STRENGTHENING RELIGIOUS AND SCIENTIFIC CHARACTER THROUGH NATURE CONTEMPLATION IN THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OF KELOMPOK KAJIAN ISLAM (KKI): A REVIEW OF THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE QUR'AN AND SCIENCE

Abstrak

The balance between religious values and scientific abilities is one of the important demands in education in this century, especially in the formation of student character. The integration of both can be realized through activities that combine spiritual appreciation with strengthening scientific understanding, one of which is through contemplation of nature in the Kelompok Kajian Islam (KKI) extracurricular. This study aims to describe the process of strengthening religious and scientific character in students by referring to the perspective of the Qur'an and science. The research method uses a descriptive qualitative approach, involving the supervising teacher and active students as research subjects in the Field Experience Practice (PPL) activities. Data collection through observation, in-depth interviews, and field notes, then analyzed data reduction, presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study indicate that contemplation of nature activities encourage the emergence of religious attitudes such as gratitude, awe of God's creation, and awareness of worship, as well as developing scientific character in the form of critical thinking skills and the ability to connect natural phenomena with scientific concepts. The integration of these values is strengthened through the guidance of resource persons who relate verses of the Qur'an to the observed phenomena. Nature contemplation in KKI extracurricular activities is an effective strategy in forming religious and scientific characters simultaneously, with a positive impact on strengthening character education based on direct experience in nature.