Cementing Religious Ties? Islamic Study Sessions, Social Tolerance, and Voting Behavior Among Indonesian Muslims

In many societies in the Global South, routine religious participation is central to how communities build trust and solidarity, yet its consequences for intergroup relations remain contested. This article examines that problem through Islamic study sessions in Indonesia, known locally as pengajian, asking whether recurrent within-group interactions are associated with social tolerance toward religious out-groups and with electoral support for coreligionist candidates. Using data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey, multilevel regression analyses show that more frequent attendance at these sessions is associated with lower social tolerance and stronger support for coreligionist political candidates. These patterns are consistent with a bonding social capital argument that repeated interaction among coreligionists can deepen solidarity while also sharpening social closure toward outsiders. By linking everyday religious practice to both intergroup attitudes and candidate choice, the study contributes to debates in the political sociology of religion, social capital, and political behavior beyond Western and Christian settings.