RELIGION, PEACE AND CONFLICT

The function of religion in Peace and Conflict is complex and multifaceted. While it can be a catalyst for violence through religious extremism and intolerance, it also serve as a powerful force for peace, reconciliation and social justice. The way religion is interpreted and practiced as well as its interaction with other factor like socio-economic conditions, political structures and cultural and peace building. This paper therefore, gives an overview of religion, peace and conflict. The study relied on secondary data drawn from an array of published and unpublished materials relevant to the study. These include books journals, magazines, conference papers encyclopedias, newspapers and the internet. The results of findings revealed that the relationship between religion and conflict has witnessed different phase and it ranged between acceptance, promotion and caution to even denial and rejection. The study concludes that religion plays the role of mobilization of faithful’s around competing identities especially religion based on the politicization of such identities. While the aim of peace is to bring about the cessation of hostilities by working on parties and persuading them to look for and utilize non-violent alternatives, and conflict on the other hand connotes a confrontation between one or more parties aspiring towards incompatible means. Among recommendations is the obvious fact that there should be a conscious and deliberate education, restraint and respect for others.