<![CDATA[The existence of a minority group within a disproportionate rural social structure requires effective adaptation strategies to maintain social harmony without forfeiting religious identity. This study aims to analyze the forms of social adaptation strategies employed by the Catholic minority community in the social life of Lobuhuala Village, North Labuhanbatu Regency. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, collecting data through passive participant observation, semi-structured interviews with nine informants (comprising Catholic and Muslim residents), and documentation. The data were analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model and contextualized through Robert K. Merton’s Social Adaptation Theory. The findings indicate that the Catholic minority's adaptation strategies manifest in two primary typologies: conformity and ritualism. Conformity is reflected in adherence to local norms, participation in village infrastructure communal work, and the preservation of faith identity through St. Pius X Catholic Church. Meanwhile, ritualism is articulated through excessive caution, self-restraint in formal village discussions, and deliberate conflict avoidance to prevent horizontal tension. This study concludes that social harmony in Lobuhuala Village is asymmetrical, where communal stability relies heavily on the relational compromises and social vigilance of the minority in the face of stark demographic disparity]]>
Copyrights © 2026
