Spirituality for Combat

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INDONESIA

We had difficulty in usage of terminology in the Indonesian context. In our context, spirituality is more related to religious exercise and rituals. A clear-cut demarcation exists between spiritual' and 'material'. We have not tried to understand spirituality merely on religious terms but on humanitarian terms. Spirituality is understood more as courage, commitment, consistency in relation to our struggle and combat. Against this backdrop, we had discussed the theme 'Spirituality for Combat'.

This paper is not the result of a discussion by theologians but by plantation workers, peasants, social workers, consisting of both Christians and Muslims. We can say that all people have the capacity to theologise but the fact remains, this paper is not based on theological exercise by academics but by common people. There-fore this paper is a popular understanding of spirituality for combat. What is 'spirituality for combat'? Everybody has either the spirituality for combat or the spirituality for survival. Let me give you an example.

Sudarto was a worker in a company. He received a minimum salary and inhuman treatment from the company. One day, he organised his friends in setting up a labour union and began their struggle for improving their lives. Consequently, he was fired from his job. Then, together with other workers who were also fired from their jobs, they fought for their rights. At first, Sudarto fought against injustice in the company because he himself had experienced humiliation. His spirit for combat was for maintaining his life and his friends' lives as well. Only after he had experienced struggle with them did he change his aim. He fought no more for himself but for a social transformation. "Spirituality for Combat" is not the spirit for personal survival or self-interest. Instead, it is an aim or ideal which includes the interests of all.

Rise of Spirituality for Combat

Spirituality for Combat can become active when a person or a group experiences oppression. An event or personal experience could also affect someone to start combat. We remember the experience of Moses, Isiaih and Paul. Their struggle was turned into God's mission after their special personal experiences.  Spirituality for Combat can occur as one gets inspiration from some historical event or figure.

Preserving Spirituality for Combat

One's spirituality for combat often has its ups and downs. It is also possible for one to lose the spirit. Constant effort is needed to guide it. Some efforts that could be carried out for this purpose are:

  1. Deepening confidence through group sharing: Sharing experiences in a reflection group could increase spirituality for combat. Understanding its purpose is a condition for loyalty in the struggle. Along with studies in the field of religion and social sciences, reflection from day-to-day struggle is useful in preserving the spirit for combat.

  2. Direct involvement: Without involvement, our spirit is merely a theory or philosophy. By experiencing the happiness and sorrow of the struggle, we can perceive and show our solidarity to the weak. This direct involvement can increase creativity.

  3. Personal discipline: Spirit for combat can disappear if we lack personal discipline. Luxurious and reckless patterns of life can cause us to lose our spirituality for combat.

  4. Multiplying cadres: Multiplying the number of people who are involved in the struggle will increase spirituality for combat. The prophet Elijah felt so desperate on Mount Horeb as he knew that he struggled only for himself. So did Jesus. He was 'desperate' for He was left on the cross by His disciples and His Father. This points to the need for multiplying the struggling cadres.

  5. Symbols, themes and devotion: These can also be used to increased spirituality for combat. Many secular or religious ceremonies are often used to remind us of the aim of struggle and to make the spirit grow.

Obstacles

Spirituality for combat will always face challenges. The greatest challenge in forming the spirit for combat is just the inner factor.  The opponent will try to break the spirit. The obstacles to the spirit are:

  1. Socio-economic order: Socio-economic factors can depress one's spirit for combat. Struggle always needs sacrifices, time, energy, treasure or soul. One who has been too wealthy owning many means of production will dislike struggle since one will lose his time, energy, possession and soul.

  2. Shortsightedness: Spirit for combat often disappears because one thinks that the aim of the struggle has been achieQed. We experienced this during our combat against Dutch domination. After attaining independence from foreign rule, the spirit for combat was replaced by the spirit for obtaining wealth, position and power. In the struggle, the aim should not be to achieve merely the material or economic benefits but something more than that.

  3. Leadership and individualism: Misunderstanding and the breaking up of human relationship among colleagues can also decrease spirit for combat. In such cases, people tend to sacrifice their joint interests rather than personal dispute.

  4. Helplessness: Spirit for combat decreases if one feels that he or she is doing an impossible mission. Several failures can also be the cause for helplessness. As a matter of fact, we should realise that we are only carrying out part of God's mission.

Conclusion

Spirituality for combat is not limited to political problems, the economy or religion. It covers all aspects of human life. When a person is involved in struggle, he can only maintain his spirit if he realises the motivation for his struggle: the what, how and why.

Spirituality for combat is not owned by a certain group (eg political party, religious body, or nation). It can even be owned by those who hold power in their hands as well as those who want to liberate themselves from oppression. A person who has the spirit for combat means that he has the confidence, idealism and the will to sacrifice. Struggle, like truth, does not always win. Those who fight for truth and justice should realise that they will not gain victory only by themselves. They will not enjoy the result of their struggle. One thing is certain: truth is eternal. We are faithful in the struggle because we are certain that our struggle is eternal.

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TOC -- Preface | Introduction | Opening | Presentations | Responses | Reports | Poems |