Christian Traditions: Resources for Peacebuilding in the Philippines Context

Conflict is found in almost every realm of human interaction. People also have managed to resolve their disagreements without violence, but some turn deadly and violent. Religion inspires some of these bloody conflicts. Religion may not be the principal cause of conflict. However, the conflicts have been portrayed as inter-religious conflicts. Indeed, Religious violence is among the most pressing and dangerous issues that facing the world community today faces. Peace advocates and educators have argued that sustaining any peacebuilding process must include religious traditions. This paper identifies resources in the Christian traditions that can be used to build a culture of peace and co-existence. Three findings emerged from the research, which employed the library and document research method which focused on the importance of sacred scriptures, the practice of forgiveness, and the role of religious actors. These three Christian resources are essential for promoting peace and overcoming violence in the Philippines and around the globe.