities as well as challenges, especially the increasing spread of radicalism, hoaxes, hate speech, and religion-based social polarization. This research aims to analyze the implementation of religious moderation in the context of pluralistic Indonesian society and identify challenges and strategies to strengthen it in the digital era. This research uses a qualitative approach with the library research method through the study of various scientific literature, books, journal articles, and relevant documents. The data was analyzed using content analysis techniques to identify concepts, findings, and patterns related to religious moderation and digital literacy. The results show that digitalization expands people's access to religious knowledge, but at the same time increases the risk of spreading intolerant content, radicalism, hoaxes, and hate speech that can threaten social cohesion. In addition, social experiences through interfaith interactions in the educational environment, community, and Real Work Lectures activities have proven to be effective learning media in instilling the values of religious moderation. This experience has shaped critical thinking skills, tolerant attitudes, and wisdom in responding to religious information in the digital space. Thus, strengthening religious moderation in the digital era requires the integration of inclusive social experiences and strengthening digital literacy so that people are able to interact critically, responsibly, and maintain unity in a plural life.