Atheis (Atheist)
Description
Author: Achdiat Karta Mihardja
Published: Balai Pustaka
Year Published: 1949
Category: Fiction
The Atheist novel tells about the inner struggles and thoughts of Hasan who was originally a devout Muslim. Hasan then met Rusli and Kartini, both of whom were adherents of Marxism-Leninism. Hasan tried to get them back to Islam, instead of succeeding in fact his faith was shaken. Hasan also experiences inner struggles when he meets Anwar who is a nihilist. The story of Atheists explores the development that is typical for Indonesian society since the beginning of the twentieth century, namely the shift from traditional thinking to modern thought. This shift brought with it disputes and clashes between Hasan's old notions and the new ones held by Kartini, Rusli, and Anwar. The reader is invited to reflect on the inner struggle of Indonesian people with their faith in the midst of the rapid development of various ideologies.