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Published by Universitas Katolik Parahyangan
ISSN : 27226336     EISSN : 27233855     DOI : Prefix 10.26593
Core Subject : Religion, Humanities,
Religion Humanities
FOCUS or FOCUS: Theological Studies is an open-access journal covering multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and trans-disciplinary studies of religion in the field of theology. Theology is a field of study that examines logically the doctrines of faith in religions that are connected to the context of the problems of contemporary society in this world. This theological study, first, is transformative theology which is empirical scientific reflection. Second, it is contemporary theology that has an actual and solution role in contemporary social reality. Therefore, the focus and scope of publication of FOCUS are based on rigorous research, accountable methodologies, and new findings based on good scientific ethical standards in the disciplines of the study of religions in the field of theology.
Arjuna Subject : Seni dan Humaniora - Studi Agama
Articles 131 Documents
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Barzakh and the Imaginal Realm: A Phenomenology of Postmortem Experience in Sufism Muhammad Valiyyul Haqq; Iskandar Arnel
FOCUS Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/478hr802

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenology of barzakh in the corpus of classical Sufism as a model of liminal postmortem experience and analyzes its implications for afterlife concepts in other religious traditions. The aim of this research is to explain how Sufi thinkers—particularly Ibn ‘Arabi, Suhrawardī, and al-Jīlī—understand barzakh not as a static space of waiting but as an imaginal realm with its own ontological structure, experienced through the imaginal consciousness of the human being. Employing a qualitative design grounded in narrative-phenomenological analysis, this study conducts an in-depth textual examination of Sufi works and interprets their imaginal narratives as manifestations of transformative consciousness. The findings reveal three main points. First, barzakh is conceived as an ontological imaginal reality in which the subtle body, liminal space, and postmortem forms manifest through al-khayāl al-muttaṣil as the medium of the soul’s experience. Second, barzakh functions as a moral mirror in which one’s deeds, intentions, and inner states become objectified into imaginal landscapes directly encountered by the soul, thereby dynamically shaping its postmortem existential environment. Third, the comparative analysis demonstrates structural parallels between the phenomenology of barzakh and intermediate-realm concepts in non-Islamic traditions—such as Bardo Thodol in Tibetan Buddhism and Olam Ha-Ba in Judaism—which similarly exhibit liminal experiential patterns involving transformations of consciousness, the subtle body, guidance by transcendent entities, and reflective imaginal spaces. This study contributes to the expansion of esoteric Sufi studies by employing a phenomenological approach that interprets barzakh as a structure of experience rather than merely a theological doctrine. Moreover, it offers a new hermeneutical framework for interreligious dialogue by highlighting shared patterns of transitional consciousness across afterlife traditions. The originality of this research lies in its integration of phenomenological analysis with comparative afterlife studies, demonstrating barzakh as a universal archetype of transformative human experience.
Islamic Art at the Crossroads of Modernity: Aesthetic and Spiritual Interpretations in the Works of Ahmad Sadali and A.D. Pirous in Indonesia Renatha Aisya Nazwanindya; Mochamad Ziaul Haq; Yacobus Ari Respati; Henrycus Napitsunargo
FOCUS Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/pzpxe735

Abstract

This study examines how contemporary Indonesian Islamic painting functions as a medium of spiritual reflection and as an intellectual project that negotiates Islamic tradition with global modernity. Focusing on the works of Ahmad Sadali and A.D. Pirous, the study responds to an academic concern regarding the persistent fragmentation in Islamic art scholarship among aesthetic, symbolic, and philosophical approaches, as well as the limited comparative readings of Indonesian Muslim artists within the global discourse of Islamic art. Employing a qualitative approach with an interpretive-analytical research design, the study collects data through direct observation of artworks at the exhibition Seabad Sadali: Menjejak Bumi Menembus Langit at Selasar Sunaryo Art Gallery and through visits to Studio Galeri Serambi Pirous, complemented by a literature review of theoretical works and previous studies on Islamic art, abstraction, calligraphy, and visual theology. The findings demonstrate that Ahmad Sadali and A.D. Pirous represent two distinct yet complementary aesthetic strategies within modern Indonesian Islamic painting. Sadali articulates tawḥīd through a quiet and contemplative mode of symbolic abstraction, whereas Pirous advances the deconstruction of calligraphy and heightened visual intensity as a dialogical expression of spiritual anxiety and faith. Together, their works affirm that Islamic painting does not operate merely as decorative art, but functions as a practice of visual theology—a mode of Islamic thinking enacted through symbols, color, and spatial composition. The implications of this study underscore the importance of visual art as an integral part of contemporary Islamic intellectual tradition, while also opening pathways for the development of more inclusive approaches to Islamic art education, curatorial practice, and public dialogue. The originality of this research lies in its comparative reading of Sadali and Pirous as an intellectual project of Indonesian Islamic art, positioning Indonesia not as a peripheral case but as a reflective and active contributor to the global discourse on Islamic art.
The Philosophy of Obedience in War: A Clausewitzian Analysis Adwin Wibisono
FOCUS Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/k7g1pn68

