Fostering Religious Tolerance in Catholic Religious Education: A Study of Policy Impact in Indonesia

This study investigates the levels of religious tolerance among students at six Catholic universities in Indonesia and the efforts to sustain and enhance this tolerance. Using a mixed-method approach, specifically the Sequential Exploratory model, the research begins with the collection and analysis of quantitative data, followed by qualitative data. An online questionnaire, completed by 250 students enrolled in Catholic Religious Education programs, reveals that students exhibit a very high level of tolerance (90%) in terms of acceptance, recognition, respect, and cooperation. However, several areas require further attention: the establishment of places of worship, representation of
diverse religious backgrounds in public leadership roles, respect for religious observances, and willingness to engage in activities with adherents of other religions. Interviews indicate that while the six study programs have implemented
policies promoting inter-religious tolerance in both academic and non-academic areas, tolerance has not yet become a central focus in the policies of some programs. This study emphasizes the need for higher education institutions to
address these issues to further strengthen students’ tolerance, despite the already high levels observed.