The intersection of digital technology and religious identity in Indonesia presents unique challenges for believers in One God, an indigenous religious community officially recognized as Penghayat Kepercayaan. These communities, consisting of ancestral believers and spiritual movements, navigate the digital realm as a space of convergence, divergence, and friction, reflecting conflicting aspirations and beliefs. Their experiences reveal profound polarization among revelatory religious systems, cosmic beliefs, and indigenous autochthonous worldviews, resonating with Platonic distinctions between logos (reason) and mythos (myth), as outlined in the Indonesian government's definition of religion. Digital technology amplifies these tensions, as the ideology of developmentalism views technological advancement as a manifestation of "modernity."  

Based on three years of research among forty Penghayat communities, this study highlights a spectrum of digital engagement. Some communities exclude technology to preserve traditional practices, while others integrate it to varying degrees, leading to friction between modernity and tradition. Many communities face a digital divide due to inadequate infrastructure, financial limitations, intergenerational challenges, and insufficient government support. Additionally, some maintain digital boundaries and manage social spaces to mitigate friction with mainstream religions. Furthermore, the politics of digital inclusion reveal fragmented governance between provinces and the central government, further exacerbating polarization. This situation is intensified by arbitrary distinctions between sacred technologies used in religious rituals and the secular application of digital tools. Ultimately, the digital experiences of Penghayats underscore the complex interplay of tradition, modernity, and the uneven politics of technological inclusivity. 

Cluster  engagements: 

1. A panel entitled "Digital Inclusion among Indigenous Religious Communities (Penghayats)." 

2. A discussion forum on digital inclusion and its connection to friction and polarization in the digital landscape. It welcomes experiences and insights from various cases in Indonesia and beyond. It will host communities, organizations, and individuals from Indonesia and overseas, including the Center for Digital Society (CfDS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, SAFENet Indonesia, Mafindo, and partners from abroad.