Abstract

This article aims to explore and discuss social tolerance in the pluralistic environment in urban areas. The study was motivated by the predicate awarded to the Pamatangsiantar, one of the most tolerant cities in Indonesia in 2018 and 2019. Social tolerance, the focus of this study, is a dimension of democratic values. The theoretical basis referred to is democratic personalities and religious freedom. The study was carried out using a qualitative method, based on a pragmatic methodological approach to historical and contemporary paradigms. The data was collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires. All data went through in-depth analysis according to the descriptive-qualitative paradigm. The study found delicate (“ahap”), a dimension of democratic values, had inspired delicately (“marahap”), the characteristic of democratic personalities to produce vigilance (“saahap”), attitude, and mental structure to tolerate. The conclusion of this study is an intersection of religious, ethnic, and cultural attributes to accommodate the existing differences. Democratic personalities, the basic characteristics of social tolerance are a logical consequence of historical experiences, blood relations, and contributions tolerant figures.