The Role of Islamic Boarding Schools in Shaping the Moderate Character of Generation Z in the Post-Truth Era

Abstract

This study examines the strategic role of pesantren in shaping the moderate character of Generation Z in the midst of an increasingly worrying post-truth phenomenon. The post-truth era is marked by the rise of disinformation, hoaxes, and emotion-based polarization that threaten the social cohesion and religious diversity of Indonesian society. Generation Z as the most vulnerable group to digital content has the potential to experience extreme distortion of religious values and understanding. Pesantren as the oldest Islamic educational institution in Indonesia has a distinctive scientific tradition, learning methodology, and moderation values. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a case study method in three Islamic boarding schools in Central Java. Data were collected through participatory observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies. The results of the study show that pesantren plays a crucial role through three main dimensions, namely a curriculum based on religious moderation, an inclusive pesantren culture, and holistic character development that integrates wasathiyyah Islamic values. Pesantren has proven to be able to become an epistemic fortress for students in dealing with the flow of unverified information and extremist narratives circulating on social media. These findings affirm the urgency of strengthening the capacity of pesantren as agents of moderation in the digital era.