Examining the role of interfaith dialogue initiatives towards peacebuilding : a case study of the community of Sant'Egidio : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2015
DOI
Open Access Location
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Massey University
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Abstract
Interfaith
dialogue
is
the
meeting
of
persons
of
different
faiths
to
have
a
conversation,
so
at
its
most
basic
it
essentially
is
talking.
However,
it
is
the
nature
of
this
talking
that
is
crucial,
as
it
involves
all
parties
sympathizing
with
one
another
to
understand
their
position
(Smock,
2002,
p.
6).
Paul
F.
Knitter
describes
it
as
“the
interaction
of
mutual
presence
speaking
and
listening
and
witnessing
the
commitments,
the
values,
and
the
rituals
of
others”
(Knitter,
1996,
p.
14).
Using
qualitative
methodologies
and
undertaking
fieldwork
in
both
Italy
(where
the
Community
of
Sant’Egidio
is
based)
and
Israel,
I
analysed
the
challenges
and
possibilities
surrounding
the
place
of
Faith
Based
Actors
(FBAs)
within
peacebuilding
and
development,
asking
whether
there
is
an
appropriate
space
for
the
collaboration
of
different
faiths
within
the
peace
process,
and
if
so
what
this
may
look
like.
In
doing
so
I
have
explored
the
use
of
current
interfaith
dialogue
initiatives
as
a
tool
for
what
Galtung
terms
‘positive’
peace,
analysing
the
connections
between
peacebuilding
and
development
and
religions
place
within
these
paradigms,
and
how
they
parallel
positive
and
negative
peace
theories.
This
research
has
shown
that
religion
has
a
large
role
to
play
in
peacebuilding,
as
FBAs
are
considered
more
trustworthy,
they
understand
the
perspective
of
religious
communities,
and
can
use
the
peace
ethic
inherent
in
their
faith
as
a
contribution
to
peace
and
development
efforts.
Interfaith
dialogues
were
especially
important
in
conflict
as
they
were
a
form
of
community
participation
in
peace
activism,
and
showed
solidarity
and
a
commitment
to
learning
about
‘other’
religions.
People,
organizations
and
FBAs
are
aware
and
realistic
that
interfaith
dialogue
alone
does
not
have
the
power
to
end
immediate
conflict,
but
it
does
hold
power
to
change
the
atmosphere
in
which
many
of
the
prejudices
that
cause
conflict
arise.
I
argue
therefore,
that
interfaith
dialogues
can
be
seen
as
a
‘positive’
peace
initiative,
as
it
is
a
tool
that
can
be
used
towards
fixing
rooted
problems
of
conflict
and
contribute
to
sustainable
peacebuilding
through
the
changing
of
societal
attitudes.
Description
Keywords
Interfaith dialogue, Peace-building, Comunità di Sant'Egidio, Community of Sant'Egidio, Sant'Egidio, Peace-building and development, Peace activism