Peace, Politics, and Religion

• Other Authors: Haynes, Jeffrey (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2020
• Subjects: Religion & beliefs; interreligious dialogue; interreligious peacemaking; Civil War; organized violence; Sunni; Shia; sectarianism; Middle East; regional power struggle; Jonathanic theology; migrant prophets; legislation; peace and decoloniality; Boko Haram; terrorist recruitment; counterterrorism; sustainable-peace; violent extremism; Nigeria; Lake Chad Region; fundamentalism; religion and politics; secularism; political science; Islam; Catholicism; Protestantism; Israel; Zionism; difference; Derrida; literature; deconstruction; conflict prevention; faith; religion; liberal peace; peacebuilding; religious violence; technocracy; technology; Basque conflict; nationalism; Catholic Church; Holy See; transnational mediation; conflict resolution; peace; conflict; FBO; conflict analysis; development; post-genocide Rwanda; CARSA; politics; India; Congress Party; Jagjivan Ram; Ravidās; Ambedkar; Dalit studies; untouchable; temple building; peace and reconciliation; religio-political nonconformism; Zimbabwe; mainstream churches; piety; religious engagement; post-secularism; civil society; transformative approach; relational approach; duty dilemma; Humanitarian Corridors; Community of Sant'Egidio; faith-based organizations; international religious freedom; persecution; US foreign policy
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Relationships between peace, politics and religion are often controversial, and sometimes problematic. Religion is a core source of identity for billions of people around the world and it is hardly surprising that sometimes it becomes involved in conflicts. At the same time, we can see religion involved not only in conflict. It is also central to conflict resolution, peace-making and peacebuilding. Religious involvement is often necessary to try to end hatred and differences, frequently central to political conflicts especially, but not only, in the Global South. Evidence shows that religious leaders and faith-based organisations can play constructive roles in helping to end violence, and in some cases, build peace via early warnings of conflict, good offices once conflict has erupted, as well as advocacy, mediation and reconciliation. The chapters of this book highlight that religion can encourage both conflict and peace, through the activities of people individually and collectively imbued with religious ideas and ideals.