Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Fletcher Initiative on Religion, Law, and Diplomacy (RLD)

2020-2021 Speaker Series: Religion and Peacebuilding

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Religion: a force for violence or a force for peace? Many of today’s regions of conflict include an undeniable religious dimension and identity that must not go unnoticed. From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Central African Republic civil war, to the India-Pakistan dispute and tensions in Northern Ireland, religious history and affiliation/identification appear inextricably linked to violent conflict around the world. Unfortunately, today’s policy-makers and leaders often favor viewing these issues purely through various other lenses, be they political-military or socio-economic.  As Western countries are becoming less religious and non-Western countries more so, meaningful religious dialogue in the world becomes evermore difficult to have and peace remains elusive.

This panel series, in an effort to promote religious dialogue, explores some of the following questions: how do and how can religion and religious actors have an impact on peacebuilding processes and at different levels of diplomacy? What is the role of gender in the context of religious conflict? What role do local religious actors play in seeking to address conflict around the world? Can or must religious leaders become mediators of conflict? How and in what circumstances can peaceful interfaith dialogue occur? Through four panels, we explore these and other pressing questions, and as we seek to encourage religious literacy in our world, and much-needed strategies for peace.

Watch a recording of each panel by using the links below:

  • Panel 1: A Power Like No Other: Religion and Peacebuilding – February 18th, 2021
    • View recording HERE
  • Panel 2: Liberation Theology & Peacebuilding – March 4th, 2021
    • View recording HERE
  • Panel 3: Women, Religion, and Peacebuilding – March 11th, 2021
    • View Recording HERE
  • Panel 4: Religion and Community: Growing Resilience Through Interfaith Peacebuilding – April 1st 2021