Abstract

This study examines the moral limits of obedience in military ethics through a reinterpretation of Clausewitz’s On War, particularly regarding the relationship between a soldier’s compliance, the teleological purpose of war, and the moral agency of individuals within the chain of command. The research responds to concerns about the persistent strength of absolutist obedience doctrines in modern military institutions, which—across numerous historical cases such as My Lai and Abu Ghraib—have contributed to atrocities and the delegitimization of war. Using a qualitative method based on literature study and conceptual-critical analysis, this article analyzes Clausewitz’s texts, the doctrine of Auftragstaktik, historical investigation reports, and contemporary literature on military ethics, just war theory, and strategic leadership. The findings demonstrate three key points. First, Clausewitz views war as a political instrument directed toward teleological ends such as the restoration of order and the achievement of peace; therefore, obedience holds moral value only insofar as it supports these highest strategic purposes. Second, the analysis of the My Lai massacre and the abuses at Abu Ghraib confirms that blind obedience produces moral and strategic failure when orders are executed without rational judgment or ethical reflection. Third, integrating Clausewitz’s ideas with the principles of Auftragstaktik generates two new normative concepts—critical obedience and ethical disobedience—which position soldiers as responsible moral agents rather than mere executors of commands. These concepts offer an ethical foundation for modern military professionalism, particularly within the context of multidomain warfare and the complex frictions of contemporary conflict. Theoretically, this research contributes original insight to the field of military ethics by proposing a teleological framework that fills gaps in just war studies, professional military ethics, and character education for soldiers. This approach opens new pathways for developing military ethics curricula, reforming command doctrines, and establishing protective mechanisms for soldiers when confronted with erroneous or immoral orders.
Transformasi Kepemilikan Tanah Lokal di Sulawesi Utara: Analisis Sosial-Ekologis dan Respons Ekopastoral Gereja: Land Ownership Transformation in North Sulawesi: A Socio-Ecological Analysis and the Church’s Eco-Pastoral Response Amrosius Wuritimur; Hermas Asumbi; Agustinus Kalengkongan
FOCUS Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/wjgp4z63

Abstract

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis transformasi kepemilikan tanah masyarakat lokal serta mengkaji respons religius-ekopastoral Gereja dalam konteks perubahan sosial pedesaan di Kecamatan Dimembe, Minahasa Utara, Indonesia. Penelitian ini penting karena penyusutan kepemilikan tanah tidak hanya berdampak pada keberlanjutan ekonomi rumah tangga, tetapi juga memengaruhi struktur stratifikasi sosial, identitas kultural, dan keseimbangan ekologis masyarakat lokal. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan campuran (mixed methods) dengan desain deskriptif-eksplanatif melalui observasi lapangan, wawancara mendalam, dokumentasi, dan survei terhadap masyarakat di Desa Matungkas, Laikit, Dimembe, dan Tatelu. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kepemilikan tanah masyarakat lokal mengalami penyusutan signifikan akibat ekspansi perumahan, pertumbuhan sektor perdagangan dan jasa, aktivitas pertambangan emas, serta tekanan kebutuhan ekonomi rumah tangga. Transformasi tersebut menggeser rezim kepemilikan dari model tenurial berbasis kerja menuju model berbasis modal, sehingga tanah beralih dari ruang hidup produktif menjadi komoditas investasi. Pergeseran ini memperlemah ketahanan ekonomi rumah tangga, mengubah pola penghidupan agraris, memperdalam stratifikasi sosial berbasis kepemilikan lahan, serta meningkatkan kerentanan sosial-ekologis wilayah peri-urban. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa penyusutan kepemilikan tanah merupakan persoalan sosial-ekologis yang menuntut respons struktural dan kultural. Oleh karena itu, pendekatan ekopastoral Gereja perlu diintegrasikan dalam strategi pemberdayaan masyarakat melalui edukasi ekologis, advokasi perlindungan tenurial, dan penguatan spiritualitas ekologis berbasis keberlanjutan. Penelitian ini menawarkan kebaruan dengan mengintegrasikan analisis sosial-agraria dan religiusitas sebagai variabel normatif-struktural dalam memahami transformasi agraria pedesaan di Indonesia.
Islamic Ecotheology in Education: Institutional Practice and Contestation at Ma’had Al-Zaytun Budhy Munawar-Rachman; Ali Aminulloh; Dewi Nopasari; Khoirotun Nisak
FOCUS Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/8hby5d02

