Conflict rarely has a single cause
Religious identity has intersected with wars, civil unrest and persecution in many regions. Yet labels alone do not explain why violence begins. Political power, territory, ethnicity, inequality, colonial history, security fears and competition for resources may all be involved.
Sometimes religious language motivates or legitimizes hostility. In other cases, people on opposing sides happen to belong to different traditions even though the principal causes are political or ethnic. Conflicts may also occur within a single religion, between denominations, movements or interpretations.
The historical cases collected here include Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, India, Indonesia, Kashmir, the Middle East, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Tibet. These archival examples belong to different periods and should not be treated as a current list or as equivalent situations.
What the archive asks
- How can communities reduce religious rhetoric that intensifies fear or hostility?
- How can teachings about dignity, restraint, justice and reconciliation support peace?
- When is religion a primary cause, a contributing factor, a group identity or a resource for repair?