Religion and Peace

In this article I consider the role of religion in peace strategies. I argue for the feasibility of including religious dimensions in peace studies as well as in political peace-projects. Basicly, but not exclusively, I look at Buddhism and Christianity. Discussing the claim that monotheism tends to obstruct reconciliation and peace, I conclude that an obstacle for peace rather occurs when one's own standpoint-monotheist or polytheist-is made absolute. Buddhists as well as Christians support violence and wars on occasions, nevertheless, both are essentially non-violent religions. There are valuable Christian concepts of peace clustering around "self-giving services." As to Buddhist thought I find its ideas of "inter-relationality" particularly intriguing. However, in an interplay between the forces of Christian agape and Buddhist wisdom-peace, that is fullness of life, might emerge.