Abstract

Scholars increasingly understand the global ecological crisis not merely as an environmental problem but as a civilizational crisis rooted in the relationship between humans, God, nature, and the social order. This article examines the implementation of ecotheology in Islamic education at Ma’had Al-Zaytun, Indramayu, West Java, by positioning it as a form of religious educational practice that seeks to respond to the ecological crisis through the integration of faith, scientific knowledge, and ecological responsibility. The study employs a qualitative approach, using field observations conducted on December 10–12, 2025, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. The findings show that ecotheology at Ma’had Al-Zaytun does not remain at the normative level; instead, the institution operationalizes it as lived theology through an interdisciplinary curriculum, sustainable agricultural practices, an environmentally friendly lifestyle culture, and the management of socio-ecological relations with surrounding communities. However, this implementation also faces structural challenges, cultural resistance, and theological controversies related to interpretive religious authority and institutional sustainability. This article argues that Ma’had Al-Zaytun can be understood as a socio-ecological laboratory where Islamic ecotheology undergoes practical experimentation while simultaneously attracting critical debate. This study contributes to the development of ecotheological scholarship in Indonesia by positioning the pesantren as a significant arena for the renewal of Islamic education that responds to the ecological crisis, while acknowledging the social and theological tensions that accompany such efforts.
Ontological–Metaphysical Hatred in Existential Crisis and Modern Conflict Transformation Welem Novi Watunglawar; Mochamad Ziaul Haq
FOCUS Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/qzrd1h79

Abstract

This study aims to construct an ontological–metaphysical understanding of hatred as an existential wound of modern humanity and to reconstruct John Galtung’s ABC conflict model (Attitude–Behavior–Contradiction) through a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. This study is important because previous studies on hatred have primarily understood it as a psychological, moral, or socio-political phenomenon. Consequently, those studies have not adequately explored the ontological and metaphysical roots that generate hatred in modern life. This study employs a qualitative–interpretive approach grounded in hermeneutic phenomenology. The research data derive from philosophical, metaphysical, and conflict studies texts, which the study analyzes through reflective, interpretive, and dialogical readings of the thoughts of Martin Heidegger, Gabriel Marcel, Søren Kierkegaard, Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Meister Eckhart, and John Galtung. The findings demonstrate that hatred constitutes a manifestation of the fragmentation of consciousness, ego domination, and humanity’s disconnection from the wholeness and sacredness of reality. Hatred operates simultaneously at the levels of existential attitude, social behavior, and structural contradiction, thereby revealing that modern social conflict reflects a crisis of human existence itself. This study argues that sustainable conflict transformation requires the ontological restoration of human beings through relational openness, spiritual awareness, and the recovery of the sacred dimension of life. The implications of this study expand conflict and peace studies from a structural approach toward an ontological–metaphysical perspective. The originality of this study lies in its integration of phenomenology, spiritual metaphysics, and conflict theory in interpreting the essence of hatred as an existential wound of modern humanity.
Religious Moderation and the Limits of Tolerance in a Plural Society in Indonesia Bartolomeus Samho; Alfonsus Sutarno; Postinus Gulo
FOCUS Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/5457mq16

Abstract

This article aims to analyze religious moderation within the context of Indonesia’s plural society and to examine the limits of tolerance in religious life. This study originates from the persistence of intolerance amid constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and the growing discourse on religious moderation as a public policy agenda. This study employs a qualitative approach through a literature study and critical-normative analysis. The study integrates constitutional-legal analysis with John Rawls’ theory of reasonable pluralism, Jürgen Habermas’ theory of communicative action, and Karl Popper’s paradox of tolerance. The study analyzes various scholarly works, regulations, and theoretical concepts related to religious moderation, tolerance, and pluralism in democratic societies. The findings show that religious moderation cannot merely function as a moral appeal or an administrative instrument of the state in managing religious diversity. Religious moderation also functions as an ethical-critical framework that regulates the limits of tolerance in order to preserve justice, social cohesion, and respect for citizens’ constitutional rights within a plural society. The study also finds that tolerance without normative boundaries potentially creates space for intolerant practices within society. This study implies the need to strengthen policies and educational practices on religious moderation through more critical, dialogical, and socially just approaches. The originality of this study lies in its effort to position religious moderation not merely as a normative policy, but as an ethical-critical paradigm that bridges constitutional values, social pluralism, and lived religious realities in Indonesia.
From Noosphere to Omega Point: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and the Foundations of Cosmic Post-Secular Theology Nana Supiana; Muhammad Yusuf Wibisono
FOCUS Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/4xv7b032

