Religion and Peace

In this article I consider the role of religion in peace strategies. I argue for the feasibility of including religious dimensions in peace studies as well as in political peace-projects. Basicly, but not exclusively, I look at Buddhism and Christianity. Discussing the claim that monotheism tends to obstruct reconciliation and peace, I conclude that an obstacle for peace rather occurs when one’s own standpoint―monotheist or polytheist―is made absolute. Buddhists as well as Christians support violence and wars on occasions, nevertheless, both are essentially non-violent religions. There are valuable Christian concepts of peace clustering around “self-giving services.” As to Buddhist thought I find its ideas of “inter-relationality” particularly intriguing. However, in an interplay between the forces of Christian agape and Buddhist wisdom―peace, that is fullness of life, might emerge. KCI Citation Count: 0