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AbstractCentral to disaster management discourse today are the concepts of risk and vulnerability. Seen from the technical perspective, risk is understood as the probability of a negative event and its occurrence is largely dependent on peoples vulnerability. Attention is devoted to minimize physical harm and educate those deemed vulnerable. Although this concept has significantly contributed to the social understanding of disaster, I argue that this technical perspective of risk is inadequate to explain local realities where natural hazard is ingrained in peoples way of life. To illustrate that argument, a three-week fieldwork in Turgo hamlet, Yogyakarta, Indonesia was carried out. This thesis explores how the Javanese worldview shape young peoples risk perception and calculation related to the volcano. This is done by referring to concepts of slamet or well-being and nasib or fate. Informed by the Javanese view of reality, the volcano is accepted as a risk that needs to be addressed in the natural, social and spiritual realms. At times, young people are expressing ambivalence concerning the role of Javanese worldview in protecting themselves. Yet, in their calculation of risk, young peoples ultimate goal is to achieve a condition of slamet.Keywords: disaster, Java, risk perception, volcano, vulnerability, worldview, young people