ABSTRACT
Religion may foster peacefulness and proper behavior but is also frequently the cause and facilitator of conflict and violence. This is the subject of this chapter. Conflict is part of life and will always exist because different people have different worldviews, cultural beliefs and values, and individual interests and goals. Some theorists argue that conflict and violence are inherent to religion while others argue that religious conflicts are always really about something else. Nationalism refers to a sense of identification with and loyalty to one nation above all others. Many of the features considered to link religion to conflict from the substantive viewpoint are also closely linked with fundamentalism. Totalism is a reaction to the increasing separation of religion from other domains of life. Scripturalism refers to the practice of justifying beliefs and actions by reference to the religious text. Religion is an important aspect of identity and a major shaper of worldviews.
