Religion, Conflict and Peacemaking

Topics to be covered: 

1. Factors in religion that engender or exacerbate conflict
2. Factors in religion that help heal conflicts
3. How we can tap the healing potential in our religious traditions so that we can be faithful peacemakers ourselves
4. How to apply the lessons from case studies to promote genuine reconciliation

Rationale and Goals:

The course addresses a challenge in “applied theology,” namely, how to effectively apply our faith commitments in the service of intercommunal reconciliation.  If we are to transform our culture of violence into one of peacemaking, we have to learn how to “wage peace” with the proper tools or methods. Most conflicts have a religious dimension that underlies the political and economic factors in dispute.  Secular, rationalist, utilitarian models of “conflict resolution” fail to address this religious dimension and, hence, they overlook critical aspects of the peacemaking agenda. The course will attempt to rectify this secularist bias by blending theological and psychological insights into conflict transformation.  The theoretical approaches will be supplemented by case studies that illustrate both the challenges and the resources inherent in this approach.

The goals of the course are:    

1. To impart theoretical information that can help students understand better the religious and cultural dimensions of intercommunal conflicts
2. To illustrate the challenges inherent in religiously-based peacemaking by examining some case studies
3. To stimulate the students’ own creative, faithful responses to these challenges, inviting their questions and practical recommendations
4. To create a group dynamic that facilitates collective approaches to the issues studied, using simulation exercises to illustrate conflict situations as well as the strategic steps involved in peacemaking

Anticipated Learning Outcomes:

1. Awareness of the religious and cultural dimensions of conflict and of peacemaking
2. Greater understanding of how to apply faith commitments and sensitivities to the challenge of practical peacemaking
3. A deeper appreciation for how different faith traditions address conflicts
4. Enhanced skills in listening, developing empathy, and compassionate communication

Methods of Delivery:    Lectures, videotapes, facilitated discussions, simulationexercises, sacred music

Methods of Assessment:   Classroom participation (20%), Grasp of material as demonstrated in three reflection statements (3 x 10% =30%) and final paper or project (50%).  Two-page reflection statements commenting on the readings and discussions are due on September 27, November 8, and December 6.  The final paper, approximating 15 double-spaced pages, is due by December 20.  A one-to-two page preview of the final paper (including a preliminary bibliography) should be submitted for feedback by November 29.

(Note:  the Seminary’s plagiarism policy will be strictly enforced; all written work must be original unless properly cited).

Attendance:  Students are expected to be present and prepared for each class.  If you know you will have to miss any class, please inform the professor in advance. Missing two class sessions will adversely affect the final course grade.  Missing three or more sessions will result in automatic failure of the course.

Course Schedule:  Topics and Readings

(readings indicated should be read for that session)

  Books recommended for purchase (in bold italics followed by an asterisk*) are those by Appleby, Kimball, Little, Huda, Muller-Fahrenholz, and Gopin   

September 6:  The Ambivalence of the Sacred                      

   Reading:  R. Scott Appleby, The Ambivalence of the Sacred*, Introduction and chapters 1 and 2  (Note: this session will start around 5 p.m., following Convocation)  

September 13:  Violent Religion

   Readings:  Appleby, The Ambivalence of the Sacred*, chapter 3

   Kelton Cobb, “Violent Faith,” in September 11: Religious Perspectives on the Causes and Consequences, Ian Markham and Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi’ eds., pp. 136-163

   Yehezkel Landau, “Religious Responses to Atrocity,” Tikkun, Vol. 18, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2003), pp. 28-31, 44

   Charles Selengut, “Toward a Holistic Approach to Religious Violence,” concluding chapter of Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence

September 20:  Destructive Exploitation of Religion   

   Reading:  Charles Kimball, When Religion Becomes Evil*

   In-class video:  Faces of the Enemy by Sam Keen

   Note:  this class may have to be rescheduled   

September 27:  Case study—Northern Ireland

   Readings:  Appleby, The Ambivalence of the Sacred*, chapter 5

   “Men Who Walked the Street: Father Alex Reid and the Rev. Dr. Roy Magee,” in

Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution*, David Little, ed., pp. 53-96.  

   Patrick Grant, “Northern Ireland: Religion and the Peace Process,” in Religion and Peacebuilding, Harold Coward and Gordon S. Smith, eds., pp. 261-278

   **REFLECTION #1 due

October 4:  Case study—Nigeria

   Readings:  Eliza Griswold, The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam, pp.

   “Warriors and Brothers:  Imam Mohammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye,” in Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution*, David Little, ed.,

pp. 247-277

   In-class video:  The Imam and the Pastor featuring Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye

October 11:  Religious Peacebuilding

   Reading:  Appleby, The Ambivalence of the Sacred*, chapters 6, 7, and 8

October 18:  Christianity and Peacemaking

   Readings:  Geiko Muller-Fahrenholz, The Art of Forgiveness: Theological Reflections on Healing and Forgiveness*

   Andrea Bartoli, “Christianity and Peacebuilding,” in Religion and Peacebuilding, Harold Coward and Gordon S. Smith, eds., pp. 147-166

   Walter Wink, “Beyond Just War and Pacifism: Jesus’ Nonviolent Way,” in The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christian, and Islam, J. Harold Ellens, ed., vol. 4, pp. 53-76

   Wayne Rollins, “The Myth of Redemptive Violence or The Myth of Redemptive Love,” in Ellens, ed. (ibid.), pp. 175-186.

