Building an interfaith dialogue trough Service Learning: a Comparative study between UINSA and Leipzig University in Germany

Religiosity of the multicultural society in Indonesia has always been characterized by conflict and violence in various regions. On this basis, Indonesia is not only known as the state with the motto Bhinika Eka Tunggal, but a nation with a number of challe0nges and problems that arise from the plurality of ethnic, religious, and socio-cultural (plural). It seems correct to argue that the most effective way to tackle the notion of religious violence is through a religious dialogue. Intrinsic within religious dialogue is an effort to find common values rather than to show-down different sets of norm or to defend the so-called political correctness. What is needed in the process of dialogue is to set aside an ego, and to listen to one another’s voice. Through it, a transformation may also be acquired since in it one would rather prefer the communal interest and forget – albeit for the time being- the personal and individual one. Based on observations in the field both in the State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel and in Leipzige Unversity Germany has contributed in building inter-religious dialogue through a learning service learning activities that integrate between faculty, students and community. This activity has a significant impact on institutional strengthening and closer between institutions and stakeholders.