PHCE 4961 Religion and Peacebuilding Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology 2301 Vine Street Berkeley, CA 94708 DRAFT Location/Time Thursdays 7:10-9:40 DSPT Classroom #1 Faculty: Sr. Marianne Farina, CSC Office Hours: Mondays 10-12:00 and by appointment Room #205 Dominican School Faculty Building Phone: 510-883-2081 Email: mfarina@dspt.edu RELIGION AND PEACEBUILDING This seminar course explores the relationship between religion and social conflict. Across the globe, we see how religious tensions among various groups have contributed to local, national, and international conflicts. However, it is also true that faith communities have been valuable partners for promoting interreligious understanding and reconciliation among people. Academic research about these traditions and analysis of case studies reveal ways religions promote non-violence and just peace in a number of settings. In this course, we will explore these findings by in-depth study of the theological and ethical teachings of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism that provide a foundation for promoting human rights, social justice and peacebuilding. The course has four over-arching objectives that contribute toward the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology and the Graduate Theological Union s institutional and program goals in the following ways. (See appendix for explanation of the superscript code) 1. IG1; IO1;ThG2;DivG 2 GTU MA 1 AND 2 to broaden awareness of the theological and philosophical foundations of religions which inform it s ethical teachings especially concerning human rights, social justice and peace. Integrating theology with philosophy and other disciplines will help students develop a more comprehensive understanding of ethical positions on topics presented. 2. IG1and 2; IO1,2;ThG1and 5;DivG1,3 GTU MA 1 and 3 to investigate the relationship between religion, conflict and social reconciliation so that future theologians and leaders can address this relationship in an informed and thoughtful way
Supported by a critical reading and analysis of the writings by various theologians and religious leaders will animate a student s own research and study. Creating an open and respectful environment for class discussions is critical to this study 3. IG2; IO2,I O4, MA Requirement ;DivG 7 GTU MA 2 to increase understanding of religious traditions other than one s own and to foster critical self-reflection on one s own faith tradition. Although a comprehensive study of these religious traditions is clearly beyond the scope of this course, we will closely examine a particular feature of each tradition: the way these traditions see their role in the greater civil society Through the course we seek to lay some foundation for ongoing study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and dialogue with these religious communities. 4. IG1,2:I O 2 and 3; ThG 3 and 4;DivG2,4,6 GTU MA2 to introduce theologians, philosophers, theorists and actors who often remain invisible in the development of human rights thinking, conflict resolution processes and peacebuilding strategies The discussions, research writing and group work focused on this objective also seek to promote student s individual thinking and help them develop effective argumentation in speaking and writing to support their claims and or theses COURSE REQUIREMENTS Class Preparation and Participation (20%) Class sessions focus on interactive learning, allowing time for both lecture and general discussion as well as small group discussion. Therefore, it is essential that students arrive prepared to engage the material in a thoughtful way. At least twice the semester you will prepare a self-assessment of your preparation and participation. This will help to evaluate how well you are keeping up with the reading and how engaged you are during class sessions. These assessments also serve to correct my own perception of your preparation and participation in the course. Weekly Writings: (20%) Each student will prepare a 500 word response to the assigned readings and post it on moodle by Sunday 8 pm. Your response should also include 3 questions that you pose for class discussions.
Research Papers Paper #1 Critical Review (10 pages; 25%) Due March 29 Having read the case studies documented in the course text Religion and Peacebuilding (Chapters 10-13) Your will analyze the role that religion plays in these situations. The first part of the paper is a general observation about all of the cases. Based on these studies, how do you perceive the implication of religious persons and groups in these conflicts? (2 pages). The second part of the paper focuses in one of the conflicts. Adding information from other sources, you will offer an updated understanding of the situation in that country/region (e.g., political, economic, environmental, social). You will also identify the particular religious actors central to the particular context (5 pages). In the third part of the paper you are to indentify which theological and philosophical teachings of this religious tradition, as interpreted by the local communities, has the potential to become resources for conflict resolution and peace. (3 pages). Paper #2: (15 pages; 35%) Due May 24. Drawing from the course materials students will develop a special topic that explores the theory and praxis of religion and peacebuilding COURSE MATERIALS Barash, David. Approaches to Peace. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. 4 th Edition ISBN 9780190637590. $43.00 [Be sure you purchase or rent 4 th edition] Coward, Howard and Gordon S. Smith. Religion and Peacebuilding. Albany, NY: State University Press, 2003. ISBN 0791459349. $39.95 [Used copies available for purchase and will serve well for the course] Hayward, Susan and Katherine Marshall. Women, Religion, and Peacebuilding. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2015. ISBN 9781601272928. $24.95 Runzo, Joseph and Nancy m. Martin and Arvind Sharma. Human Rights and Responsibilities in the World s Religions. Oxford, UK: One World Publications, 2003. ISBN 1851683097. $31.95 [Used copies available for purchase and serve well for the course] Supplemental readings will be placed on moodle. The reproduction and electronic distribution of copyrighted material is subject to the "Fair Use" (sec. 107) and the "Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2002" (sec. 110) exemptions of the Copyright Law (U.S. Code, title 17). COURSE SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 1: Articles on Moodle The idea of the good in cultures and religions selections from World Philosophy Anthology Religious Peacebuilding: The Exotic, the Good, and the Theatrical and Religious Violence: The Strong, the Weak, and the Pathological in Oxford Companion to Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding.
