Between Eden and Armageddon : The Future of World Religions, Violence, and Peacemaking: The Future of World Religions, Violence, and PeacemakingRecent years have seen a meteoric rise in the power and importance of organized religion in many parts of the world. At the same time, there has been a significant increase in violence perpetrated in the name of religion. While much has been written on the relationship between violence and religious militancy, history shows that religious people have also played a critical role in peacemaking within numerous cultures. In the new century, will religion bring upon further catastrophes? Or will it provide human civilization with methods of care, healing, and the creation of peaceful and just societies? In this groundbreaking book, Marc Gopin integrates the study of religion with the study of conflict resolution. He argues that religion can play a critical role in constructing a global community of shared moral commitments and vision--a community that can limit conflict to its nonviolent, constructive variety. If we examine religious myths and moral traditions, Gopin argues, we can understand why and when religious people come to violence, and why and when they become staunch peacemakers. He shows that it is the conservative expression of most religious traditions that presents the largest challenge in terms of peace and conflict. Gopin considers ways to construct traditional paradigms that are committed to peacemaking on a deep level and offers such a paradigm for the case of Judaism. Throughout, Gopin emphasizes that developing the potential of the world's religions for coping with conflict demands a conscious process on the part of peacemakers and theologians. His innovative and carefully argued study also offers a broad set of recommendations for policy planners both inside and outside of government. |
Contents
Alternative Global Futures in the Balance | 3 |
A Critique of Current Secular and Religious Approaches | 33 |
Paradigms of Religious Peacemaking in a Multicultural and Secular Context | 113 |
Systematic Recommendations for Intervention | 199 |
Other editions - View all
Between Eden and Armageddon: The Future of World Religions, Violence, and ... Marc Gopin Limited preview - 2002 |
Between Eden and Armageddon: The Future of World Religions, Violence, and ... Marc Gopin Limited preview - 2000 |
Between Eden and Armageddon: The Future of World Religions, Violence, and ... Marc Gopin No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
basic behavior believe Benamozegh biblical Buddhist challenge Christian civil society coexistence commitment compassion conflict analysis conflict prevention conflict resolution theory constructs contemporary context create creative critical culture deep deeply divine efforts embrace emotions enemy engage especially example expressions faith Furthermore future gentiles gestures global halakhic haredi healing hermeneutic Holocaust human needs identity imitatio dei important individual injury interaction internal interpersonal intervention involves Islam Israel Israeli Jewish Jews John Paul Lederach justice Kabbalah leaders Luzzatto Maimonides means Mennonite peacemakers method Mishneh Torah mitsvah modern monotheism monotheistic moral Muslims negotiation nonviolent old order Mennonites one's Orthodox Palestinians particular parties peace person political practice problem prosocial rabbinic Judaism reconciliation relationship religion religious community religious traditions ritual role roots Samuel David Luzzatto secular sense social spiritual strategies Talmud Bavli texts theological Torah transformation trauma understand unique unity universal violence vision Zionists