Indonesia has more than 17.000 islands, yet the people are respectful and tolerate each other. From Sabang to Merauke, this diversity keeps Indonesians united despite the differences between the people. We can feel a similar attitude from the Fakfak people who have the One furnace three stones tolerance value.
People in Fakfak Regency, West Papua, do not use religion to create strife. Instead, the Papuans Muslims intend to establish a peaceful environment for three different religions in the regency: Islam, Catholic Christianity, and Protestant Christianity. They use this philosophical idea to sustain religious harmony and social order. If you want to know more, here’s the details about it.
Details of One Furnace Three Stones
● The Origin of the Philosophy
Long ago, the native of Fakfak, Mbaham Matta Wuh, cooked food using a furnace. The furnace was unique as it had three stones of a similar size supporting the stove. Arranged in a circle at an equal distance toward each other, the three stones were durable and resistant to heat.
After the completion of the arrangement, the people of Mbaham Matta Wuh placed firewood in the space between the furnace and a cauldron on top of it. As the three stones were the main foundation of the stove, it was imperative to maintain them from rolling to the side and ruining the furnace. This practice in the Fakfak people’s daily life has created the foundation for the community afterward.
This philosophy is the embodiment of the Mbaham Matta Wuh way of life. At first, the tribe members were the only ones who knew this practice. They always passed the local wisdom down to the next generation. Around the 1990s, the local government adopted this ideology to promote tolerance in the life of the whole society.
● One Furnace Three Stones Represents the Tribe’s Circumstances
The native of Fakfak knows societal strife caused by differences can create a hostile environment for the people. They do not want that to happen in the community. So, the original inhabitants of the Fakfak tribe introduced this tolerance value. It is a crucial foundation of peace for the people.
The metaphor of three stones illustrates “you, me, and they are brothers,” derived from the Mbaham Matta Wuh philosophy, “KO, ON, KNO Mi Mbi Du Qpona.” This speaks to all differences in values or beliefs that are the basis of humanity. One furnace represents the community’s current living place.
If we combine the meaning and the situation of the Fakfak people, the saying speaks of the unity between three different religions. Those religions have equal standing and balance in contributing to the tribe members. In addition, the philosophical idea also reflects the mutual respect for differences in social status, ideology, and ethnicity.
● An Ethical Philosophy Applicable for Indonesia
This value of the Fakfak tribe has become the symbol of tolerance within the regency and the whole country. The initial meaning of the philosophy refers to the local custom, religion, and government. Later, the tolerance value was applied by the members of the Fakfak tribe in their life.
It is crucial in building the connections between the people, culture, and government. The three must co-exist in harmony to maintain social order. The success of this philosophy in keeping the peaceful environment of the Fakfak tribe is an excellent example to the other tribes in establishing harmony due to religious or ethnic diversity.
The Fakfak tribe does not concern themselves with disputes caused by different religious beliefs. Their “one furnace three stones” philosophical view has become the cornerstone to sustain the community. This value is a great representation to promote diversity applicable in Indonesia.
