For Immediate Release, September 10, 2010
Contact: Lauren Sucher, 202-429-3822, lsucher@usip.org
Allison Sturma, 202-429-4725, asturma@usip.org

As part of its work on religion and peacebuilding, USIP has been following, with increasing concern, the heightened tensions and provocative acts that create national and international divides over religion. Our decades of work analyzing and engaging religious leaders and communities in conflict and peacebuilding have taught us that provocative acts that inflame distrust and hostility, or that stimulate injustice only create greater intolerance and misplaced anger which can deepen many conflicts around the world, including those in which the U.S. is currently engaged. We laud the call of our national leaders for reason and tolerance to prevail, and for taking a visible and vocal stand in opposition to Qur’an burning.

USIP’s Religion and Peacemaking program, along with other programs at the Institute, have worked for decades around the world to build peaceful and just coexistence between and among all faiths. In our work, we have witnessed how the world’s religious traditions contribute to inter-religious pluralism and engagement for peace. We recognize firsthand the danger that religious incitement to violence and hatred can engender. We have seen how the desecration of holy texts, places of worship, and violence against religious leaders have been used as provocative weapons of conflict that have led to great harm and suffering. We have seen how religious bias has been misused to fuel violent conflict, and we take this reality seriously in our work for peace.

We also know, however, that religious leaders and communities, teachings, and organizations can inspire great movements for peace and coexistence. There is much to be found within all religious traditions that promote principles and strategies in support of peacebuilding and justice. Great teachings of all faiths have inspired countless individual and collective non-violent actions for peace. We have documented myriad examples of religiously inspired organizations, and individuals working for peace.

The best means to counteract religious violence is by confronting and transforming religious bias, and by increasing inter-religious engagement, understanding, and respect.

USIP is working with other organizations and the U.S. government to develop strategies to counter the negative international fall-out from growing animosity toward Islam as well as other faiths.

More of USIP's work on Religion and Peacemaking

• Crescent and Dove
  USIP Press, October 2010
• Averting Hell on Earth
  Special Report, September 2010
• Islamic Peacemaking after 9/11
  Special Report, January 2009
• When Religion Brings Peace Not War
  Peaceworks, January 2006