   In-class video:  portions of Long Night’s Journey into Day: South Africa’s Search for Truth and Reconciliation directed by Frances Reid and Deborah Hoffman

October 25:  Islam and Peacemaking

   Readings:  Selections from Qamar-ul Huda, editor, Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam*

   Amira Shamma Abdin, “The Roots of Peace in the Qur’an,” in Religion and Violence, Religion and Peace, Joseph H. Ehrenkranz and David L. Coppola, eds., pp. 101-111

   “Underground Woman:  Sakena Yacoobi and the Afghan Institute of Learning,” in Peacemakers in Action:  Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution*, David Little ed., pp. 382-401

November 1:  Judaism and Peacemaking

   Readings:  Marc Gopin, “Judaism and Peacebuilding in the Context of Middle Eastern Conflict” and “Appendix:  Peacemaking Qualities of Judaism as Revealed in Sacred Scripture,” in Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik, Douglas Johnston, ed., pp. 91-123

   Jonathan Sacks, “Conciliation: The Power of a Word to Change the World,” in The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations, pp. 177-191

November 8:  Abrahamic Peacebuilding

   Readings:  Yehezkel Landau, “John Paul II’s Holy Land Pilgrimage: A Jewish Appraisal,” in John Paul II in the Holy Land: In His Own Words, Lawrence Boadt, CSP, and Kevin di Camillo, eds., pp. 129-156

   Yehezkel Landau, “Jewish-Muslim Relations in the 21^st Century” (posted on various Websites)

   Yehezkel Landau, “Shi’ite Mahdism and Jewish Messianism: The Ambivalent Mingling of Piety and Politics,” accessible at www.abrahamicfamilyreunion.org/readings

   **REFLECTION #2 due

November 15:  Case study—The Middle East #1

   Readings:  Marc Gopin, Holy War, Holy Peace: How Religion Can Bring Peace to the Middle East*, Part I:  Analysis

   Yehezkel Landau, “Holy Land, Unholy War:  The Religious Dimension of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” (Routledge Publications, in press)

   Yehezkel Landau:  “A Holistic Peace Process for the Middle East,” Connections, January 2, 2003

   Yehezkel Landau:  “Sharing Sacred History and Geography,” Zion’s Herald, Vol. 178, Issue 1, January/February 2004, pp. 33-34, 38

November 22:  THANKSGIVING, NO CLASS

November 29:  Case study—The Middle East #2

   Readings:  Marc Gopin, Holy War, Holy Peace: How Religion Can Bring Peace to the Middle East*, Part II:  Practical Applications

   Yehezkel Landau, Healing the Holy Land:  Interreligious Peacebuilding in Israel/Palestine, research report for the U.S. Institute of Peace, 2003

   Yehezkel Landau, “Peacebuilding in Israel/Palestine: A 30-Year Retrospective,” lecture, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, December 11, 2007

   Yehezkel Landau, “Israel in Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations,” accessible at http://escholarship.bc.edu/scjr/vol3

   **Note:  Preview of Final Paper due

December 6:  Case study—Israel/Palestine

   Readings:  Selections from Yossi Klein Halevi, At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden:  A Jew’s Search for God with Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land

   “An Open House: Yehezkel Landau,” in Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution*, David Little, ed., pp. 356-381

   Articles on the OPEN HOUSE Center for Jewish-Arab Coexistence and Reconciliation in Ramle, Israel, including “Letter to a Deportee” by Dalia Landau, The Jerusalem Post, January 14, 1988

   Recommended:  Sandy Tolan, The Lemon Tree:  An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East

   In-class video:  news reports on OPEN HOUSE from CNN and Israeli television

   **Note:  REFLECTION #3 due

December 13:  Case study—The United States

   Readings:  Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963, in Why We Can’t Wait

   Selected chapters from Charles Marsh, God’s Long Summer: Stories of Faith and Civil Rights and review by Yehezkel Landau

   In-class video:  Healing the Heart of America:  An Honest Conversation on Race, Reconciliation, and Responsibility by Hope in the Cities/Initiatives of Change

December 20:   Conclusion—Challenges and Opportunities in Religious Peacebuilding

   Readings:  Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, “The Peacemakers in Action,” and David Little, “Religion, Violent Conflict, and Peacemaking” in Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution*, David Little, ed., pp. 3-21 and 429- 448.

   Douglas Johnston, “Looking Ahead: Toward a New Paradigm,” in Religion, The Missing Dimension of Statecraft, Douglas Johnston and Cynthia Sampson, eds., pp. 316-337

   In-class video:  Voices of Peace from CBS television, broadcast December 19, 2004

   **FINAL COURSE PAPER due