Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recently reviewed thousands of publications on spirituality and health. Of more than 20,000 studies published between 2000 and 2022, they identified 55 of the most rigorous longitudinal studies. The findings show that individuals engaged in spiritual practices were 13 percent less likely to fall into alcohol and drug abuse.
The spiritual practices include praying, meditating, and regular services, but when applied in the realm of power and bureaucracy, their influence is far from straightforward. Corruption in Indonesia indicates that personal faith does not translate into public integrity, and Indonesia’s Corruption Perceptions Index score has even declined.
Responding to the research findings, a researcher at the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Pukat UGM), Zaenur Rohman, said that personal faith is indeed crucial for self-regulation at the individual level.
When someone holds a position and possesses personal devotion, they are better to exercise self-control to comply with rules and moral standards as prescribed by religious teachings. At least, it can serve as a deterrent to the intent to commit fraudulent acts that violate religious norms.
Nevertheless, belief alone is insufficient, as it primarily functions as self-control at the personal level. When someone operates within the sphere of public office, individual dominance is often outweighed by systemic pressures.
“From my perspective, even if a leader is personally religious, if the system is corrupt, then the system is more decisive. Personal faith will not be strong enough to counteract a functioning corrupt system or ecosystem of power,” said Rohman on Thursday (Feb. 26).
According to Rohman, such a system often originates from pressures inherent in public office, even from the process of obtaining positions in bureaucratic and political spheres. In the context of general or regional elections, a candidate who is personally regarded as devoted must still contend with high-cost political practices.
In such circumstances, personal belief becomes less relevant, as candidates ultimately need political capital, much of which comes from financiers and must later be repaid. Furthermore, when seeking to retain their position, they again require substantial resources to compete in subsequent elections.
“This condition has the potential to drive corrupt practices, such as the buying and selling of permits, trading of positions, and irregularities in the procurement of goods and services,” he explained.
In addition to systemic pressures, Rohman noted that vast opportunities for personal enrichment and power expansion also test integrity. In both bureaucratic and political positions, when opportunities for personal gain are wide open, an individual’s belief or integrity is once again put to the test, especially as their entire life revolves within that circle of power.
Within the power structure, officials must not only maintain their own authority but also serve the interests of other parties who depend on them, thereby ultimately normalizing corrupt practices.
Amid a corrupt system, there are still individuals who strive to uphold integrity. However, they often struggle to survive because they must go against the current problematic system. According to Rohman, corruption in Indonesia is fundamentally a systemic problem, not merely a matter of individual morality.
“I see corruption in Indonesia as a systemic problem, not simply an individual one,” he said.
Rohman assessed that bureaucratic reform in Indonesia has yet to address the root causes of corruption. This is evident from the persistence of corrupt practices across various sectors. He identified the roots of the problem in feudalism, poor governance, conflicts of interest, patronage, and a closed bureaucratic culture.
“Irregularities can still occur due to weak oversight and inconsistent enforcement of regulations,” he added.
Furthermore, bureaucratic reform has not fully transformed officials’ mindset as public servants. Regarding solutions, Rohman emphasized that corruption is not merely a matter of individual spirituality but a systemic issue. Spirituality plays a role in personal self-control, but eradicating corruption requires good governance and consistent, firm law enforcement.
Nevertheless, spirituality remains important when manifested in social beliefs, such as solidarity and love for the country. These values can strengthen individual integrity, but without systemic and legal reform, corruption will remain difficult to eradicate comprehensively, he concluded.
Author: Astri Wulandari
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Unsplash