Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding HTE555
Instructor: Joe聽Liechty, PhD
The ways in which religion and religious practices contribute to both violence and peace is a concern of deep significance for Christian communities, other religious traditions, and society at large. This interdisciplinary course surveys classic understandings of religion and violence as well as more recent work on the myths and metaphors underpinning discussions of religious violence, secular perspectives, modernity, and peace. It provides tools and resources for thinking about the ways in which religion, its practices, and its texts contribute to violence and peacebuilding. Students will consider these theoretical resources in light of contemporary conflicts.