Religion, Conflict and Peace from edX

In this course, we will explore a series of contemporary conflicts in different regions of the world with a special focus on identifying and analyzing the diverse and complex roles that religions play in both promoting and mitigating violence in each context. Students will learn a method for recognizing and analyzing how religious ideologies are embedded in all arenas of human agency and not isolated from political, economic, and cultural life as is often assumed.

In addition to examining the conflicts themselves, we will also explore the religious dimensions of the impacts those conflicts have on civic life in areas such as public health, education, and commerce by addressing a series of questions.

What roles do religions play in fostering violence and what roles do they play in promoting peace?
How do religious institutions and ideologies function to support and/or thwart public health initiatives?
What are the ideological justifications for functional economic policies and how do they reflect and/or challenge diverse religious values?
What roles do religions play in advancing or suppressing educational opportunities and for whom?
Are media representations of the religious dimensions of conflict accurate?

Possible countries of focus include Brazil, Egypt, France, Israel/Palestine, Myanmar, Nigeria, Qatar, the Philippines, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, and the United States. Final projects will be individually shaped based on interest and (where relevant) professional focus.

The course is open to all and especially relevant for aspiring or professional educators, journalists, public health workers, foreign service officers and government officials who wish to better understand how religions function in contemporary world affairs.

This course follows the popular World Religions Through Their Scriptures XSeries, which explores the foundations of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Tools for how to interpret the roles religions play in contemporary conflicts;
How religions are internally diverse;

How religions evolve and change;
How religions are embedded in all human cultures;

Tools for how to interpret the roles religions play in contemporary conflicts;
How religions are internally diverse;
How religions evolve and change;
How religions are embedded in all human cultures;

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the diverse roles of religions in contemporary conflicts, providing a valuable perspective for understanding global affairs

Taught by Diane L. Moore, an experienced scholar in the field of religion and conflict

Explores a range of countries, including Brazil, Egypt, and the United States, offering a global perspective on the topic

Requires students to engage with the complexities and contradictions of religious ideologies in real-world contexts

Assumes a basic understanding of religious studies and international relations

Provides opportunities for students to apply their learning to their own areas of interest through final projects

Reviews summary

Religion's complex global role

Learners say Religion, Conflict and Peace explores the multifaceted role of religions in society, from their potential to incite violence to their ability to promote peace. Described as intellectually challenging and relevant, students highly value this course despite some critiques of left-leaning perspectives.

Students described this course as intellectually challenging.

"The topics were academically challenging, perfectly relevant, and well-organized."

"Prepare to be challenged and blessed at the same time."

"Being both enthusiastic and keen to know and increase my knowledge."

Many students praised the relevance of this course's content.

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course."

"The topics were academically challenging, perfectly relevant, and well-organized."

"I feel will greatly impact on my learning experience and while exploring series of contemporary conflicts in different areas of our world with a special focus on identifying and analyzing the diverse and complex roles that religions play in both promoting and mitigating violence in each context."

Students largely reacted very positively to this course.

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course."

"The topics were academically challenging, perfectly relevant, and well-organized."

"Prepare to be challenged and blessed at the same time."

Some students mentioned a perceived left-leaning bias in the course.

"Very left leaning and PC so if you are a Christian you may be disappointed because I felt that it was disrespectful towards them and it favored and defended Islam."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Religion, Conflict and Peace with these activities:

Read 'Eloquent JavaScript'

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Gain a deeper understanding of JavaScript's core concepts and principles by reading this comprehensive book on JavaScript fundamentals.

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Read through the book's chapters and sections.
Try out the code examples and exercises provided in the book.
Reflect on the concepts and principles discussed in the book.
Apply your learnings to your own JavaScript projects.

Review HTML and CSS Fundamentals

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Strengthen your foundation in HTML and CSS before starting the course to ensure a smooth learning experience.

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Review HTML syntax and tags.
Practice writing HTML code to create basic web pages.
Review CSS syntax and properties.
Practice writing CSS code to style web pages.

Join a Study Group

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Enhance your learning experience by joining a study group with fellow learners to discuss course materials, share insights, and support each other's progress.

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Find or create a study group with classmates or online forums.
Set regular meeting times and establish a study schedule.
Review course materials together and engage in discussions.
Collaborate on assignments and projects.
Provide and receive feedback to enhance understanding.

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Follow the JavaScript Modules Tutorial

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Familiarize yourself with the JavaScript module syntax, import/export syntax, and dynamic imports through this guided tutorial.

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Read the tutorial documentation.
Try out the code examples provided in the tutorial.
Experiment with creating your own modules and importing them.

Coding Practice: Create a CSS Grid Layout

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Reinforce your understanding of CSS Grid by practicing the creation of different grid layouts with varying complexities.

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Set up a basic HTML and CSS structure for your layout.
Define the grid container and grid items.
Apply grid properties to control the layout.
Test and iterate on your layout to achieve the desired design.

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Showcase your skills and projects by creating a portfolio website that demonstrates your proficiency in web development.

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Plan the structure and content of your website.
Design the user interface and visual elements.
Develop the website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Deploy your website to a hosting platform.
Promote your website and share your portfolio.

