The Dialogue with Islam network of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) has published a new book titled Catholic–Muslim Spiritual Conversation in Search of God’s Will Together: An Indonesian Perspective. The publication offers a unique look at interfaith encounters between Catholics and Muslims in Indonesia, highlighting how spiritual conversation can deepen understanding and friendship across faith traditions.
Now available online, the book grew out of the interfaith programme, “Walking with Gus Dur: Interfaith Conversation,” organised by Dialogue with Islam and the JCAP Youth Ministry in collaboration with the Abdurrahman Wahid Center for Peace and Humanities at Universitas Indonesia (AWCPH UI).
Abdurrahman Wahid—fondly known as Gus Dur—was a towering figure of Indonesian pluralism and served as the fourth president of the Republic of Indonesia (1999–2001). He embodied a spirit of profound humanity, warmly embracing not only Muslims but also people of other faiths, including Catholics.
From 10 to 12 May, 31 participants—14 Muslims and 17 Catholics (including 11 women and 20 men) aged 20 to 60—gathered at the House of Prayer of St Mary of Guadalupe in East Jakarta for three days of reflection, dialogue, and silent prayer. The group included professionals, academics, intellectuals, and university students deeply committed to their own religious traditions.
Talks by Dr Zacky Umam, Director of AWCPH UI, and Inayah Wulandari, one of Gus Dur’s daughters, along with a visit to the home of Gus Dur’s wife, Hajjah Sinta Nuriyah, helped participants appreciate Gus Dur’s legacy. They later broke into smaller groups to explore concrete actions for continuing his humanitarian vision and mission.
Fr Greg Soetomo SJ, Coordinator for Dialogue with Islam, introduced silent reflection and a three-round Ignatian spiritual conversation. The process helped participants become aware of their inner movements while discussing key issues affecting Indonesian society, such as:
- Pluralism and the embrace of diversity
- Social justice and interreligious solidarity
- Interfaith dialogue as a path to peace
- Humanistic spirituality: discovering God in the other
- The role of youth as agents of social transformation
The result of these reflections is the newly published book, which gathers the participants’ insights and experience of spiritual conversation.
Nurun Nisa’, a Muslim woman from a traditional pesantren family, wrote: “I felt that this was not merely a conversation to exchange knowledge. It was a conversation of hearts.”
Zacky Umam, a professor of Islamic history at an Islamic university in Jakarta, reflected: “I found myself understanding interfaith encounter more deeply. Above all, I learnt to pause, be silent, reflect, then speak and listen.”
For Salsabila, a Muslim university student: “What moved me most were the casual conversations after the formal sessions ended, when we asked one another sensitive questions like how Catholic friends deal with family members who are not always comfortable with interfaith friendships. Those unrecorded conversations stayed with me the most—they felt honest and profoundly human. For future programmes, perhaps the opening structure could be more relaxed, with light activities to warm the room quickly so people immediately feel, ‘This is a safe space to share.’”
Josef Christofer of Magis Jakarta wrote: “I valued the interfaith dialogue moments, especially in the small group circles and our late-night conversations. In those intimate settings, I could sense not only the participants’ personalities but also the depth and shades of their spirituality. The seemingly trivial topics—family life, personal reflections, impressions of each other’s worship, or jokes about fasting—became deeply meaningful. They opened doors to wider dialogue, encouraged vulnerability, and nurtured honesty. Interfaith conversation became a celebration of subjectivity, eventually pointing to the universality of the spiritual journey.”
The May gathering marked the beginning of a living experiment in interfaith discernment in common—a budding concept still seeking its full expression. The community continues to discern the most fitting name that will capture the identity and essence of this emerging method. Clarifying this identity will help shape its direction and deepen its impact.
In this context, Catholic–Muslim Spiritual Conversation in Search of God’s Will Together: An Indonesian Perspective offers a meaningful contribution to interfaith dialogue and practice within diverse socio-cultural environments. Through such thoughtful engagement, this evolving practice of Catholic–Muslim mystical dialogue can continue to grow, mature, and flourish.
