Reinterpreting Freedom and Liberation Theology from Indonesia: Insights from Amir Sjarifoeddin’s Life

Amir Sjarifoeddin (1907-1948) was a nationalist figure who was involved in Indonesia’s struggle for independence from colonial rule. Baptized into Christianity in 1931, he was an anomaly—his Christian faith motivated his fight for Indonesia’s independence at the time when usually one had to choose one or the other. However, due to the events of the latter part of his life, his legacy has not received the recognition it deserves. In this proposal, I wish to highlight Amir’s contributions to the Christian liberation message by focusing on his involvement within the efforts to claim Indonesia’s independence. My argument is that Amir’s message on Christian freedom is twofold: freedom is a collective goal against oppression, and it is something that needs to be pursued with a strong emphasis on the safety of the people’s lives.