The Concept of Being for Others in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Christian Ethics as a Foundation for Religious Tolerance Character Education among High School Students in Sintang
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51278/aj.v8i3.2676Keywords:
Bonhoeffer’s Christian Ethics, Being for Others, Religious Tolerance, Character Education, Christian Religious EducationAbstract
This study aims to examine Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s concept of being for others in Christian ethics and explore its relevance as a foundation for developing religious tolerance character among high school students. Employing a descriptive qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and documentation involving a school principal, a Christian Religious Education teacher, and three high school students. The data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, consisting of data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing, and verification, with source triangulation employed to enhance the credibility of the findings. The findings reveal that Bonhoeffer’s concept of being for others, reflected in the values of love, care, responsibility, solidarity, respect for human dignity, and willingness to serve others, provides a meaningful ethical foundation for cultivating religious tolerance among high school students. These values encourage students to recognize differences, respect individuals from different religious backgrounds, develop empathy, and promote harmonious relationships within a multicultural environment. The study contributes theoretically by extending the application of Bonhoeffer’s Christian ethical thought to the contemporary discourse on religious tolerance and character education. Practically, it provides an ethical framework that can inform Christian Religious Education and school-based character education programs aimed at fostering inclusive, respectful, and peaceful interreligious relations among students. The study therefore demonstrates that the principle of being for others has significant relevance for strengthening religious tolerance character education in multicultural educational contexts such as Sintang Regency.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ridwan Tonny Hasiholan Pane, Yuliono Evendi, Sudarmono Sudarmono, Yefen Benhur Lifiar Utan, Fransiskus Ari Purwanto
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