Publication Search

This research is motivated by the reality of human life that is inseparable from suffering and a crisis of hope, particularly within the context of faith experiences. Lamentations 3:1–24 was chosen as the object of study because it contains a profound expression of suffering that transforms into hope through an awareness of God's steadfast love. The purpose of this study is to theologically examine the meaning of hope amid suffering and to explore how this text provides spiritual strength for believers in the contemporary era. The research employs a qualitative method with a library research approach and theological-biblical hermeneutical analysis of the text of Lamentations 3:1–24. The novelty of this research lies in its integrative interpretation, which emphasizes existential honesty, faith reflection, and spiritual refinement as a path to forming spiritual character through suffering. The findings indicate that suffering is not the end but a divine means to direct believers toward true hope in God’s steadfast love. Thus, honest faith, prayer, and waiting become tangible expressions of a spirituality that endures and grows amid darkness.

This study examines the meaning of eschatology in the teachings of the Catholic Church as a source of hope and comfort for the faithful. The eschatological meaning of comfort and hope is rooted in the belief that human life is not completed in limitations, suffering, and death at this time, but leads to the fulfillment of God's promise of life with Him. This research uses a qualitative method through literature study by analyzing church documents, theological thoughts and execes from books and articles to compile and present the topic of this research. The results show that the principle of eschatology is rooted in belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that it affirms the promise of eternal life and provides comfort and hope over suffering and death. The teachings of death, judgment, and eternal life are the basis of hope as well as comfort for the people in facing the various crises of life. In addition, eschatology is also relevant in today's life because it encourages people to live in love, justice, and moral responsibility as a manifestation of faith.  

This study examines the phenomenon of victim blaming as a form of secondary victimization within the perspective of victimology in Indonesia. Victim blaming remains a significant issue where victims of crime, particularly in cases of violence, are often blamed for the incidents they experience. This condition not only exacerbates the psychological and social suffering of victims but also hinders their access to justice. The objective of this research is to analyze how victim blaming occurs and to understand its impact as a form of secondary victimization. This study employs a normative juridical method with a qualitative approach, using literature review from legal documents, journals, and relevant academic sources. The findings indicate that victim blaming is influenced by social stigma, cultural perspectives, and a lack of public awareness regarding victims’ rights. Furthermore, such practices result in secondary victimization, where victims experience repeated harm due to negative societal responses. From a victimological perspective, victim blaming contradicts the principle of victim protection and justice. The implication of this research highlights the need for stronger legal protection, public education, and a more victim-centered approach in addressing crime in Indonesia.

This study examines the relationship between suffering in Job 1–21 and God's sovereignty in the Old Testament. The problem arises from the tension between the theology of retribution that links suffering to sin and the reality that the righteous can also suffer. Job is a key figure in understanding this theological dilemma. This study uses a qualitative method with a biblical exegetical approach through analysis of historical context, literary structure, and theological meaning. The primary data comes from the text of Job 1–21, supported by relevant theological literature. The analysis is conducted descriptively and analytically to find the relationship between suffering and God's sovereignty. The results show that Job's suffering is not a direct result of sin, but rather occurs within the scope of God's sovereignty that transcends human understanding. This text also critiques the rigid understanding of the theology of retribution and emphasizes that faith is rooted in trust, not merely rational understanding. Job's perseverance demonstrates that suffering can be a means of faith growth as well as a test that deepens humanity's relationship with God. This study emphasizes that suffering is part of God's sovereign plan and encourages believers to remain faithful and persevere amidst the uncertainties and struggles of life.

This study uses a qualitative research design with a literature study approach to examine the theological meaning of the suffering of the righteous in the Book of Job, specifically chapters 1–2 and 38–42. The literature study method was applied by collecting primary data in the form of biblical texts and secondary data from relevant national scientific journals. The approach used includes narrative interpretation to understand the story's structure, Job's character, and the dynamics of events, and theological interpretation to interpret suffering from the perspective of God's sovereignty. The results show that Job is portrayed as a righteous man who is pious, honest, and fears God, so his suffering is not related to personal sin. Job's suffering is holistic, encompassing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects, and occurs in the context of God's permission of Satan's actions, confirming that no event is outside His sovereignty. God's response in chapters 38–42 emphasizes His greatness and wisdom through revelation from the storm, rather than through a rational explanation of the cause of suffering. These findings confirm that the primary purpose of suffering is not to be explained intellectually, but to purify faith and deepen humanity's relationship with God. Its relevance for the church today lies in the need for sound theological teaching on suffering, pastoral care for those who suffer, and the development of communities that sustain the faith and hope of the congregation. Thus, suffering, from the perspective of God's sovereignty, serves as a means of forming spiritual character, strengthening the resilience of faith, and recognizing the sovereign God.

This paper attempts to explore the theological meaning of the Book of Job, particularly in the context of Job's suffering and God's justice. The author focuses this writing on understanding faith in suffering, with the aim of providing a deep interpretation of faith in suffering. The Book of Job is part of the Wisdom Books group consisting of 42 chapters, which discuss the suffering experienced by Job himself, and how he responded to the trials given to him by Satan with God's permission. This writing uses qualitative methods and a library research approach. This paper explains that the Book of Job provides a complex picture of the relationship between human suffering and God's justice. The main finding in this writing is highlighting the urgency of deep reflection on trust, tests of faith, and the meaning of life, leading to the conclusion that suffering is interpreted as an instrument of refining faith in God, then guiding believers towards His will and providence. Therefore, the conclusion of this paper is that suffering is interpreted as an instrument of priesthood of God, which then guides humans who believe in God's will and providence.

