Religious practices in resilience of Indonesian disaster survivors

Julia Suleeman

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Indonesia experiences lots of disaster such as earthquake, tsunami, eruption as well as other disaster caused by human such as fighting. The ability to live with disasters that can happen anytime characterizes the Indonesian people in areas where disasters often occur. This particular study aims to identify the religious aspects associated with the resilience of the disaster survivors from Aceh (Acehnese ethnic), Bogor (Sundanese ethnic), Mount Lokon (Minahasa's ethnic), Bitung (Malukunese ethnic) and Mount Merapi (Javanese ethnic), with some areas experience natural disaster repetitively. The theoretical framework of resilience is taken from Wagnild's (2009) characteristics (i.e., meaningfulness, perseverance, equanimity, self-reliance, and existential aloneness). Altogether 30 participants from Aceh, 31 from Bogor, 18 from Mt. Lokon, 24 from Bitung and 65 from Mt. Merapi took part in this study, using interviews as the main data collection technique. Results show that there are similarities and also differences in the religious practices across these ethnics. Surrender to God and accept the disaster as part of God's will is common in all participants. For Acehnese and Sundanese, religious rituals should be observed dutifully. For Minahasanese, belief in God and always do good as paying respect to Mount Lokon are often practiced. For Malukunese, disaster brings one closer to God while praying and worshipping God are often practiced. For Javanese, safety rituals, and beliefs in God or supranatural power are important. This study has important implications for the understanding of each culture as well as preparing interventions to help disaster survivors healed from traumatic experience and ready to cope into normal life.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2017
EventInternational Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2017 - HU, Budapest, Hungary
Duration: 1 Jan 2017 → …

Conference

ConferenceInternational Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2017
Country/TerritoryHungary
CityBudapest
Period1/01/17 → …

Keywords

  • Religious practices, resilience, Indonesia disaster survivors.

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