Reconstruction of the Concept of Interfaith Dialogue from the Perspective of Religious Moderation

Afriani Afriani (Universitas islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang)
Anggun Tammas Maharani (Universitas islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang)
Sukma Aulia Hanifa (Universitas islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang)

Jurnal Indonesia Studi Moderasi Beragama
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): JISMB, Volume 3, Issue 1 (2026): April - July Period

Background: This article is grounded in the reality that interfaith dialogue practices in plural societies tend to be formalistic, elitist, and confined to theological discourse, and therefore have not fully addressed the challenges of intolerance, social polarisation, and disinformation. Objective: This study aims to reconstruct the concept of interfaith dialogue from the perspective of religious moderation to make it more inclusive, contextual, and applicable. Method: The research employs a qualitative method with a constructive-critical approach, grounded in a literature review, and is analysed through stages of deconstruction, critical-comparative analysis, and conceptual reconstruction. Result: The findings indicate the need for a shift in the orientation of dialogue from symbolic-theological to social-transformative, integrating the values of tawazun (balance), tasamuh (tolerance), i‘tidal (justice), and national commitment. The proposed dialogue model is inclusive and participatory, relational and empathetic, and adaptive to contemporary challenges, including those in the digital sphere. Conclusion: Reconstructing interfaith dialogue based on religious moderation can strengthen social cohesion and national harmony. Originality/Value: This study provides theoretical and epistemological novelty in the field of religious conflict resolution and peace sociology by revealing the necessity of shifting the interfaith dialogue paradigm from an elitist, formalistic, and theological discourse toward a socially transformative praxis anchored in tawazun, tasamuh, i'tidal, and civic commitment regarding the mitigation of intolerance and polarization within the context of pluralistic societies in the digital era, which has received limited applied theoretical formulation. These findings reconstruct existing conceptual frameworks and serve as a strategic reference, contributing to the development of participatory interfaith engagement models, the design of actionable communal harmony roadmaps, and the formulation of adaptive religious moderation policies.