ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on contemporary ways in which religious institutions and actors foster peace through interventions in active conflict zones. It highlights the involvement of religious actors in conflict situations or tense social environments, and the ways in which they contribute to integrated peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and humanitarian relief. The chapter explores the relationships between religion, conflict, peace-building, and development. Religious actors play multilayered roles in conflict situations because religion is deeply embedded in the life of communities. Religious bodies, such as the Catholic Church, bring a transnational character to their work, combined with knowledge and intelligence linked to deep roots at the local level. The role of religious leadership for peace is especially important in failing state situations. No world religion is impervious to fomenting conflict, but in a post-9/11 world, Islam is often singled out as particularly violent. Women often describe their motivation as including a spiritual element and draw upon their faith tradition in many ways.
