RELIGION, POLITICS AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT SITUATION

Abstract

Religion and politics are intrinsic and inherent part of man and accordingly, man is a politico-religious being. Also, it is significant to know that religion could be employed as an integrative phenomenon and as divisive machinery in any given society. Indeed, if the divisive aspect of religion is not carefully managed, it creates conflicts. Although, religious and political institutions in every social setting appear to be inseparable, however, they differ in their methods and approaches. In other words, as societies become indeed heterogeneous, due to culture contact, as well as when sharper lines of stratification appear a different pattern of relationship between religion and politics sets in. The “marching season” in Northern Ireland led to violent upheavals between Roman Catholics and Protestants which in fact threatened the peace process. The Jews and Palestinians had fallout over the holy places in Jerusalem; thereby laying the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the mosque in Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) led to violent conflagration of Orthodox Serbs against Muslims. Russia and the Central Asia nations feel very unsafe by the progress of the radical Islamic Taliban from Afghanistan. In another genre, the destruction of places of worship of Christians and Muslim is repeatedly reported from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and even Nigeria. In yet another development, two Roman Catholic nuns were convicted by a Belgian court for their role in the Rwandan genocide. This chapter therefore, argues that attempts to expel religion from society as well as politics will create violent and cataclysmic dissensions and not reduce it at all. The issue summarized here is not whether or not religion should play a role in the society and politics rather the issue for determination is on strengthening the positive function of religion. The overall enforcement of the rights to freedom of religion or belief actually, is a condition precedent to conflict prevention, pacific settlement of disputes and post-conflict standardization