Religion is expected by the secularists to decline slowly and be privatised and so not to have any influence on the public sphere. Also after the 9/11 attack the doubt over religion as a cause of terrorism became strong and atheists claim that they are right in labelling religion as the cause of violence. Therefore, people influenced by secularism and atheism claim that religion has nothing to offer the task of peace-building in the society. This essay is an attempt to critically look into this secularisation theory on the role of religion in the task of peace-building in the world and how far it is false.
The essay has three parts. The first part deals with the main ideas of secularisation theory and the atheists as they are the main groups excluding religion in the task of peace-building.
The second part, in response to the secularist and atheist theory, attempts to delineate the indispensable role of religion in the public sphere and in the task of peace-building from the perspectives of the resurgence of religion, the root of war and conflict, and sociology.
After arguing for the inseparableness of religion in the public sphere in the second part, the final part deals with the idea of peace-building, the contribution of religion to reconciliation and peace-building, and the challenge to the world religions in their engagement in the task of peace-building. Here, it should be acknowledged that the influence of Christianity, despite an attempt to represent different religions, will be often seen in the thought and terms used in the essay as it is written from Christian background.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. Religions Have Nothing to Offer the Task of Peace-Building?
II. How Far is it False?
III. The Role of Religion in Peace-Building
1. Concept of Peace-Building
2. Contribution of Religion to Peace-Building
3. Challenge to Religions in the Task of Peace-Building
Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This essay critically examines the secularization theory and the claims of modern atheism regarding the irrelevance of religion in the public sphere. It aims to challenge the assumption that religion is primarily a source of violence by demonstrating the indispensable and positive role that religious communities and faith-based resources play in reconciliation and peace-building efforts worldwide.
- The influence of secularization theory and New Atheism on public perception of religion.
- Sociological perspectives on the resurgence of religion and the nature of conflict.
- Distinctions between peace-building, peacemaking, and conflict resolution.
- The practical contribution of faith-based organizations and diplomacy to global peace.
- The ongoing challenge for religious traditions to address internal violence and promote authentic peace.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Concept of Peace-Building
To better understand the concept, the ideas of the two prominent scholars and writers on peace-building, Scott Thomas and John Paul Lederach, will be mainly discussed here. Thomas Scott, senior lecturer in International Relations and the Politics of Developing Countries at the university of Bath, treats the idea of peace-building impressively in his book The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations (2005). He categorises peace in two: one is the absence of war or an unstable peace often called negative peace and the other is called a stable peace or positive peace which is the absence of the preparation for war or the expectation that war will take place, and is often associated with reducing what are considered to be the causes of violent conflict – economic deprivation and structural violence.
By peace-building he means a positive peace or sustainable peace. Therefore, he explains peace-building to ‘address the structural issues, long term relationships between the social groups, and the cultural contradictions that can be at the root of a conflict. Peace is conceived of as a social process or dynamic social construct, something people build in their society.’
It is interesting to note his differentiation between peacemaking and peace-building. To him, ‘peacemaking can refer to the concrete activity related to a specific dispute to make peace between parties.’ So it is more like a post-conflict activity. However, peace-building is ‘larger, more complicated, and more long term objective than conflict resolution, and involves a long-term commitment across all levels of society. Therefore, it is increasingly recognised that religious groups may have an important role in peace-building and conflict resolution.’
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the perception of religion as a declining or negative force and presents the essay's goal to explore the indispensable role of religion in peace-building.
I. Religions Have Nothing to Offer the Task of Peace-Building?: Discusses the roots of secularization theory and atheistic critiques that attempt to relegate religion to the private sphere.
II. How Far is it False?: Argues against the total exclusion of religion by highlighting global religious resurgence and questioning the historical claim that religion is the primary cause of war.
III. The Role of Religion in Peace-Building: Defines the concept of peace-building through academic frameworks and examines how religious communities contribute to reconciliation and diplomacy.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the argument that religion is essential for durable peace while emphasizing the need for religious traditions to act proactively against internal misuse.
Keywords
Peace-building, Secularization theory, New Atheism, Reconciliation, Conflict resolution, Faith-based diplomacy, Social construct, Religion, Violence, Structural peace, Global resurgence, Identity, Coerciveness, Spirituality, Common welfare
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental premise of this work?
The work challenges the secularist and atheist assertion that religion is an irrelevant or purely destructive factor in the modern world, arguing instead that it is an essential component of peace-building.
What are the central themes discussed in the essay?
The core themes include the intersection of religion and public policy, the sociological roots of conflict, the definition of sustainable peace, and the role of religious leaders and groups in global diplomacy.
What is the primary research question?
The research explores the validity of the secularization theory and whether the claim that "religions have nothing to offer the task of peace-building" is false.
Which scientific approaches are utilized?
The author uses sociological analysis, historical review of conflicts, and theological perspectives to evaluate the role of religion in society.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the conceptual definitions of peace-building, the historical and practical contributions of faith-based organizations, and the challenges religions face regarding internal misuse.
How are the key terms defined?
The essay distinguishes between 'negative peace' (the absence of war) and 'positive peace' (the presence of sustainable structures) and clarifies the difference between peacemaking and long-term peace-building.
What distinguishes 'peace-building' from 'peacemaking' according to the text?
Peacemaking is viewed as a concrete, often post-conflict activity aimed at settling a dispute, whereas peace-building is a larger, more complex, and long-term commitment to changing societal structures.
How does the author address the link between religion and violence?
The author acknowledges that religion is sometimes misused for political purposes but argues that conflict is rooted in broader social markers (like identity, class, and politics) rather than religion itself.
What is the role of faith-based diplomacy?
Faith-based diplomacy integrates religious values with international relations to foster reconciliation, driven by a deep sense of calling found in various religious traditions.
What is the author's final conclusion?
The author concludes that excluding the religious factor from peace agendas ignores vital foundations for social survival and urges religious traditions to proactively address their own internal failings.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Van Lal Thuam Lian (Autor:in), 2016, Religions and the Task of Peace-building, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/336292
