ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of religion in conflict and conflict transformation and sustainable peace. While religion has long been known for its destructive force – from the Crusades to the 30-Years' War, from the Northern Irish Conflict to ISIS – religion also harbours potent resources for reconciliation and peace. These include relationship-building capacities even across ethnic or religious boundaries; normative teachings on forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation; and spiritual resources for dealing with trauma and memory. Christophe Mbonyingabo then narrates his experiences as the founder of Christian Action for Reconciliation and Social Assistance (CARSA), a Christian NGO devoted to reconciliation and peace in post-genocide Rwanda.
