RELIGIOUS

CONFLICT
 RELIGION
is a social institution involving beliefs and
practices based on a conception of the sacred.

Sacred
Profane
Ritual
Faith
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FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION:
1. Social cohesion
2. Social control
3. Providing meaning and purpose

Religion generates social conflict and provokes

violence.

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Religion is socially constructed:
• Difference between sacred and profane is
sharpened with rituals
• Defining oneself within the “cosmic frame of
reference” gives security.

Ignores link to inequality

Religion serves hierarchy by :
• Legitimizing the status quo and diverting people
from inequalities “opium of the people”
• Supporting patriarchy
• Turning a blind eye to child sex abuse

Religion can promote change:

• helped abolish slavery and promoted civil rights
• Helped develop social safety
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Religion and Social Change
Max Weber: Protestantism and capitalism
• Calvinists sought signs of salvation
• Worked hard and gained assets, but
• Reinvested instead of spending them
• Thought economic success showed God’s favour

Liberation Theology: fusion of Christian principles with

political activism in Latin America

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Religious Organizations:
• Church
• Ecclesia or State church
• Denomination
• Sect
• New religious movement
• Cult

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 Religious Conflicts
Religious conflicts arise as followers of one
religion take to the extreme and impose their
religious beliefs on others with different
religions.
Religion in History
ANIMISM CHRISTIANITY ISLAM JUDAISM

HINDUISM BUDDHISM CONFUCIANISM OTHER

TYPES OF INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS
 Conflict occurs when something is contested.
When we couple religion with conflict, we
● Ethnic might expect that what is contested; ideology or
● Ideological morality (i.e., belief). Religions in different
● Territorial ways will inevitably cause different missionary
● Religious
values of religious organizations for conflict
● Governmental
due to different opinions and interests.
● Economic
Religions mainly affects in two ways:
● First, the peace of the competition
● The second is mandatory struggle, including
armed fights and war. The world's religious
conflicts in the three major religions.
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 Religious conflicts are
complex, often together
with the national struggle,
the state struggles.

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MAIN REASONS ARE:
1. Different doctrines, different values, causing the opposite of
ideology.
2. Representatives of the different economic, political interests,
causing the interests of the conflict.
3. In order to survive and lead to the development of other religious
forces and external conflicts.
4. With the geographical environment, and the peripheral national
situation about.
5. Power of the ruler used by religious organizations, as a political
and economic interests of the tool caused by the conflict.

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SOME CHALLENGES RELATED TO
RELIGION:
1. EXISTENTIAL CRISIS
Challenging life events may lead some people to question their
faith. For some this is experienced as an existential crisis.
2. SEXUALITY
Some people may encounter difficulties if their religious beliefs
conflict with their sexuality or gender identity.
3. RELATIONSHIP
Any relationship can be strained at times. Partners who do not
share the same religious beliefs can experience unique challenges,
including social and cultural pressures. Some people may feel
pressure to choose a partner of the same religion.
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4. FAMILY AND CULTURAL PRESSURES
Some people experience pressure from family or friends to conform to a particular
religion. This can be problematic if it conflicts with the person’s own beliefs.
5. IDENTITY
Many people will go through periods of questioning and trying to understand their
identity in relation to their faith. Your personal worldview may differ to your
religious background, which can be challenging.
6. DISCRIMINATION OR STIGMA
People may be subjected to inequitable action as a result of religious beliefs. This
is particularly likely for minority groups.Some people may experience bullying or
harassment as a result of their beliefs.

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7. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD MENTAL
HEALTH
While religion is generally associated with good mental health,
there are some religions that may make people more vulnerable,
such as controlling or extreme religions.

8. Other Conflicts
Facing situation that conflicts with religious beliefs can cause
distress. Abortion is one such matter of controversy.

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 CONCLUSION:
It is easy to assume that the prevalence of religious conflict is
due to the region’s Islamic and autocratic character. It is also easy
to assume that the region’s high concentration of autocracy is due to
the region’s Islamic character. Yet neither of these assumptions
appear to be correct. Since the awakening of religion, wars have
been fought in the name of different gods and goddesses. Still today
most violent conflicts contain religious elements linked up with
ethno-national, inter-state, economic, territorial, cultural and other
issues

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 1. How has religion caused
conflict?

2. Why religion important in

conflict prevention?

3. As a School Head, How will

you be able to resolve religious
conflict in your premise?