Explore Indonesia!
An Island Nation with over 700 languages!
The country of Indonesia has at least 13,500 islands. That means that if you tried to visit a different one every day, it would take you 37 years to visit them all! The islands are spread out over an area of the Indian and Pacific Oceans as large as the United States. There are about 213 million people living in Indonesia. They belong to so many different people groups that about 700 different languages are spoken. At school everyone has to learn Indonesian, the national language.
For almost 350 years, the Dutch ruled most of Indonesia. But the country declared its independence in 1945. War broke out in 1965, when the Communists tried to take over the country.
Did you know?
You too can speak Indonesian! :)
Good morning is "Selamat pagi"
(si-lah-mat pah-ghee)
Goodbye is "Selamat tinggal"
(si-lah-mat tin-gahl)
Please is "Tolan" (toh-long)
Thank you is "Terima kasih"
(te-ree-mah kah-see)
Yes is "ya: (yah)
No is "Tidak" (tee-dak)
Below is a audio file to hear John 3:16 in Indonesian!
Religion:
Monotheism and communal peace are the basis for the stated government ideology of Pancasila. All citizens must choose one of five religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or Christianity (Protestant or Catholic). The numerical and political strength of Islam has been increasingly exercised since 1990 to give it preferential treatment, limit Christian expansion, and reduce Christian influence in public life. There are, therefore, some restrictions imposed on evangelism and many Christians seek to avoid antagonizing the Muslim majority.
Religious statistics are a sensitive political issue. Official and unofficial figures often differ widely. Muslims are officially 87%, but actually far less. Approximately 30% of Indonesian Muslims are 'high identify and high practice' Muslims. Another 35% are considered 'high identity but low practice' with the remaining 35% considered 'low identity and low practice' Muslims. Many in this latter group, though enumerated as Muslims in census figures, would either be followers of the Jawa mystical religion, Kebatinan, which predates Islam, or animists who have (to a greater or lesser extent) accepted some of the outward aspects of Islam. Islam is strongest in Sumatra, West and East Java, and in many coastal areas in the east of the country.
Animism in not officially recognized by the government but is strong among some peoples in Papua, Sumba and inland Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, etc. The folk Islam followed by many Indonesian Muslims in strongly influenced by animism. Nation-wide is a dominant spiritual force.
The country of Indonesia has at least 13,500 islands. That means that if you tried to visit a different one every day, it would take you 37 years to visit them all! The islands are spread out over an area of the Indian and Pacific Oceans as large as the United States. There are about 213 million people living in Indonesia. They belong to so many different people groups that about 700 different languages are spoken. At school everyone has to learn Indonesian, the national language.
For almost 350 years, the Dutch ruled most of Indonesia. But the country declared its independence in 1945. War broke out in 1965, when the Communists tried to take over the country.
Did you know?
- Indonesia has the fourth largest number of people of any country in the world - after India, China and the United States.
- Indonesia is longer then the United States by 3,200 Miles!
- Sumatra is the largest unevangelized island on earth!
- Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world!
You too can speak Indonesian! :)
Good morning is "Selamat pagi"
(si-lah-mat pah-ghee)
Goodbye is "Selamat tinggal"
(si-lah-mat tin-gahl)
Please is "Tolan" (toh-long)
Thank you is "Terima kasih"
(te-ree-mah kah-see)
Yes is "ya: (yah)
No is "Tidak" (tee-dak)
Below is a audio file to hear John 3:16 in Indonesian!
Religion:
Monotheism and communal peace are the basis for the stated government ideology of Pancasila. All citizens must choose one of five religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or Christianity (Protestant or Catholic). The numerical and political strength of Islam has been increasingly exercised since 1990 to give it preferential treatment, limit Christian expansion, and reduce Christian influence in public life. There are, therefore, some restrictions imposed on evangelism and many Christians seek to avoid antagonizing the Muslim majority.
Religious statistics are a sensitive political issue. Official and unofficial figures often differ widely. Muslims are officially 87%, but actually far less. Approximately 30% of Indonesian Muslims are 'high identify and high practice' Muslims. Another 35% are considered 'high identity but low practice' with the remaining 35% considered 'low identity and low practice' Muslims. Many in this latter group, though enumerated as Muslims in census figures, would either be followers of the Jawa mystical religion, Kebatinan, which predates Islam, or animists who have (to a greater or lesser extent) accepted some of the outward aspects of Islam. Islam is strongest in Sumatra, West and East Java, and in many coastal areas in the east of the country.
Animism in not officially recognized by the government but is strong among some peoples in Papua, Sumba and inland Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, etc. The folk Islam followed by many Indonesian Muslims in strongly influenced by animism. Nation-wide is a dominant spiritual force.
Indonesia information from: Window on the Wold pgs. 86-87, Daphne Spraggett w/ Jill Johnstone, 2001
