Globalisation: Faiths, Cultural Violence and Peace Building

David Smock’s article reports on the US Institute of Peace’s Religion and Peacemaking program. The article covers points from religion not being the key cause of conflict to where the emphasis lies in conflict situations to how religion helps to resolve or prevent conflict. I find that despite the focus of media on religion fuelling conflict, Smock is adamant that religious leader’s not only serve as a helpful communication connection, but also as mediators in conflicting situations (Smock, 2008).

The beginning of the article discusses the conflict aspect and asserts that all religions are accountable for violence at some point in history (Smock, 2008). He continues by exploring the idea that religious and ethnic identities are used in combination to create conflict via defence. An important point to take from this segment of the article is that Smock is saying whilst religion is used as a motivator and justifier it is rarely the cause of conflict.

Smock (2008) uses the term “interfaith dialogue” which was implemented successfully after the tension caused by the bombings on September 11 2001. The idea is that influential representatives from the faith’s most likely to be involved in the conflict can meet and raise the contentious issues that each religion is concerned about in a safe and respectful environment (Smock, 2008).

The crux of this article is people need to understand that involving religious representatives will create positive results in terms of resolving or averting conflict in which religion holds a key role (Smock, 2008).

By Ruth Cohen

Works Cited
Smock, D. (2008, February). Religion in World Affairs. Special Report , 2-8.