Religion and Political Violence

April 11 - 12, 2007

 

James Madison University

Taylor Hall 404

 

 

The conference will investigate what now appears to be a new form of political action with international consequences. Prior to September 11, 2001, the phenomenon of terrorism was far from unknown. Political conflicts with religious elements have existed throughout most of human history. Violent conflicts are described in all the great religious scriptures. In recent years, religiously motivated violence has appeared as a particularly significant form of terrorism, accounting for a large number of highly fatal attacks. It is fair to assume that the attacks of September 11 have ushered in a new era in which terrorism, often inspired by religion, poses a grave strategic threat not only to the Western world, but also to the international community at large. As a mode of action, religiously inspired terrorism has been adopted by segments of virtually all religions. At the same time, the attacks of September 11, and the continued violence since then, make us question whether the important relationship between religion and political violence has been properly understood. The conference will address a variety of questions related to the cause, characteristics, and effects of religious terrorism, discuss ways of countering this phenomenon, and develop suggestions for change.

 

Conference Schedule

 

Wednesday, April 11

 

9:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Opening Remarks

Sushil Mittal, Mahatma Gandhi Center, James Madison University

 

9:45 - 10 a.m.

Welcoming Remarks

David K. Jeffrey, Dean, College of Arts and Letters, James Madison University

 

10 - 11 a.m.

"American Hegemony and Religious Nonviolence"

Earl S. Zimmerman, Eastern Mennonite University

Moderator: Ari Kohen, Justice Studies, James Madison University

 

11 - 12 a.m.

"Moving Toward a Pluralistic Context for Interfaith Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution"

Roderic Owen, Mary Baldwin College

Moderator: Wayne S. Teel, Integrated Science and Technology, James Madison University

 

12 - 1 p.m.

Lunch Break

 

1 - 2 p.m.

"Lessons From Recent South Asian Political Thought"

Anthony Parel, University of Calgary, Canada

Moderator: Jack Butt, History, James Madison University

 

2 - 3 p.m.

"Interfaith Peace Interventions: Their Promise for Countering Religiously Motivated Violence"

John D. Copenhaver, Jr., Shenandoah University

Moderator: Steven Keffer, Biolgoy, James Madison University

 

3 - 4 p.m.

"Taming the Terror: Religious Models for Violence and Nonviolence"

Lester R. Kurtz, University of Texas at Austin

Moderator: Cindy Klevickis, Psychology, James Madison University

 

Thursday, April 12

 

10 - 11 a.m.

"A Man for All Seasons: Gandhi and Nonviolent Action"

Fred Dallmayr, University of Notre Dame

Moderator: Louise Loe, History, James Madison University

 

11 - 12 a.m.

"Resisting Terrorism: From Collective Trauma to Nonviolent Response"

Cynthia Hess, St Mary's College of Maryland

Moderator: Steven Hoeltzel, Philosophy and Religion, James Madison University

 

12 - 1 p.m.

Lunch Break

 

1 - 2 p.m.

"Dissolving Terrorism at Its Roots"

Hardy Merriman, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict

Moderator: Charles Bolyard, Philosophy and Religion, James Madison University

 

2 - 3 p.m.

"Nonviolence, Violence, and Religious Violence within Today's World Disorder"

Glen T. Martin, Radford University

Moderator: Andrea Veltman, Philosophy and Religion, James Madison University

 

3 - 4 p.m.

"Gandhi's Response to Present World Violence"

Majid Tehranian, Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research

Moderator: Scott Vollum, Justice Studies, James Madison University

 

4 - 5 p.m.

"Gandhi against Bin Laden: The Relevance of Nonviolence in the Fight against Terrorism"

David Cortright, Fourth Freedom Forum

Moderator: Iain Maclean, Philosophy and Religion, James Madison University

 

5 - 5:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks

William J. Hawk, Philosophy and Religion, James Madison University

 

Admission to the conference is free and open to the public.

 

Support for the conference is provided in part by JMU Center for Multicultural Student Services, College of Arts and Letters, Cross Disciplinary Studies, Department of Philosophy and Religion, General Education Program, Office of International Programs, Office of the Special Assistant to the President, and Dining Services.