TFF2227 – Religion and Peace

References to peace as a value or duty appear in the sacred texts of many religious traditions. Certain religious groups, such as the Quakers, hold pacifism as a central tenet for membership and practice. Impactful religious leaders have drawn from their religious commitments to provide a framework for non-violent social action, leading to significant political and cultural change.

This course will explore the theological foundations, and practical applications, of religious pacifism, peacebuilding, and non-violent activism in a variety of religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and others. Looking at both historical and contemporary contexts we will explore the texts and ideas that religious pacifists have (and do) use to support their commitments to peacebuilding. Through analyzing examples from a variety of movements in different times & places, we will unpack the complexities and compromises that have arisen in the attempt to adhere to pacifism and peacebuilding over time. Though exact content will vary from year to year, some examples of cases that we typically examine include:

• Christian Pacifism and Conscientious Objection in Anabaptist/Mennonite Communities
• Religion, Gandhi, and the Non-violent Indian Independence Movement
• Thich Nhat Hanh, Engaged Buddhism, and the Viet Nam War
• Afghani Muslim Women and Peacebuilding
• Religion and the Civil Rights Movement in the USA
• We will explore the answers to important questions such as:
• How do sacred texts inform peace commitments for members of these communities?
• What similarities and differences exist between various traditions’ understandings of what constitutes peace?
• How does commitment to non-violence take shape in different ways (conscientious objection, non-violent political action, truth and reconciliation, etc.)?
• Where in history has pacifism put members of certain faith communities at odds with wider society?
• How is peace related to justice, safety, and flourishing?

Drawing on sacred texts, spiritual writings, and insights from both scholars and practitioners we will examine religions’ relationship to peace and the different ways these relationships have played out through history. Throughout our course we note how social location (race, class, gender, dis/ability, etc.) and social power complicate dichotomies such as war/peace, violence/non-violence, and secular/religious, and use the tools of peace studies and feminist study of religion to situate peace within a constellation of related socio-political pursuits (e.g., justice, reconciliation, social change, etc.).

• Identify and explain major theological and ethical frameworks for religious pacifism, non-violence, and peacebuilding across various religious traditions.
• Develop familiarity with key historical case studies of religiously-grounded peacebuilding, analyzing their contexts, strategies, outcomes, challenges, and contradictions in advancing justice, reconciliation, and non-violent social change.
• Describe how social location (race, class, gender, dis/ability, and political status) and institutional power influence religious discussion and practice regarding violence and peace.
• Critically analyze primary texts (scripture, doctrinal statements, sermons, activist writings) to dissect and evaluate presentations of peace, pacificism, peacebuilding.
• Incorporate insights from scholarly writing on course themes in written assignments and presentations.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ethical reflexivity by examining one’s own social location, assumptions, and potential biases in discussions of conflict and peacemaking.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars.

Mandatory activities:

• Group Project - profiling a peacebuilder or peacebuilding organization (profile may be in a variety of forms, such as a PowerPoint, video, or podcast)
• Practical Exercise and Reflection - adopt a spiritual practice of influential peace leaders and reflect on the significance of the habit in a short essay or presentation (approximately 1000-1500 words)
• Paper - students will write a draft of a short essay outlining their understanding of peace and religious peace building based on course readings and their own perspective. Students will present their definition to the teacher and sensor at the oral exam. Students will get feedback on the draft prior to their exam presentation. (1500 - 2000 words)