Contribute to an Open-Source JavaScript Project

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Gain hands-on experience and contribute to the JavaScript community by contributing to an open-source JavaScript project.

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Find an open-source JavaScript project on platforms like GitHub.
Review the project's documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute.
Create and submit a pull request with your proposed changes.
Collaborate with the project maintainers to iterate and refine your contributions.

Career center

Learners who complete Religion, Conflict and Peace will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Professor

Professors teach and conduct research in higher education. As a Religion, Conflict and Peace Professor you would teach undergraduate and graduate students about a variety of topics, including the role of religion in conflict and peace, the history of religious violence, and the different ways that religions can be used to promote peace. This course may help build a foundation for success as a professor by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to teach about these complex topics in a clear and engaging way.

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Religious Studies Teacher

Religious Studies Teachers teach courses on religion at the secondary level. This course may help to prepare you for a career as a Religious Studies Teacher by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to teach about a variety of religions in a fair and accurate way.

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Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit Program Managers oversee the development and implementation of programs that serve a variety of needs. As a Nonprofit Program Manager who works on issues related to religion, you would be responsible for developing and implementing programs that promote religious freedom, provide religious services, or address the needs of religious communities. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Nonprofit Program Manager by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the role of religion in society and to develop effective programs that meet the needs of religious communities.

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Journalist

Journalists write, edit, and report on news stories for newspapers, magazines, and websites. As a journalist who covers religion, you would be responsible for reporting on the role of religion in current events, as well as the history of religious violence and the different ways that religions can be used to promote peace. This course may help build a foundation for success as a journalist by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to write about these complex topics in a clear and concise way.

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Foreign Service Officer

Foreign Service Officers represent the United States abroad. They work in a variety of roles, including diplomacy, trade, and development. As a Foreign Service Officer who works on issues related to religion, you would be responsible for representing the United States' interests on a variety of issues, including religious freedom and religious violence. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Foreign Service Officer by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the role of religion in international affairs.

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International Development Specialist

International Development Specialists work to improve the lives of people in developing countries. As an International Development Specialist who works on issues related to religion, you would be responsible for developing and implementing programs that promote religious freedom, provide religious services, or address the needs of religious communities. This course may help build a foundation for success as an International Development Specialist by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the role of religion in development and to develop effective programs that meet the needs of religious communities.

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Religious Leader

Religious Leaders provide spiritual guidance and support to their communities. As a Religious Leader, you would be responsible for leading religious services, teaching religious doctrine, and providing counseling to members of your community. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Religious Leader by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the role of religion in society and to provide effective leadership to your community.

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Social Worker

Social Workers help people to overcome challenges and improve their lives. As a Social Worker who works with religious communities, you would be responsible for providing support and services to people who are struggling with issues such as poverty, homelessness, and addiction. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Social Worker by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the role of religion in people's lives and to provide effective services to religious communities.

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Human Rights Lawyer

Human Rights Lawyers advocate for the rights of individuals and groups. As a Human Rights Lawyer who works on issues related to religion, you would be responsible for defending the rights of people who are discriminated against or persecuted because of their religion. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Human Rights Lawyer by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the international human rights framework and to advocate effectively for the rights of religious minorities.

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Government Official

Government Officials work in a variety of roles at the local, state, and federal levels. They develop and implement policies that affect the lives of citizens. As a Government Official who works on issues related to religion, you would be responsible for developing and implementing policies that protect religious freedom and promote religious tolerance. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Government Official by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the role of religion in public life.

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Conflict Resolution Specialist

Conflict Resolution Specialists help people to resolve conflicts peacefully. As a Conflict Resolution Specialist who works on issues related to religion, you would be responsible for helping people to resolve conflicts that are related to religion, such as conflicts between different religious groups or conflicts between religious and secular groups. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Conflict Resolution Specialist by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the role of religion in conflict and to develop effective strategies for resolving religious conflicts.

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Theologian

Theologians study the nature of God and the relationship between God and humanity. As a Theologian who specializes in the study of religion and peace, you would be responsible for researching and writing about the role of religion in promoting peace and understanding among people of different faiths. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Theologian by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the different ways that religions can be used to promote peace and to develop effective strategies for peacebuilding.

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Sociologist

Sociologists study human society and behavior. As a Sociologist who specializes in the study of religion, you would be responsible for researching and writing about the role of religion in society, including the role of religion in conflict and peace. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Sociologist by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to conduct sociological research and to write about the role of religion in society in a clear and engaging way.

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Historian

Historians research and write about the past. As a Historian who specializes in religious history, you would be responsible for researching and writing about the history of religion, including the role of religion in conflict and peace. This course may help build a foundation for success as a Historian by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to conduct historical research and to write about the history of religion in a clear and engaging way.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study human societies and cultures. As an Anthropologist who specializes in the study of religion, you would be responsible for researching and writing about the role of religion in different cultures, including the role of religion in conflict and peace. This course may help build a foundation for success as an Anthropologist by providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to conduct anthropological research and to write about the role of religion in culture in a clear and engaging way.

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