Cross-Cultural and Interfaith Study: UKDW Welcomes Students from Hong Kong
Yogyakarta — In collaboration with The Divinity School of Chung Chi College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) is hosting an Indonesia Study Tour in May 2025. The program welcomes 21 participants from Hong Kong—comprising faculty members, staff, students, and alumni—who began their Yogyakarta session on May 15, 2025.
UKDW Rector, Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T., warmly welcomed the delegation from Chung Chi College and expressed hopes that the program would foster deeper interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural understanding.
“Welcome to UKDW and to Yogyakarta—a city of culture and learning. As a university committed to inclusivity and diversity, we are honored to host a program that builds bridges across differences and nurtures interfaith understanding. We hope this encounter will be enriching—not only intellectually, but also spiritually and culturally,” said the Rector in her opening remarks.
The Yogyakarta program opened with a public lecture held at UKDW, featuring two lecturers from the university’s Faculty of Theology: Rev. Dr. Paulus Sugeng Widjaja and Rev. Dr (h.c.) Emanuel Gerrit Singgih.
In a lecture titled “Christianity and Peace Building,” Dr. Paulus emphasized that peace, from a Christian theological perspective, is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of holistic well-being—spiritually, morally, socially, and materially. He spoke about how Christ brings forth a new humanity that transcends divisions and builds relationships rooted in justice and love. The church, he asserted, is called to be an alternative community that embodies this vision of peace.
Dr. Gerrit followed with a presentation on “Disaster Theology: Theodicy, Anthropodicy, and Cosmodicy in the Indonesian Context.” He explored how Indonesia’s deeply religious society interprets disasters—not only as natural phenomena but also as spiritual trials or divine messages. Through theological lenses such as theodicy (God’s justice), anthropodicy (human responsibility), and cosmodicy (cosmic justification), participants were invited to reflect on how faith responds to suffering. In the midst of disaster, he added, interfaith solidarity often emerges—revealing God’s presence through acts of compassion and mutual aid.
These sessions laid a strong theological foundation for understanding the importance of interfaith cooperation in a complex and divided world.
One participant from Hong Kong, Jane, shared her perspective on the high-pressure urban lifestyle in her city.
“Hong Kong is designed for work,” she said. Although the city is also surrounded by natural beauty—forests, mountains, and sea views—many residents struggle to rest. “Home is not really home—it’s more like a dormitory provided by the company,” she added, highlighting how dominant the ‘work mode’ is in everyday life. “To truly relax, people need to go to other place.”
Following the lectures, participants joined an interfaith dialogue session with UKDW students, exchanging thoughts and experiences in a warm, open atmosphere. Despite coming from different cultural and religious backgrounds, both groups shared a common desire to build a peaceful and respectful society. They also took part in a Taizé prayer service at the UKDW Chapel with other members of the university community.
The Yogyakarta session of the Indonesia Study Tour ran from May 15–20, 2025, and included visits beyond campus. Participants engaged in a discussion at the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) on the dynamics of religious pluralism in Indonesia. They also explored various sacred and cultural sites, such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Ganjuran, Borobudur Temple, and Lintang Songo Islamic Boarding School—each offering unique insights into the interplay between religion and local traditions.
A particularly memorable aspect of the program was the weekend homestay, during which participants lived with Indonesian families. They attended Sunday worship, shared daily routines, and experienced firsthand the warmth of Indonesian hospitality, building meaningful intercultural connections.
This program not only strengthens institutional ties between UKDW and Chung Chi College but also reaffirms UKDW’s commitment to fostering peace, diversity, and interfaith solidarity in both academic and societal spheres. [drr]
