Religious Dimensions in Conflict Transformation: A Tentative Approach Toward a Reconciliation Methodology

Abstract

Every political context manifests an overlapping reality with religion as a key component. Islamic or Christian traditions are involved therein, as well as Hindu and Buddhist communities. In view of realistic reconciliation dynamics, a precondition is the analysis of the theoretical and practical dimensions of religion-based violent phenomena: manifest and latent, personal and structural, economic and cultural. In doing so, three major dimensions need consideration: fundamental narratives, socially accepted norms, and collective memories. These factors are often used to legitimate destructive and/or segregation practices. Yet embedded in these same deep-culture configurations is the potential for reconciliation. Richard Friedli illustrates two case studies of conflicts where both destructive—even genocidal—and constructive religious dynamics are involved: (1) the Islamic veil, and (2) the ubuntu philosophy in Rwanda.