Religious Approaches to Violence and Peacebuilding (Essay Sample)

ASSESSING THE APPROACHES OF RELIGION AND NON-VIOLENCE
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Introduction
Since the beginning of time, religion has been an essential part of human culture and tradition. It has influenced several aspects of individuals' way of life, including political, social, and cultural aspects. Religion has played a vital role in shaping the laws that govern the society for peace to prevail among people in the community. Without political and cultural laws in a society, there would be no peace or efforts to make peaceful co-existence possible. A society in a state of violence does not recognize peace, and it becomes a habitat to all sorts of crimes. Peacebuilding is another important aspect in a society where individuals ensure humanity co-exists despite differences in culture, religion, and political ideologies. Every community recognizes the adverse effects of violence and takes every preventive measure to ensure that peace is paramount for the development of society. One of the instruments that human agents employ to make peacebuilding possible is religion. Every religion in the world, such as Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, teaches doctrines to their followers on peaceful co-existence among human-kind and that violence is a result of neglecting peace.
The influence of religion and theology among billions of individuals is fundamental in promoting peace or creating conflicts among people. Religion may not be the root cause of violence and conflict in society in most instances, even though different denominations and religions disagree in their ideologies. Religious leaders are vital in promoting peace not only among their religions but also in society. In times of political tension in countries, religious bodies such as the World Council of Churches were critical in restoring peace in the land. Other instances in the past include the Rome-based Community acting as mediators to help Mozambique end its civil conflict in the 1990s. Over the past years, many religious bodies of different religions have increased and developed in experience to advocate for peacebuilding in society. Religious bodies and leaders need to have specific attributes to ensure that they create a society that is peaceful and non-violent. Such attributes include the ability in community mobilization, a set of values respected by a majority of individuals, and the ability to promote humanity among the nation in instances where dehumanization has been rampant. When religious institutions and leaders come together despite doctrinal differences, they can become key instruments in peace mobilization and inspiration to many people.
Religious Approaches to Violence and Peacebuilding
Christianity is one of the most popular religions globally, with approximately