Carlos from Brazil: UIII Offers Hope

Carlos Cesar Barbosa Silva, a Brazilian participant in the Asia Pacific Theological Encounter Program (APTEP) 2024, held at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), testified that he was impressed with Indonesian Muslims for their moderate and harmonious values, arguing that UIII could be a new hope for Islamic civilization.

“I saw this university as a kind of hope to the world, to the religion, because Indonesia has a very particular way of living Islam and Islam here you live in a very harmonic way among many different traditions. So, I am very happy to be here, to learn from this university,” Carlos stated.

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As a Jesuit, Carlos confessed that his perspective on Islam before was shaped by the media. “I could see Islam as a single block, and after coming here to Indonesia and this university, I could see the diversity of Islam and we cannot think or say a single Islam. Of course, they have one sacred book the Quran, but there are many different perspectives and different ways to live the religion,” he stated.

Additionally, Carlos brought the issue not only in the academic field but also in international relations, especially between Indonesia and his country. “I know that Brazil is so far from Indonesia, but somehow, they have some similarities, in political aspect especially. So yeah, I am very glad to be here and perhaps in the near future, I will come back here to pursue my studies,” said Carlos who has an educational background in political science and international relations.

Read Also: Religious Harmony at UIII Through APTEP Program 2024 

Held from June 4 to 11 at UIII Campus in Depok, West Java, APTEP 2024 aims to introduce the participants to the real face of Muslim communities, and further to live and socially interact with them on day-to-day basis, hoping to increase the mutual understanding between the two religious’ communities.

The program was initiated by the Jesuit Among Muslim in Asia (JAMIA) in collaboration with the Loyola School of Theology of the School of Humanities at the Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines. 

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