<![CDATA[Indonesia’s religious and cultural diversity presents a dual dynamic as a vital national asset and a potential catalyst for social fragmentation. In this context, religious moderation serves as an essential paradigm for maintaining social cohesion, deeply rooted in the archipelago’s local wisdom. Objective: This study critically analyzes the values of religious moderation embedded in Mangkunegara IV classical Javanese text, Serat Wedhatama, and constructs its conceptual relevance to contemporary social dynamics. Method: Employing a qualitative design with a philosophical hermeneutic approach, the text is interpreted deeply, critically, and contextually. Findings: The findings demonstrate that Serat Wedhatama articulates religious moderation through three main pillars: (1) a dialectical equilibrium between exoteric (outer) and esoteric (inner) religious dimensions, (2) the practice of emotional and spiritual self-mastery (olah rasa) against personal egoism, and (3) the manifestation of tolerance grounded in Javanese spiritual wisdom. The text shifts religious consciousness from rigid symbolic exclusivism toward a substantive-inclusive orientation, effectively mitigating extremist tendencies. Conclusion & Implications: This study concludes that Serat Wedhatama provides a contextual ethical-spiritual repository that serves as a potent counter-narrative against contemporary intolerance, radicalism, and social polarization. Beyond being a passive cultural artifact, this classical work functions as a strategic epistemological source to transform local wisdom-based religious moderation. The implications emphasize the strategic necessity of integrating Nusantara literary values into cultural policies and character education to sustain social peace and pluralism amid globalization.]]>