This study aims to examine the lived experience of the Eucharist as an experience of love in the lives of Catholic families at St. Michael Buluq Sen Station, Good Shepherd Parish of Ritan Baru, Archdiocese of Samarinda, through the lens of Henri Nouwen’s spirituality. It employs a descriptive qualitative approach, with data gathered through observation, semi-structured interviews with eight active Catholic families, and a review of relevant literature. Data were analyzed through systematic stages of reduction, display, and conclusion drawing, supported by source and method triangulation. The findings show that the experience of the Eucharist is expressed in four interrelated dimensions of Nouwen’s spirituality: being chosen, blessed, broken, and shared. “Being chosen” appears in the family’s awareness of belonging to a community loved by God; “being blessed” is reflected in gratitude for life; “being broken” is revealed in the willingness to embrace suffering and sacrifice; and “being shared” is embodied in active participation in Church ministry and social engagement. This study affirms the Eucharist as a transformative source shaping family relationships and social life, enriching theology and supporting formation in rural families.

Literature is not only a source of entertainment, but also a tool for contemplating human life that is full of internal conflicts and psychological issues. Short stories as a type of literature often present the realities of life in a concise yet meaningful way, making them interesting to analyze with a variety of scientific methods. This research focuses on the short story "Happiness That Kills" by applying two main approaches, namely the analysis of intrinsic elements and literary psychology. This story depicts a happy state that appears from the outside, but actually hides the emotional burden experienced by the main character, Malla. The method applied in this study is qualitative descriptive with literature study techniques, which is oriented towards the introduction of themes, plots, characters, settings, and mandates, as well as exploring the psychological dynamics of characters using Freud's psychoanalytic theory. The results of the study show that the internal conflicts in this story arise from the battle between the id, ego, and superego, especially when Malla struggles to maintain harmony in her family at the expense of herself. Overall, this short story shows that forced happiness can lead to suffering. By combining structural and psychological analysis, this study reveals the deep meaning related to social pressures, inner struggles, and humanitarian messages that the author seeks to convey. It is hoped that the results of this research can contribute to the study of literature, especially in understanding the relationship between story structure and the psychological condition of characters in contemporary literary works.

Enforced disappearance during the New Order era represents a historical reality that has left profound wounds and prolonged uncertainty for both the victims and the families left behind. This reality is powerfully represented in Laut Bercerita, a novel by Leila S. Chudori, through the use of symbolic and evocative literary language. This study aims to reveal the representation of enforced disappearance through the use of figures of speech and metaphors in the novel. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a stylistic approach. The data consist of narrative excerpts containing figures of speech and metaphors related to experiences of loss, suffering, memory, and resistance. Data collection was conducted through intensive reading and systematic note-taking, while data analysis involved classifying types of figures of speech and interpreting their contextual meanings. The findings indicate that metaphors of the sea, silence, darkness, and alienation play a crucial role in constructing the representation of enforced disappearance as a traumatic experience that is not only physical but also psychological and collective in nature. The use of figurative language strengthens the narrative’s expressive power in conveying criticism of state violence while simultaneously preserving the memory of humanitarian tragedies that are often marginalized. This study implies that literary works can function as reflective media and as cultural documentation of histories of violence.

Corruption is an extraordinary crime that has multidimensional impacts on a country’s social, economic, and political life. In Indonesia, corruption cases not only cause financial losses to the state but also undermine public trust in the government and weaken the rule of law. This study examines the case of social assistance (bansos) corruption during the Covid-19 pandemic involving former Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara, who was proven to receive bribes from vendors providing social assistance amounting to tens of billions of rupiah. The study aims to understand the regulation of corruption under Indonesian law, the chronology of the bansos corruption case, and the criminal liability of the former Minister of Social Affairs. The analysis shows that this case not only caused financial losses to the state but also inflicted social suffering on the poor affected by the pandemic and reduced the government’s legitimacy. The prison sentence, fines, and obligation to pay state compensation imposed on Juliari affirm the principle of criminal accountability, while digital-based reform in social assistance distribution and multi-layered supervision serve as preventive measures to curb future corruption. This study emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and strict law enforcement in combating corruption in Indonesia.

Human trafficking constitutes a transnational crime that inflicts physical, psychological, and economic suffering upon its victims. This research aims to analyze the fulfillment of restitution rights for victims of human trafficking and examine preventive efforts from the immigration perspective. According to Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Human Trafficking, every victim has the right to restitution as compensation for losses suffered. However, implementation in practice still encounters numerous obstacles, including weak law enforcement, limited understanding among law enforcement officers, and insufficient technical regulations. This normative legal research employs statutory and conceptual approaches to examine primary legal materials, including Law Number 21 of 2007, Law Number 6 of 2011 on Immigration, and various implementing regulations. The findings indicate that legal protection for victims of human trafficking has not been optimal, with challenges including difficulties in proving immaterial losses, dual procedural systems between the Human Trafficking Law and Criminal Procedure Code, and weak coordination among law enforcement agencies. The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) often cannot guarantee restitution payments as determined by judges. From the immigration perspective, the Directorate General of Immigration plays a strategic role in preventing human trafficking through travel document control, implementation of the Integrated Border Control Management (IBCM) system, education for prospective migrant workers, and cross-sectoral collaboration. However, challenges persist, including complex and evolving modus operandi, limited resources in remote border areas, and inter-agency coordination obstacles. The study concludes that synergy between institutions and improvements in education and regulation are required to ensure victims' restitution rights are fulfilled effectively.