Summary of Religion and Conflict
Several elements of religion can, but do not always do, make it a potential latent cause of conflict. Every religion has fixed doctrines or tenets of belief that followers are supposed to accept without inquiry. This could lead to rigidity and intolerance towards those with differing viewpoints. As is always the case, the interpretation with the most support prevails. However, those admirers must also be inspired to act (Schliesser, 2018). Extremists are driven to carry out their understanding of God’s will, whereas moderates virtually always possess moderate beliefs but are frequently more complacent. Religious extremists can contribute to conflict escalation in society because of holding different views. Any indication of moderation might be seen as a symptom of demeaning God’s plans.
In several denominations, there are sizable missionary organizations that can be divisive. The task of increasing the flock and spreading the gospel belongs to Christians. For instance, the effort to impose religion here on subservient citizens had been a crucial component of conflict against European colonialism. Similarly, specific individuals might desire to stop others from following other religions. This is primarily driven by a desire to minimize concepts that the dominant group regards as inferior or detrimental. Currently, China and Sudan are the only two places where Christians are persecuted. There is no religious conflict in China; instead, the government views religion as a dangerous rival for the loyalty of its citizens. These all occur due to a lack of respect for other religions.
Popular depictions of belief frequently support the idea that it is divisive. The relationship between religion and war has received much coverage in the international media, but not how religion has contributed significantly to world peace. Interfaith dread and animosity are fostered by the overemphasis on faith’s negative aspects and the activities of religious fanatics. Furthermore, media representations of religious conflict tend to confound rather than inform (Gaspersz et al., 2020). By misinterpreting the intentions and relationships between various groups, it exacerbates division. The tendency to casually use the phrases “fundamentalist” and “extreme” conceals significant variations in viewpoints, objectives, and strategies.
Relevance to the Post-Pandemic Caribbean Society
Although it is common to assume that pandemic religious methods bring about disruptive modifications in lives, people shed light on the persistence of pandemic reactions. The Caribbean society as they create following pre-existing belief structures, theologies, religious practices, and power structures of the present (Levy, 2009). The ritual developments discussed in this book can induce new sensory encounters but also commonly rely on memories of previous sensory inputs throughout the ritual performance, striking a good compromise between mimesis and iconoclastic innovation.
Religion and the Rise of Conflict
Religious diversity is a prospective source of conflict in almost every cohesive society. There may be some friction due to people’s frequent ignorance about different religions, but this does not automatically lead to war. Religion may not always lead to conflict, but it can set one’s group or self apart from others, just as ethnicity or race (Levy, 2009). For instance, the world has many religions with different beliefs and customs. For example, Muslim believe that Allah is their Supreme Being, while Christians, on the other hand, believe in the Holy Trinity ((Levy, 2009). As such, having the two groups together in the same geographical area would lead to conflicts emanating from their beliefs. Frequently, the segment with less power, whether political or economic, is more conscious of the conflict than those who enjoy an advantage. However, when the privileged group is a minority, as the Jews were historically throughout most of Europe, they frequently are aware of the underlying strife.
A triggering incident might lead to the conflict’s escalation since religion is a hidden source of conflict. At this point of disagreement, issues, objectives, and strategies frequently alter, making a resolution more challenging. The conflict’s momentum might give radicals the upper hand. Extremists may look to group members to deliver advantages in a crisis, at least temporarily (Schliesser, 2018). Extremists’ message that one’s religion is endangered by another that is opposed is reinforced in these circumstances as group identities are reinforced about the other group
How the Information May Be Utilized in Ministry/Professional, and Personal Life.
There is a common belief that faith is inherently polarizing, yet this is not necessarily the case. As a result, promoting a better awareness of the clinical benefits that religions have performed in many cases of dispute resolution and reconciliation is one component of the solution. Generally, combating ignorance may be reasonably successful in memorizing God’s plans for human beings. The cooperation will be advantageous to all echelons of bureaucracy for all subgroups of religious organizations. It would be a big step to learn about religion in a location where silence and miscommunication are all too often. Learning about different religions does not require conversion, but it does allow one to accept and comprehend the beliefs of others.
References
Gaspersz, S. G. C., Souisa, N. N., & Latuheru, R. D. (2020). Religion, suanggi, and suicide: A case study in Ambon from the perspective of religious studies. Analisa: Journal of Social Science and Religion, 5(02), 167–184. Web.
Levy, H. (2009). Killing streets & community revival: “Community stories “70’s-80’s. Arawak publications.
Schliesser, C. (2018). From “a theology of genocide” to a “theology of reconciliation”? On the role of christian churches in the Nexus of Religion and genocide in Rwanda. Religions, 9(2), 34. Web.