Religion and Conflict

A vital part of conflicts and how they arise is the idea of identity. Who a person is can determine how he or she presents, interprets, and reciprocates actions with another party. Something that the majority of the world uses to define its identity with is religion. Many people may think of religion as a significant cause in the creation of conflicts, as there have been and still are so many disputes rooted in religious differences. Too many people nowadays look past the healing aspects that may be applied equally from across many religions, and instead focus only upon its ability to divide people. It is upsetting to know that “the parts of [religion] that speak for openness, diversity, and unity have been a woefully underdeveloped resource in conflict resolution in general’” (Goldberg, & Blancke, 2011). Nevertheless, I wish to analyze the other half of conflict with respect to this intense personal identifier. I ask, what role does religion play in conflict resolution?

I was raised as Roman Catholic, and so I was taught many moral principles such as respect, honesty, and reconciliation. I personally believe that these values, which have been instituted in me by my parents and church, affect the way I deal with conflict. Religion is a key factor in peace building, even in conflicts across different systems of beliefs. I specifically wish to focus on how religion and identity are intertwined in their affects on resolution, on examples where religion was considered the cause of conflict, and on the role of Catholicism specifically in peacemaking. Following my belief as a Catholic, I hope to better myself through what I learn here as well.

A huge aspect of religion that is not necessarily overlooked, but perhaps more subconsciously...

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...ty with conflict of Ireland. All of these examples and constituents of conflict lead up to the revelation that one major theme overlaps them all: religion. “‘Being religious’ may itself foster a sense of shared values, altering the premises for cooperation and a relationship based on negotiation, while shifting the focus away from transcendent identity issues” (Harpviken, & Roislien, 2008). I have come to the realization that there are many different perspectives of conflict and, through that, conflict resolution; I have realized the importance of identity and the role it plays in both religion as well as conflict; finally, I have realized that, by putting these two pieces together, religion is a plausible and almost necessary tool in the use of conflict resolution and peace building. Conflict is a place inescapable for religion – this is, I believe, for the good.