HUMT-1860 : Religion, Conflict, & Peace

Is religion a force for peace or violence? Is religion a pretext used to justify political agendas? Is some violence uniquely religious? Is peace possible without the sacred? How can believers find justification in the same tradition for both peace and violence? This course considers these questions in a variety of contexts and eras. It assumes no prior background with religion and Introductionduces students to concepts important for the study of conflict and peace. By examining material that has influenced followers for centuries as well as contemporary case studies, students will develop a greater sense of global history and become more careful observers of the present-day phenomena.