Why religion continues being integral to Indonesians can be viewed from a supply and demand perspective. State-perpetrated religious discriminations and the potential rise of conservative and hardline groups are concerning. These may lead to a rising tide of intolerance in Indonesia.
The dissemination of hateful contents generally increases in Indonesia during crises such as COVID-19 and political contestations. Such hateful contents reflect deep-seated sentiments that have developed through Indonesia’s history.