FEBRUARY 8 Approaches to Peace: Understanding War pp. 5-42 Religion and Peacebuilding Chapters 2, 6, and 8 FEBRUARY 15 Approaches to Peace: Understanding War pp. 43-65 Religion and Peacebuilding Chapters 3, 4, and 5 FEBRUARY 22 Approaches to Peace: Building Negative Peace pp. 66-100 Human Rights and Responsibilities: Chapters 2 and 4 MARCH 1 Approaches to Peace: Building Negative Peace pp. 100-138 Human Rights and Responsibilities: Revised Declaration of Human Rights of the World s Religions http://worldsreligions2016.org/declaration/ and Chapters 8, 13, and19 MARCH 8 Approaches to Peace: Responding to Terrorism pp. 139-160 Human Rights and Responsibilities Chapters 14, 15, 18 and 20 MARCH 15 Approaches to Peace: Building Positive Peace pp. 160-163 and 182-209 Human Rights and Responsibilities in 10, 16, 11, and 17 MARCH 22 Approaches to Peace: Building Positive Peace pp. 163-181 Human Rights and Responsibilities Chapters 12, 21 Peacebuilding in the Muslim World Chapter 17 in Oxford Companion to Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding. APRIL 5 Approaches to Peace: Non-Violence pp 210-251 Women, Religion and Peacebuilding pp. 1-39, [Chapter 1 and Intro to Part I) Chapter 13 and 14 APRIL 12 Approaches to Peace: Peace Movements, Transformation and the Future pp 252-298 Women Religion and Peacebuilding: Chapters 2-5 APRIL 19 Approaches to Peace: Peace Movements, Transformation and the Future Women Religion and Peacebuilding: Chapters 10-12
APRIL 26 Women Religion and Peacebuilding: Chapters 6-9 Research/Analysis of Case Studies Interfaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding Readings on Moodle MAY 3 Research/Analysis of Case Studies Interfaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding: Readings on Moodle MAY 10 Research/Analysis of Case Studies Interfaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding: Readings on Moodle MAY 17 Conclusion to the Course
Institutional Goals: 1. IG1 Pedagogical Goal: Deep Learning OUTCOMES Appendix Institutional and Program Goals Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology IO1 Integrative Thinking: the ability to recognize, understand, retain, integrate, and apply the fundamental principles operative in a field of inquiry, and use them to make synthetic judgments. I O2 Intellectual Humility: an orientation of mind and heart that fosters intellectual collaboration, precludes both rigidity and passivity of mind, and recognizes that contrary opinions are not a threat, but provide the opportunity to test and deepen one's own grasp of the truth. IO3 Self-Direction: the disposition to take primary responsibility for one's own education, manifested in a keen intellectual interest in the topic of studies, and the ability to teach oneself through a habit of skilled and responsible research and resilient exploration. 2. IG2 Vocational Goal: Collaborative Leadership OUTCOMES IO4 Ability to Collaborate: expressed in good listening and communication skills which foster decisions stemming from and leading to an open, transparent, and mutually enriching dialog with others in order that the gifts of all can be appropriately acknowledged and utilized As a philosophical and theological school we believe that at the end of this course students will have applied integrative thinking, cultivated intellectual humility, and maintained good self direction during the course of study. They will also acquire a solid foundation of the topics explored by this specific course and discover ways for the application of this knowledge through further research, teaching or pastoral care. MA Theology Program Goals ThG 1 Foundational knowledge of the fundamental areas of theological inquiry in the Roman Catholic tradition (Biblical Studies, historical theology, dogmatic theology, and moral theology); ThG 2 Specialized knowledge of one area of theological inquiry (area of concentration) chosen by the student; ThG3 Ability to communicate this knowledge effectively through scholarly writing; ThG 4 Ability to communicate this knowledge effectively through oral presentations and discussions; ThG 5 Ability to integrate contemporary theological issues with the tradition of the Catholic Church, and where possible with the theological tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Masters of Divinity Program Goals DivG 1 Communicate simply, accurately, and effectively the theological tradition of the Roman Catholic Church through preaching, teaching, and writing; DivG 2 Preach in a manner that is grounded in scholarly methods of biblical interpretation, and is doctrinally sound, pastorally focused, and rhetorically effective; DivG 3 Analyze, assess, and critique theological perspectives through scriptural, historical, and systematic theological methods, and to assist others in doing the same; DivG 4 Fulfill their responsibilities with the moral, intellectual, psychological, and emotional maturity that grounds vigorous discipleship of Christ and priestly service to others; DivG 5 Lead a faith community in prayer, worship and theological reflection, centered on the Eucharist, respecting both the liturgical tradition of the Church and the pastoral needs of the local community; DivG 6 Apply the principles of the moral theology of St. Thomas Aquinas to pastoral situations in general and confessional situations in particular; DivG 7 Lead and work collaboratively with others in a just, charitable, and generous manner, respecting the relevant cultural, social, and ecclesial circumstances, all the while maintaining professional, ethical boundaries; DivG 8 Foster Church communion, demonstrated through personal and liturgical prayer, regular observance, and life in community. GOALS of GTU MA Program The following goals are described on the GTU Website GTU MA 1 Obtain a basic understanding of theological or religious studies as preparation for doctoral work or as an academic foundation or secondary school teaching, educational or social justice ministries, or religious leadership in non-profit sector GTU MA 2 Engage in ecumenical and interreligious learning opportunities through respectful dialogue GTU MA 3 Demonstrate their focused learning of a particular theological or religious concentration by producing a research project of high academic standards