Peace Potentials in the World Religions
MA in Peace and Conflict Studies
European Peace University, Stadtschlaining, Austria

Course Outline
schedule and some readings are subject to amendment

The Course Outline is also available at EPUPeacePotentialsInTheWorldReligions-OutlineJune2011.doc (readings slightly amended June 26, 2011). Note that the .doc version will not be updated.

SCHEDULE and READINGS:

Click on the day to see the course readings assigned for each class.

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Course Description, Objectives and Evaluation

Course Description (as per the EPU calendar)

After the terrorist attacks of September 11 the discussion about religiously motivated violence has grown tremendously. Therefore, this course deals with potentials of peace, conflict and violence of the great world religions. Starting from the history of origins and development of the religions it shall be asked which references the respective religions have with regard to violence and peace, how these references are to be interpreted and which significance they have; on the other hand the reasons and causes for greater proximity or distance to peace of religions shall be dealt with. By using historical developments and concrete examples the significance of the religious in certain violent conflicts shall be analyzed and finally it shall be asked if and which power assuring peace emanates from the different world religions.

Instructional Methods

• readings,
• lectures,
• films
• class discussions,
• reflection and writing assignment.

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Evaluation

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, it is envisioned that students will:

• have listened to or read, understood and reflected upon several perspectives on conflict resolution, "just war" theories, nonviolence and conflict transformation by scholars or adherents of several major world religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hindism;
• be able to articulate and write about several problematics related to the role of religion in peacebuilding;
• be able to reflect on media portrayals of conflicts with religious dimensions and religiously-based peacemakers
• have engaged in discussion and dialogue about several case examples of conflicts with religious dimensions.

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Assignments

Evaluation is based on the following course assignments:

• Class preparation and participation (15%). Students are requested to make the necessary arrangements to prepare for and attend all classes. Students are expected to come to class having read and being ready to discuss the suggested texts. Students are asked to be ready to give 3-5-minute summaries and reflections on readings in class in order to launch discussions. Students are also asked to be ready to engage in discussion and dialogue in class.
• News gathering (10%). Students will be divided into four (4) groups. Each group will be responsible for bringing to class one online news story, commentary or short print or video report each day that depicts an effort at religiously-based peacemaking, or or the work of a religiously motivated peaceworker. Students in the group may be asked to share and facilitate discussions of these stories in small or large group
• Reflection paper (75%): You will be graded based on a reflection paper of approximately 3 pages (750-800 words maximum) to be submitted electronically to by email. Please choose one particular topic or aspect of the course and discuss how its relevance and application to your own life, experience, work or your regional context. Please cite and quote relevant readings. This reflection paper is graded based on the degree to which it demonstrates you have followed the course, done the assigned readings, understood the main concepts presented and reflected on it yourself. See further grading criteria.

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SCHEDULE: June 27: Overview | June 28: Limits on armed conflict | June 28, 29: Role of nonviolence | June 30, July 1: Conflict resolution and Reconciliation

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Class schedule and readings (subject to amendment)

• Most assigned course readings may be found in a "zip" file at at AssignedReadingsPeacePotentialsMorris2011.zip.
• Many of the optional course readings may be found in a zip file at OptionalReadingsMorrisPeacePotentialsReligions.zip

1. Overview: The role of religion in conflict and peacebuilding
June 27 2011

• 1.1 Introductions
• 1.2 Two faces of religion: War and Peace
• 1.3 When are religious actors constructive for peacebuilding?
• 1.4 "Sacred space"

Prior to this class please read:

• Boulding, Elise. "Two Cultures of Religion as Obstacles to Peace" Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 21(4) (1986): 501–518. (18 pages)
• Gopin, Marc. "Religion, Violence, and Conflict Resolution." Peace & Change 22(1) (January 1997): 1-31. Available online (31 pages)
• Swidler, Leonard. "The Dialogue Decalogue: Ground Rules for Interreligious Dialogue." Inter-Religio 5 (1984):30-33. Available at Inter-Religio (3 pages)

For further study, see optional readings and films for this section

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2. Limits on war in the world's religions
June 28, 2011

