Circle Kampus dari Perspektif Teologi Persahabatan: Membentuk Imago Dei dan Implikasi pada Pendidikan Tinggi Teologi di Indonesia

The Campus Circle through the Lens of a Theology of Friendship: Forming Imago Dei and Its Implications for Theological Higher Education in Indonesia

Abstract

The phenomenon of circle or friendship circles among university students possesses significant formative power over character and morality. This qualitative research aims to analyze the dynamics of student circles at the Faculty of Theology, Christian University of Indonesia Toraja (UKIT), and to formulate an alternative relational representation based on a theology of friendship. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and participant observation with twelve active students from the Faculty of Theology at UKIT. The findings indicate that circles at UKIT function as spaces for learning, emotional support, and identity formation. However, circles can also trigger social pressure, exclusivity, permissiveness toward negative behavior, and intergroup prejudice. In response, a Christian theology of friendship offers three foundations for transformation: first, understanding imago Dei as relational beings who reflect the divine nature; second, the model of Jesus Christ's "open friendship," which transcends the boundaries of similarity and reciprocity; third, the concept of community as a "school of love" (schola caritatis), which shapes character through the practices of humility, responsible freedom, and wisdom. In conclusion, campus circles can be reimagined not as exclusive cliques, but as inclusive, sacramental, and eschatological "communities of friends. The primary contribution of this research is to provide a theological-practical framework for the development of theological higher education in Indonesia to transform campus circles from ordinary social spaces into inclusive and transformative communities of spiritual formation.

Fenomena circle atau lingkaran pertemanan di kalangan mahasiswa memiliki kekuatan formatif yang signifikan terhadap karakter dan moral. Penelitian kualitatif ini bertujuan menganalisis dinamika circle mahasiswa Fakultas Teologi Universitas Kristen Indonesia Toraja (UKIT) dan merumuskan alternatif representasi relasional berdasarkan teologi persahabatan. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam dan observasi partisipan terhadap 12 mahasiswa aktif UKIT dari Fakultas Teologi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa circle di UKIT berfungsi sebagai ruang belajar, dukungan emosional, dan pembentukan identitas. Namun demikian, circle juga dapat memicu tekanan sosial, eksklusivitas, permisif terhadap perilaku negatif, serta prasangka antarkelompok. Sebagai respons, teologi persahabatan Kristen menawarkan tiga fondasi transformasi: pertama, pemahaman imago Dei sebagai makhluk relasional yang mencerminkan natur. Kedua, model "open friendship" Yesus Kristus yang melampaui batasan kesamaan dan timbal balik. Ketiga, konsep komunitas sebagai "sekolah cinta" (schola caritatis) yang membentuk karakter melalui praktik kerendahan hati, kebebasan bertanggung jawab, dan kebijaksanaan. Kesimpulannya, circle kampus dapat direka ulang bukan sebagai klika eksklusif, melainkan sebagai "komunitas sahabat" yang inklusif, sakramental, dan eskatologis. Kontribusi utama penelitian ini adalah menyediakan kerangka teologis-praktis bagi pengembangan pendidikan tinggi teologi di Indonesia untuk mentransformasi circle kampus dari ruang sosial biasa menjadi komunitas formasi rohani yang inklusif dan transformatif.