The Sound of the Sun: Religious understandings of peace and the role of religious leaders in peacebuilding―a qualitative study in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

This article discusses the different roles of religious leaders in peacebuilding processes, and their specific understanding of peace. It is based on analysis of 75 in-depth interviews with Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim religious leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina, conducted in the period from 2015 to 2017. In the first part, peace is analyzed as a concept that contains elements of giftness, spirituality, and praxis. Arguing for the relevance of all three elements, the article warns against possible misunderstandings that can come when peace is assessed only through directly measurable indicators. In the second part, peacebuilding activities of religious leaders are divided into three groups: 1) before conflicts, 2) during conflicts, and 3) in post-conflict phases. In those scenarios, religious leaders play preventive, reactive, and transformative roles, respectively. The preventive role comprises all activities related to the development of moral character and social ethics that promote non-violence. The reactive role includes activities related to humanitarian assistance, spiritual and emotional accompaniment, denunciation of crimes, and promotion of alternative social visions to those of group-separation. Lastly, in the post-conflict phase (the transformative role), peacebuilding is inseparable from the challenges related to the legacy of past violence, especially those of forgiveness, reconciliation, and memory of conflicts.

Religion and politics as a dangerous mix: Effects of religiosity on intergroup forgiveness and reconciliation in a post-conflict setting.

“…The stronger relationship between religiosity and group centrism in Study 2 (0.63 vs. 0.48) is much more difficult to interpret in view of these religious teachings since both Christianity and Islam have similar supra-national appeals. In the context of BiH, however, national and religious belonging highly overlap and are sometimes used interchangeably (Odak, 2020, pp. 256–259).…”

“…Qualitative studies suggest that engagement in inter-religious activities moves from a position of political power towards moral authority, and positive experiences of religious plurality improve prosocial values among religious leaders as well as believers (Funk Deckard, 2012). A recent extensive study on religious leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina conducted by Odak (2020) suggests four processes that facilitate a move from exclusionary to inclusive religiosity: (a) move from elected nations/groups to participative salvation, (b) move from the idea of “clean” sacred lands to shared stewardship over territory, (c) move from coercive power to moral authority in public discourse, and (d) move from resentment and self-centered victimhood to ecumene of compassion. It is intimated that those four changes could create a shift from solely inward-oriented religiosity towards inclusive interreligious and intergroup dialog.…”

“…Those possibilities can be combined and each of them can have multiple dimensions (Clayton & Gladden, 1974; Cornwall et al, 1986; De Jong et al, 1976; Mueller, 1980). Forgiveness, on the other hand, can be understood as a decision to forswear prosecution or retaliation (similar to pardon), as a positive change in emotions and/or attitudes (either unilaterally or multilaterally), or—more broadly—as a reiterative process of coming to terms with past injuries (Odak, 2020, pp. 5–63).…”

Resilience Building after Violent Attack on Buddhist Community: The Case of Ramu in Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh

“…These include undertaking prior preventive administrative measures in a vulnerable situation to prepare and engage law-enforcing agencies so that people in the community feel that there are initiatives for their protection during the period of duress. The engagement of local confidence builders, such as local government representatives and religious and social leaders, could try to dismantle aggrieved groups and protect vulnerable communities at the early stage (Odak, 2021). Nevertheless, the application of preventative coercive means, when required as a last resort, must be well-crafted to reduce the intensity of violence.…”

The Role of the Church in Ensuring Peace and Harmony in Haiti

“…Christ was actively involved in solving conflicts throughout his earthly ministry. Churches' mission in ensuring peace provides a way of life that extends beyond traditional concepts of churches' preaching and teaching on peace and reconciliation (Odak, 2021). As the conflicts and violence cases are being noted nowadays, many churches in various parts of the World are actively taking part in reconciliation missions in their local contexts as part of their faith and witness.…”