Spirituality and Religious Peacebuilding

This chapter explores the meaning of quality of presence rising from spiritual resources that facilitate the practice of religious peacebuilding in protracted conflict. It begins by illustrating the quality of presence in three real-world examples of peacebuilding. It examines how religious identity engages the dilemmas faced when relationships are intentionally developed across lines of enmity. Faith-inspired peacebuilders exercise compassion, honesty, vulnerability, patience, and humility in choosing to reach out and connect with those who represent the face of threat and harm in the midst of conflict. The inner and outer worlds are explored as the context where spirituality and creativity forge the moral imagination necessary to sustain oneself and engaged relationships with the capacity to remain open with others amid conflict.