peace

Do religions promote peace or cause conflict?

 

The influential scholar Ninian Smart, who made a decisive contribution to the development of the study of religions, suggested that religion is a complex phenomenon with seven dimensions.

Although a religion may bind together members of a community, at the same time it separates that community from members of other religious communities - the first dimension. Someone else’s way of worship may provoke a strong negative reaction.

For example, in 1888, Edward King, a saintly Bishop of Lincoln, was put on trial in a spiritual court by a Protestant group in the Church of England, for placing lighted candles on the altar and making the sign of the cross in blessing. Marcus Braybrooke describes a vivid example when, on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he went for the Sabbath morning service to the Reform Jewish Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. His guide, whose family had come from Morocco, and who described herself as a ‘traditional’ Jew, although not a observant one, found the ‘modernised’ liturgy so obnoxious that she walked out of the service.

Again, members of different religions have different stories or myths - the third dimension. In India, almost everyone is familiar with the Ramayana, the story of Rama and Sita, who perhaps most powerfully embody the traditional Indian notions of dharma or righteousness.

Different civilisations have different paradigms or basic assumptions about the world and these are usually provided by the dominant religion. For example, belief in karma and reincarnation is very widespread in India. Further, doctrine, the fourth dimension, which is the articulated expression of belief, can be very divisive as has been seen especially in the history of the Christian church. Read more

The importance of religion in shaping the community with which a person identifies and therefore in shaping a person’s sense of identity is easily underestimated especially by those who live in an increasingly secular world. Read more

The growth of so-called fundamentalisms, exclusive theological claims to truth, and the willingness of many religions in the past, have often legitimised the use of violence. So, there is significant work that faith communities can and should do to dispel prejudice and the enemy image and to build up co-operation.

Read Rabbi Tony Bayfield's powerful indictment of religions in his Younghusband Lecture:

September 11th: The Case Against Us All

Based on your own experience and understanding, do you think religions contribute more to peace or to conflict? What could be done to increase the impact of religious teachings on peace? How can we decrease the impact of religious differences that so often lead to divisions and hostilities?

 

Contents / Introduction / Prayers / Peace or Conflict / Peaceful Relations / Peace Issues / Conflict / Reconciliation / Peace Initiatives / Messengers of Peace / Summary / Inspiration /Real Peace / Resources