Religion and Peace

This volume represents a departure from the prevailing emphasis on religion and war in the medieval and early modern periods. Instead the book explores the relationship between religion and peace in the context of Christianity Islam and Judaism both as an ideal and on the practical level. The Introduction which proposes a holistic model for analysis of violence/nonviolence-peace provides a framework for understanding the various aspects of peacemaking during the period in question. The topics covered range from religion and diplomacy peace movements grounded in religious ideals the Muslim ideal of peace and actual peacemaking Muslim-Christian treaties in the Latin East papal policy in the Middle Ages and the twentieth century the unique role of holy women who were spokeswomen for peace the internal pursuit of peace in medieval Jewish society and what fuelled religious tolerance in sixteenth-century Poland. As a whole these chapters reflect how different societies reacted to and treated the “Other” in the context of peacemaking and overcame the conceptual gap with their ideology that promoted the belief that they possessed the one and only truth. They demonstrate that religion and religious institutions can serve as a positive influence and agents of peace.