The Essence of Agree in Disagrement: Religious Tolerance in a Multicultural Society Suryo Ediyono, Muhammad Farkhan Mujahidin, Tri Yanti Nurul Hidayati {ediyonosuryo@yahoo.com 1 , farchanmd@yahoo.com 2 , nurulhidayati_t@staff.uns.ac.id 3 } Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB),Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta, Indonesia 1,2,3 Abstract. This article was written with the aim that religious life, especially in Indonesia, can be harmoniously fostered. Coherent life in a pluralistic society will be harmonious if all people of different religions have a tolerance for each other. History records many bloodshed in the name of religion due to the lack of understanding between one another, which should be manifested in an attitude of tolerance. The ethnographic method used refers to a new ethnography that considers events as social and cultural formations of society that exist in stucturing the mind, deeply explored, therefore, they come out of the mind of the research object. This study additionally uses a phenomenological approach. Research with a phenomenological approach seeks to understand the meaning of various events and human interactions in a specific situation. In multicultural societies, followers or adherents of religion play a dominant role in the religious teachings they embrace or even among them there are groups of people who are indifferent to the religion they believe in. Such circumstance can lead into disturbance but also direction toward understanding the existence of a religion along with the bearers. The emergence of interfaith awareness manifested in tolerance can reduce or minimize clashes between communities of different religious views. The motto of "agree in disagreement" is a strong social capital in religious tolerance. Keywords: harmony; multicultural society; religion; tolerance; understanding. 1 Introduction Earth should be a place of residence for people who love peace. Although, the level of peace depends on the people themselves, whether they want to live in harmony and peace or are busy with conflicts and fighting with each other. One factor that contributes significantly to creating the atmosphere of human life is religion. Religion, as a sociological perspective, has many roles and functions, can be constructive and can be destructive. Constructively, religious ties often exceed blood relations and nose or descent relationships. So, because of religion, the community can share a harmonious and peaceful life. Conversely, destructive religion also lies in the power to undermine unity and can even break the ties of brotherhood. Therefore, religious-based conflicts can hardly end [1]. Apart from the dual functions that are reflected in religion, but as humans and religious people must miss life in peace despite living as a multi-religious and faith community. Although harmony between religious believers can only be carried out if everyone from the community respects the values of tolerance. Without tolerance, harmony between religious believers is difficult and even never happened. Indeed, the relationship of tolerance and ICSTI 2019, September 20, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Copyright © 2020 EAI DOI 10.4108/eai.20-9-2019.2292089