Penghayat, orthodoxy and the legal politics of the state

Abstract

Using a dramaturgical perspective and Agama Djawa Sunda (ADS) or Madraisism as a case study, this article attempts to uncover the strategy used by the followers of ‘unofficial religion’ in Indonesia to successfully manage their unrecognised legal status. As a pragmatic response when being repressed, either by religious orthodoxy or the state, ADS utilises a ‘back and forth’ conversion tactic. The ‘front stage’ is the pretense of converting to one of the formal authorised religions, whilst at the ‘back stage’ they remain true to their beliefs. An analysis of ADS and the defence mechanisms employed to escape persecution contributes further to the discussion on ADS in Indonesia, a topic that has received scant attention from scholars.