Abstract

This study analyzes the relevance of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s thought through the concepts of the noosphere, Christogenesis, and the Omega Point within the frameworks of progressive theology, evolutionary mysticism, and post-secularism. The study responds to the growing need for a theological framework capable of bridging the relationship between religion, science, technology, and contemporary ecological crises. The research employs a qualitative approach using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method based on the PRISMA guidelines. The study collected data from academic publications indexed in Scopus and Google Scholar, focusing primarily on literature published between 2020 and 2025 while also incorporating earlier works with significant theoretical relevance. The findings reveal three major conclusions. First, contemporary scholarship increasingly positions Teilhard as a progressive theologian who integrates faith and science through the concepts of cosmic evolution and Christogenesis. Second, the concepts of the noosphere, Christogenesis, and the Omega Point form a framework of evolutionary mysticism that connects spirituality, collective consciousness, and ecological responsibility within a single cosmic horizon. Third, within the post-secular context, Teilhard’s thought offers a model of religiosity that reconciles scientific rationality, technological development, and the search for spiritual meaning in modern society. This study contributes to the development of ecological theology, technology ethics, religious education, and dialogue between religion and science. The originality of this study lies in its conceptual synthesis that integrates progressive theology, evolutionary mysticism, and the post-secular paradigm within a single analytical framework. Based on this synthesis, the study proposes the concept of Cosmic Post-Secular Theology as a theoretical contribution for understanding the relevance of religion amid contemporary ecological transformation, technological advancement, and changing forms of religiosity.
Moral Economy of Death: Religious Legitimacy and Social Obligations in Ta‘ziyah Practices in Indonesia Paelani Setia; Muhammad Ikhlas Rosele; Rika Dilawati
FOCUS Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/r5nr5p53

Abstract

This study examines ta‘ziyah practices in rural West Bandung Regency, Indonesia, through the lens of moral economy to explain how economic obligations within death rituals become legitimized, reproduced, and accepted as integral components of religious practice. This study employs a qualitative approach through participant observation and in-depth interviews with bereaved families, kiai, mosque administrators, community leaders, and local residents involved in ta‘ziyah practices. Drawing on James C. Scott’s moral economy perspective, this study demonstrates that ta‘ziyah functions not only as an expression of piety and social solidarity but also as a moral-economic system that positions bereaved families as the primary providers of ritual resources. Religious legitimacy, which emerges through the authority of kiai, the discourse of sedekah almarhum/almarhumah (charity on behalf of the deceased), and local social norms, transforms religious recommendations into social obligations that community members find difficult to refuse. This ritual governance subsequently reproduces unequal distributions of obligations and increases the economic and social vulnerability of bereaved households. These findings highlight the need for critical reflection on death ritual practices so that social solidarity does not evolve into an additional burden for vulnerable groups. This study contributes to the literature by extending moral economy theory into the study of death rituals and local Islam in Indonesia.
The Pastoral Priority Principle in Catholic Religious Education: Balancing Curriculum and Faith Formation Hetbin Jefrianto Marbun
FOCUS Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Focus
Publisher : Parahyangan Catholic University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26593/ncnp3t25

Abstract

This study reflects on the tension between curriculum requirements and faith formation needs in the implementation of Catholic Religious Education (CRE) for public school students who participate in parish-based faith formation programs. The study employs a qualitative approach using a practice-based pastoral reflection method. The data derive from one year of CRE accompaniment in a parish within the Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia. The study enriches these data through participant observation, documentation of pastoral experiences, and informal conversations with fellow volunteer catechetical companions. The analysis engages Church documents, Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy, and perspectives from inclusive education. The findings show that learners demonstrate substantial diversity in academic ability, literacy skills, and mastery of foundational elements of the Catholic faith. This diversity often prevents the curriculum from being implemented linearly according to its intended sequence and objectives. In practice, companions consistently adjust instruction by postponing certain topics, simplifying learning objectives, strengthening foundational faith formation, and adapting teaching methods to learners’ actual needs. These findings indicate that decision-making in Catholic Religious Education involves not only pedagogical considerations but also a process of pastoral discernment. The study’s primary contribution is the development of the Pastoral Priority Principle, a principle that places the needs most conducive to learners’ faith growth at the center of decision-making when curriculum requirements and learners’ actual conditions cannot be addressed simultaneously.

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