• 2.1 What is a "just" war?
• 2.2 When is violence justified? Teachings from the world's religions

Suggested readings for this class

To prepare for this class, please choose from among the following:

• Dorn, A. Walter. The Justifications for War and Peace in World Religions. Part III: Comparison of Scriptures from Seven World Religions. Canada: Minister of National Defence, 2010. Available at http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA535552
• Allman, Mark J. "The Gods of War: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on War and Peace." Lecture at Merrimack College, November 19, 2008. Available http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb5SI52kRII.
• Thistlethwaite, Susan, and Glen Stassen, eds. Abrahamic Alternatives to War: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives on Just Peacemaking. Special report 214. Washington, DC: USIP, October 2008. Available at USIP: USIP (pdf).

Film

It is planned that this film be watched in class.

• Abu-Nimer, Mohammed, Marie Dennis, Barry Freundel, John Kleiderer, Dennis Wholey (moderator). Just War, Lasting Peace. This is America, Show 1008, 2006-2007 Season. Available Google Video

For further study, see optional readings for this section

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3. Teachings and Practices of Nonviolence in the World's Religions
June 28, 29, 2011

• 3.1 What is "nonviolence"?
• 3.2 Teachings and examples from the world's religions

Please read the following before class. NOTE: reading list amended June 26, 2011

• Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. Introduction plus Chapter 2, 4, 7, 8 in Subverting hatred: the challenge of nonviolence in religious traditions. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2007. (available on reserve in the EPU library) (approximately 100 pages. If your time is limited, read at least three chapters, giving priority to religious traditions of most interest to you. You will be divided into groups to summarize each of these chapters (plus other chapters if they interest you.)

Plus your choice of Chapter 6 in Subverting Hatred or one of the following:

• Abu-Nimer, Mohammed. "A Framework for Nonviolence and Peacebuilding in Islam." Journal of Law and Religion 15(1/2)(2000-2001): 217-65. Available at http://www.aupeace.org/files/Nimer_AFrameworkForNonviolenceAndPeacebuildingInIslam.pdf
• Satha-Anand, Chaiwat. "The Nonviolent Crescent: Eight Theses on Muslim Nonviolent Actions." In Islam and Nonviolence, edited by Glenn D. Paige, Chaiwat Satha-Anand (Qader Muheideen), and Sarah Gilliatt. Honolulu: Center for Global Nonviolence, 2001. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/19548572/Islam-and-Nonviolence-Edited-by-Glenn-D-Paige-Chaiwat-SathaAnand-and-Sara-Gilliattby

For further study, see optional readings for this section

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4. Conflict Transformation
June 30 - July 1, 2011

• Processes and practices
• Apologies, forgiveness, reconciliation
• Cases

Please read following prior to this class: NOTE: reading list amended June 26, 2011

• Philpott, Daniel. Religion, Reconciliation, and Transitional Justice: The State of the Field. SSRC Working Paper. New York: Social Science Research Council, 17 October 2007. Available at http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Philpott-2007_final.pdf.
• Mason, Simon J.A., and Moncef Kartas, eds. Transforming Conflicts with Religious Dimensions: Methodologies and Practical Experiences, 27-28 April 2009, Zurich, Switzerland. Geneva: Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP) at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, 2010. Read the Executive Summary, pp. 3-5; the case studies pp. 25-39, and chapter 4, pp. 40-47. Available at http://graduateinstitute.ch/webdav/site/ccdp/shared/6305/Rel%20and%20Po-%20Zurich%20Conf.pdf.
  • To assist with understanding of the concept of "constructivism" discussed in the Mason and Kartas reading see Constructivism as a Paradign for Teaching and Learning by Concept to Classroom, or
  • Constructivism Conflict by Walter Johnson.

The following reading is also recommended:

• Marshall, Katherine, and Susan Hayward, with Claudia Zambra, Esther Breger, and Sarah Jackson. Women in Religious Peacebuilding. Peaceworks. Washington DC: USIP, 2011. Available at USIP (pdf)

Please also read your choice of further optional readings and films for this section

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Class Notes Class notes, including powerpoint presentations by the instructor or students are posted here until the course ends:

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