Religion and Armed Conflict

In: Bulletin of peace proposals: to motivate research, to inspire future oriented thinking, to promote activities for peace, Band 21, Heft 3, S. 243-285

Abstract

A collection of articles stemming from a conference on "Reconciliation and the Role of Religion in Situations of Armed Conflict," held 16-21 Nov 1989 in Sigtuna, Sweden. In Why Is Religion Still a Factor in Armed Conflict?, Roger Williamson (Life & Peace Instit, Uppsala, Sweden) provides an overview of reasons why religion continues to play a socially divisive role in many areas around the world. The failure of secular economic theories is discussed, relative to their view that religion would play a decreasing role in conflict in comparison to economic problems. The resurgence of religion is explored, especially relative to Christianity in the Third World & Islam as a political force, as well as to the role of the Christian Right in US foreign policy. An overview of the dynamics of various religious conflicts throughout the world is presented, as is a typology for classifying religious armed conflicts. The ineffectiveness of religion in stopping war, & the emergence of theological resistance to injustice in the Third World are discussed. In Religion in the Sudan: Exacerbating Conflict or Facilitating Reconciliation?, Hizkias Assefa (La Roche Coll, Pittsburgh, Pa) addresses the role of religion in armed conflicts in the Sudan, arguing that it has been primarily destructive, though there have been some instances of more positive actions. In Religion and Conflict in the Sudan: A Perspective, Raphael Koba Badal (U of Sudan) provides a historical overview of the Christian/Islam civil conflicts there. In The Role of Religion in Situations of Armed Conflict: The Case of Northern Ireland, Alan D. Falconer (Irish School of Ecumenics, Dublin) explores the role of religion & of memories in exacerbating the Catholic/Protestant conflict in Northern Ireland. Steps that churches must take to help end the conflict through mutual understanding are suggested. In Living with Religion in the Midst of Violence, A. T. Ariyaratne (Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Sangamaya, Inc, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka) provides an overview of the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement in Sri Lanka, which mobilizes village communities to help one another to improve the quality of their lives. The history of the group, which began in the mid-1950s, & its approach to peacemaking are discussed. 2 Tables, 2 Figures, 16 References. D. Dennis