The Archbishop of Jakarta, Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo, issued a stern warning regarding the direction of global technological development. In the Bonum Commune forum in Jakarta on Saturday (11/7/2026), he emphasized that the world is currently at a crossroads between rapid progress and a moral crisis. According to him, without the guidance of conscience, science and technology risk turning into weapons that actually destroy humanity.
As an illustration, Cardinal Suharyo shared a parable about four brothers who were able to resurrect a tiger using their knowledge, only to be mauled to death by the creature. This analogy serves as a sharp reflection that intellectual intelligence without moral wisdom is merely a gateway to destruction. Therefore, moral responsibility must be the primary foundation of every innovation.
The role of grassroots communities was also highlighted as a crucial element in nurturing public conscience. Amid polarization and the challenges of disinformation, civil society movements are seen as having the unique strength to maintain spaces for dialogue and solidarity. Echoing this, the Executive Director of the Maarif Institute, Andar Nubowo, encouraged faith groups to be more proactive in using digital media as a channel to spread messages of peace and curb the spread of hate speech.
On the other hand, Sayidatul Insiyah, a researcher from the SETARA Institute, pointed out that issues of tolerance and discrimination remain unresolved challenges on the ground. She stressed that a legal approach alone is not enough. A strong cross-community synergy is needed to create a more inclusive social ecosystem, where diversity is viewed as a national asset rather than a trigger for division.
The entire discussion in the forum reinforced that peace is not an instant result but hard work built through daily interactions. By strengthening collaboration across organizations, society is expected to continue maintaining harmony and nurturing diversity amid the strong current of disinformation and the threat of intolerance.
