Christians really are the dumber species - at least here in Jakarta. What with everything pretty quiet here for a while now, it is easy to forget that there is religious tension in parts of the country, particularly in Medan and Sulawesi, where Christians and Muslims do clash from time to time. It’s also easy to forget that there are people out there who would just as soon blow up a church as they would a night club, hotel or foreign embassy. Only last year, Police discovered a bomb at Kristus Salvator Church in West Jakarta.

It’s not surprising then that the Head of Jakarta Polda has deployed 17,690 officers to 173 churches across Jakarta. What is surprising is the reaction of some churchgoers - at least those interviewed by The Jakarta Post. According to the Post, some churchgoers don’t like the added security. find the added security “off-putting”. A woman interviewed by the Post went as far to say “I know it’s (the Police’s) duty, but somehow I felt uncomfortable as I had to stand in a long line just to get into the church.” Um, more uncomfortable than a bomb going off under your fanny?! 

Security checks are a part of life. Cars are inspected as you drive into car parks, bags are checked or scanned as you enter malls, most hotels and office buildings get you to walk through a metal detector before entering. It sort of makes sense that you would go through the same sort of thing when entering a church.  No?