Religious Moderation as Inclusive Ethics: A Phenomenological Study of Student Lived Experiences in a Multicultural Campus Environment

Dewanti Aulia (Universitas Islam Negeri Salatiga)
Rahma Dewi (Universitas islam Negeri Salatiga)

Jurnal Indonesia Studi Moderasi Beragama
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): JISMB, Volume 3, Issue 2 (2026): June-September Period

Background: Religious moderation (wasathiyyah) has become a crucial issue in the era of information openness and multicultural societies. Objective: This study aims to explore and analyze the lived experiences of students in internalizing religious moderation values within academic and social environments. Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, this study focuses on active students majoring in Islamic Business Management at FEBI, UIN Salatiga. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation, analyzed via Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: The findings reveal that students interpret wasathiyyah as an inclusive, fair, and non discriminatory professional ethical guide in both lectures and entrepreneurial practices. Religious moderation serves as social capital and an ideological shield (digital tabayyun) against social media polarization. Conclusion: In conclusion, internalizing wasathiyyah successfully shapes an inclusive religious professional identity, harmonizing faith commitments with modern business demands in Salatiga City. Originality/Value: This study provides empirical and conceptual novelty in the field of higher education sociology and Islamic business ethics by revealing the internalization of wasathiyyah as an inclusive professional ethical guide, social capital, and an ideological digital tabayyun shield within academic activities and entrepreneurial practices regarding the formation of a professional religious identity within the context of student lived experiences in a multicultural campus environment in Salatiga City, which has received limited interpretative phenomenological inquiry in business faculties. These findings enrich empirical evidence and serve as a strategic reference in designing integrated Islamic business ethics curricula, formulating student character building policies grounded in religious moderation, and advancing service excellence frameworks in higher education.