Religion, Conflict, and Education

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Teaching about the Religious Other
July 2005 | Special Report No. 143

Teaching Resources

Prejudice and ignorance about the beliefs and practices of the religious “other” often exacerbate conflicts. Religious stereotypes contribute to misunderstanding and foment animosity. One antidote to hatred among religious communities is to teach communities about the beliefs and practices of the religious other.

Most of what Christians believe about Islam comes from popular stereotypes. Similarly, few Muslims have opportunities to learn about Christianity or Judaism from a knowledgeable and dispassionate instructor. There is a desperate need to expand such opportunities in zones of intense religious conflict.

Fortunately, many members of the Abrahamic faiths recognize how inadequate their knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the other communities is; they want to learn more. While demand for this kind of instruction is increasing, secondary schools, universities, and theological schools have been slow to respond to this rise in interest.

The Religion and Peacemaking program often convenes workshops and conferences that produce material useful in teaching about religion and peacemaking.

Syllabi

Suggested Reading: Interfaith Dialogue
(PDF, 61KB)
Syllabus #1: Dr. Reuven Firestone, University of Southern California and Hebrew Union College. Syllabus for "Reading Scripture as Skeptic and Believer: The Hebrew Bible, The New Testament, and the Qur'an.
(PDF, 46KB)
Syllabus #2: Dr. Yehezkel Landau, Faculty Associate in Interfaith Relations, Hartford Seminary. Syllabus for "Religion, Conflict, and Peacemaking"
(PDF, 32KB)
Syllabus #3: Dr. Yehezkel Landau, Faculty Associate in Interfaith Relations, Hartford Seminary. Syllabus for "Building Abrahamic Partnerships."
(PDF, 58KB)
Syllabus #4: Dr. Garth T. Katner, Director of Education and Training Program, Interfaith Youth Core Interfaith Youth Core, Syllabus for "The Good Neighbors in Service Curriculum"
(PDF, 40KB)

Links to Online Lesson Plans from the Council of Islamic Education

USIP's Current Projects on Religion, Conflict, and Education

Curricular Material for Madrassas

In Indonesia, USIP is working with local Islamic scholars and clergy to develop curricular materials that provide contemporary interpretations of Islamic texts on peace, violence, interfaith relations, human rights, the status of women, and the environment. Materials developed in Aceh have been piloted and embraced by local ulama. The materials are currently being translated into English and Arabic for dissemination to other countries.

In Pakistan USIP is working with ulama and madrassa administrators in Pakistan to prepare teaching modules for madrassas on subjects relating to peace, tolerance, and pluralism.

Teaching about the Relgious Other

Designed to build upon USIP's work related to education in zones of conflict and the role of religion as a source of conflict and peace, the Religion and Peacemaking program hosted a two-day consultation on teaching about the religious "other" in schools, universities, and seminaries internationally.

The focus was the three Abrahamic faiths and gave particular attention to countries where there is conflict between two or more of the Abrahamic faiths. This project is built in part on an earlier project with the Chicago Theological Seminary to develop teaching materials for Christian seminary students on Islam and Judaism.

In September 2005 the Relgion and Peacemaking program co-sponsored a historic conference with the Arab Group for Muslim-Christian Dialogue which brought together 45 Arab Christian and Muslim scholars, academics, and religious leaders to discuss the USIP Special report Teaching About the Religious Other, a USIP Special Report by David Smock. Representing eight different countries, the four day conference developed educational strategies to overcome religious stereotypes and misunderstandings.

Participants in the conference highlighted the need to re-humanize each other in their respective textbooks and to build upon the common values, histories, cultures, and ethical teachings in their religious traditions.