Literature Review: Peace, Conflict And Religion

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Literature review : Peace, conflict and religion

Religion plays a fundamental role in shaping our societies and the way in which its members interact among each other. Over 80% of the world's population self-identify as belonging to a religious group.1 In mainstream public discourse, religion is often seen as divisive, contributing to or being used to justify conflict and violence. Yet, at the same time, religious figures such as Martin Luther King or Archbishop Tutu, have instilled millions of people worldwide with faith and hope as well as the power to use the transformative force of religion to promote peaceful societal relations.

It is not surprising therefore that the academic literature on religion, peace and conflict, is manifold, …show more content…

The nexus between religion and conflict is not limited to the impact of religion on violent conflict, but also refers to religion as a cause for structural violence through discrimination and exclusions. A “propositional” understanding of religion emphasizes that each religion claims absolute truth. Anthropologists examine how within and across societies, religion is used to create differences among people. Political scientists argue that religion, through its inherent distinction between an in-group and an out-group, can lead to structural violence within societies and on the international scene. According to Galtung, “cultural violence”, often based on religion and ideology, is a form of violence that is used to legitimize other forms of …show more content…

Faith-based mediation is seen as an important contributor to conflict resolution and peace. J. Bercovitch and S.A. Kadayifci-Orellana11 focus on the conditions that are conducive to the success of faith-based mediations: the legitimacy and leverage of religious actors can be powerful factors to promote successful mediation processes. A. Aroua makes a case for mediators that have a deep understanding of religious beliefs and ideals so that they can promote inter-religious dialogue by translating codes from one value system to another (“mediators as translators”).12 N.C. Funk and C. J. Woolner emphasize the role of inter-faith dialogue to promote conflict

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