Just a quick look at your local media on any given day is a powerful reminder that devastating armed conflicts worldwide are destroying lives and whole communities often in the name of religion. Hidden in the news, if reported on at all, are the brave religious leaders in these zones of violence, working to bring peace and reconciliation to their people. These inspiring men and women offer critical insights and skills for addressing today’s most urgent conflicts. But their stories are rarely told.
Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution shares the experiences of 16 such remarkable religious peacemakers who have put their lives on the line in conflicts around the world from Israel-Palestine to Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Sudan, South Africa, El Salvador, Indonesia and beyond. For each of these men and women, religious texts and traditions have served both as a source of inspiration and as a practical resource in resolving conflict. These grassroots peacemakers are powerful but underutilized actors for resolving some of the world’s most horrifying conflicts. As such, this book contains timely information for diplomats, government officials, conflict resolution practitioners, as well as today’s students of religion and international affairs our future peacemakers. And in a world where religion-based conflict affects us all, this book provides critical lessons and much-needed hope for each of us.