Free-thinking from Pesantren Institutions: How Wild Is It?

Abstract

Educational institutions can elevate free-thinking, for example by promoting critical thinking and democratic decision making. Religious characteristics might modify that free-thinking. We examine the correlation between Indonesian free thinkers’ religious background and their works’ theme. It s carried out by analyzing data of 42 free thinkers with pesantren background biographies. The result shows that pesantren-educted thinkers have wider theme that integrate Islam teachings in them. It suggests that pesantren institutions have a significant influence on the development of free-thinking culture in Indonesia