Peace Potentials in the World Religions, Elective Course 13A
- Course: Peace Potentials in the World Religions , Elective Course 13A, MA in Peace and Conflict Studies, European Peace University
- Instructor: Catherine Morris, BA, JD (Alberta), LLM (UBC)
- Classes: Daily, June 24-28, 2013, 9:00 – 10:30 am, and 11:00 am – 12.30 pm
- Advising: You are always welcome to email or arrange appointments with the instructor.
- Contact Information: Send e-mail
Course Outline
schedule and some readings are subject to amendment
The Course Outline is also available at EPUPeaceReligionOutlineJune2013.pdf, but the pdf version will not be updated.
SCHEDULE and READINGS:
Click on the day to see the course readings assigned for each class.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 June Overview | 25 June Limitations on armed conflict | 25, 26 June Nonviolence | 27 June Peacemaking and reconciliation | 28 June Student seminar on faith-based peaceworkers |
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Course Description, Objectives and 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 of scholars or adherents of several world religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hindism and indigenous traditions about limitations on violence, nonviolence, peacemaking and reconciliation;
- be able to articulate and write about several problematics regarding 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 the qualities and strategies of several faith-based peaceworkers or peace initiatives with religious dimensions.
Instructional Methods
- readings,
- lectures,
- films
- class discussions,
- group presentations
- paper (optional)
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Evaluation
Assignments
Evaluation is based on the following course assignments:
- Class preparation and participation in literature discussions (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 prepared to discuss the suggested texts. Students are also asked to be ready to engage in reflective and collegial discussion and dialogue in class. (15 marks for well-prepared and cooperative participation)
- News roundups (10%). Discussions about news reports about religion and peace are held each day (except Friday 28 June). For 24 June, each person is asked to post a news story of events that are relatively recent (within a few months or a year or so). Students are divided into three groups (A, B, C), and on 25, 26, and 27, each of the three groups is responsible for posting a news story to the Moodle site on a designated day (see below). All others are expected to read the posted stories and be ready to discuss them in class. Please check the specific topic each day. (10 marks for well-prepared and cooperative participation)
- 24 June: Overview. Prior to this class, each person in the class is asked to post to the Moodle site a news story that discusses religion and conflict. If you find that someone has already posted that story, please see if you can find another story about that topic from another source. Be ready to discuss the stories in class. As a class, try to provide stories depicting a range of regions and world religions.
- 25 June: Just and unjust armed conflict: Prior to this class, each member of Group A is asked to select and post a news story or other report or press release to the Moodle site that has a religious perspective that seems to be relevant to ideas about a "just" or "unjust" armed conflict. For example, it could be a piece that either criticizes or justifies the necessity of armed intervention. Or it could be a report about how a particular weapon or use of weapons is or is not justified. Be ready for informal discussion in class, including reflections on how the religion or religious actors are portrayed in the story. As a group, try to provide stories about a range of the world's regions and religions.
- 26 June: Nonviolence. Prior to this class, each member of Group B is asked to email to cmorris@uvic.ca a news story that has a religious perspective on nonviolence. Be ready for informal discussion in class, including reflections on how the religion or religious actors are portrayed in the story. As a group, try to provide stories about a range of the world's regions and religions.
- 27 June: Peacemaking and Reconciliation. Prior to this class each member of Group C is asked to post a news story to the Moodle site that has a religious perspective that seems to pertain to peacemaking or reconciliation. Be ready for informal discussion in class, including reflections on how the religion or religious actors are portrayed in the story. As a group, try to provide stories about a range of the world's regions and religions.
- Option 1: Seminar on religiously motivated peaceworkers (graded assignment 75%). On Tuesday 25 June, students choosing this option are divided into three (3) four (4) groups. Election of Option 1 (seminar) or 2 (paper) is final on 25 June; after that date changes may be made only with the consent of, first, all persons in affected groups, and second, the instructor. Each group is responsible for a panel and class discussion about:
- one or two religiously-motivated peaceworkers, groups or organizations from one of the world religions, or
- An inter-religious initiative in which both religious perspectives are to be addressed.
- The spiritual beliefs of the peaceworkers in question including key scriptural, doctrinal or traditional inspirations of the peaceworker, peace group or peace initiative.
- The key characteristics and strategies used by the peaceworker, peace group or peace initiative, illustrating with at least one case example for each peaceworker, peace group or peace initiative discussed.
- Analysis, observations or reflections about the peace potential illustrated by the actor's faith-based ideas and strategies.
- See the seminar grading criteria.
- Option 2: Reflection paper (graded assignment 75%): As an alternative to the seminar (above), students may elect no later than 25 June to be graded based on a short reflection paper of approximately 3 pages (750-800 words maximum) to be submitted electronically to the instructor 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 course readings and any external research. 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 the topic yourself. See further grading criteria. Due to time constraints, oral presentations of these papers are not possible. Election of Option 1 (seminar) or 2 (paper) is final on 25 June; after that date changes may be made only with the consent of, first, all persons in affected groups and, second, the instructor. All students selecting this option are expected to attend the 28 June Seminar.
SCHEDULE: 24 June: Introduction and overview | 25 June: Limits on armed conflict | 25, 26 June: Nonviolence | 27 June: Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation | 28 June: Class seminar on faith-based peaceworkers
Class schedule and readings (subject to amendment)
1. Overview: The role of religion in conflict and peacebuilding
24 June 24 2013
- 1.1 Introduction to the course
- 1.2 News round-up
- 1.2 Literature review
- 1.3 When are religious actors constructive for peacebuilding?
News Round-up: How do media portray the role of religion or religious actors in conflict?
See the guidelines above.
Literature review
Please read and be ready to discuss:
- 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." Melanesian Journal of Theology 1-2 (1985): 187-193. Available at http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/mjt/01-2_187.pdf (7 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
25 June 2013
- 2.1 What is a "just" war?
- 2.2 When is violence justified? Teachings from the world's religions
News Round-up: Religion and "just war"
See the guidelines above.
Literature discussion
To prepare for this class, please be prepared to discuss the following:
- BBC. "Religious views of war," at http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/ Your choice of:
- Robinson, Paul, ed. Just war in comparative perspective. UK: Ashgate, 2003. (in the EPU library). Please read at least one chapter on a religious tradition of your choice.
- 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
For further study, see optional readings and films for this section
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3. Teachings and Practices of Nonviolence in the World's Religions
25, 26 June 2013
News Round-up: Religion and nonviolence
See the guidelines above.
Literature discussion
Please read the following before class:
- Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. Introduction plus Chapter 2, 4, 6, 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.
For further study, see optional readings and films for this section
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4. Peacemaking and reconciliation
27 June 2013
- Apologies, forgiveness, reconciliation
- Processes and practices
News Round-up: Peacemaking and Reconciliation
See the guidelines above.
Literature review
- 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.
Plus your choice of the following:
- 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)
- 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. Available at http://graduateinstitute.ch/webdav/site/ccdp/shared/6305/Rel%20and%20Po-%20Zurich%20Conf.pdf.
Please also read your choice of further optional readings and films for this section
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5. Faith-Based Peaceworkers: Seminar
27 June 2013
Student seminar on religiously motivated peaceworkers. Please see details.
Class Notes and AnnouncementsClass notes, including powerpoint presentations by the instructor are posted here:
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