Does Religion Fuel or Heal in Conflicts?
In the article, Does Religion Fuel or Heal in Conflicts?, Raymond G. Helmich, S.J. states
that a carefulness is essential at the opening of any discussion of religion as a resource or as a
problem for the resolution of conflicts. Having a religious faith is an all-inclusive outlook on
life. It creates its own plan and we have to allow it to create its own plan. Those who try to use
religion for their own purposes may have their own good or bad plans.
The Modern Age overlapped with the massive breach of confidence in religion and its
leadership. The author discusses three main principles regarding modernity, these include: the
scientific revolution, the philosophical Enlightenment, and political liberalism. The scientific
revolution started with Copernicus and Galileo which expanded to all areas of study of the
material growth. The philosophical Enlightenment of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
was the cult of reason. Political liberalism led to through the period of “Enlightened Depots” to
the English, American, French, and Russian revolutions and the development of representative
government. Those who believed in The Modern Age stated that these three principles answered
all questions. Cruelty and violence of the twentieth century has taught the intellectual
mainstream, so long withdrawn from religion that the three holy icons of The Modern Age have
not answered all the questions.
If an individual were to look throughout history it would be evident that Religion has
been at the forefront of a vast majority of conflict within nations and civilizations. Whether
religion fuels or heals within conflicts is a double edge sword because it is often an extremely
controversial topic. Religion is often a major aspect in one’s life; it shapes and develops one’s
identity. A threat to one’s belief in a threat to one’s actual being. In our reading there are multiple
examples of religion both fueling and healing conflicts. For example, Helmick explains, that “A
religious faith is in itself an all-encompassing outlook on life, on the world, and on its meaning”
(p.81). Wars have been fought and cities have been slaughtered as a result of religion. One thing
for certain is that people who have religious values are very passionate about them.
Helmick, Raymond G., Rodney L. Petersen, and S. J. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Religion
Public Policy and Conflict Transformation. Philadelphia, PA: Templeton Foundation
Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-1890151843.
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