The tolerance of religious life in Fakfak is very thick and still maintained

The tolerance of religious life in Fakfak is very thick and still maintained

Fakfak Regency in West Papua Province can no longer be denied the issue of religious tolerance which is held in high esteem by the local community. Even the harmonization of diversity in the City of Pala, as it is called for Fakfak, is ingrained and carried on.

One proof of the harmonization of religion in the city is Patimburak Mosque, located in Kokas District, Fakfak Regency, Patimburak Mosque was built by King Pertuanan Wertuar in 1870. The architecture of the mosque is very unique, because there is a combination of mosque and church forms.

It is said that the King of the Wertuar Warriors highly respected the religion in the area namely Islam, Protestant Christians, Catholics who had become three religions and lived side by side in the Wertuar War era.

Papua Archeology Institute researcher, Hari Suroto said that when viewed from a distance, the dome of the mosque is designed to resemble the architecture of churches in Europe. Patimburak Mosque is a manifestation of the value of a three stone stove that has become a philosophy of cultural and religious diversity in Fakfak.

"This mosque was built in cooperation by residents of Pertertan Wertuar, both those who embraced Islam and Protestant and Catholic Christians," said Hari (10/05/2020).

One three stone stove means three important positions in the diversity and ethnic kinship in Fakfak. One three-stone furnace means that the furnace is composed of three stones of the same size. These three stones, placed in a circle with a distance from each other so that the position of the three is balanced to support the clay pot.

In addition to diversity and religious tolerance, a three stone stove in Fakfak is interpreted as custom, religion and government always go hand in hand in the daily life of the people in Fakfak.

Hari said, the plurality of Fakfak people still saw themselves as coming from a family of relatives, one ancestor, long before the three religions developed in Fakfak. The three-legged stove requires absolute balance. If one of these is damaged, the furnace cannot be used for cooking.

"Fakfak will never be affected by issues, or disputes related to religion. In fact, it is not uncommon to find one family in Fakfak embracing their respective religions. Even so, people still respect him, "explained Hari.

The tolerance of religious life in Fakfak is very strong and still maintained by the community and should be emulated, as a form of diversity and diversity in Indonesia.