This research requires a global environment that will facilitate interaction between scholars on all continents, who are studying a variety of religions from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Such an ambitious programme can only be accomplished with the support of international funding, like EUROCORES, and other sources. In addition to EUROCORES we are seeking support from the American National Science Foundation, the Japan Society of the Promotion of Science and the South-African National Research Foundation.
The success of the project depends on the interaction of experts from different religions, societies and cultures. This will help to create the working conditions necessary for scholarly and scientific breakthroughs in three main ways.
First, researchers familiar with the complexity of particular conflict situations because of their own cultural or religious backgrounds will interact with experts on conflicts and religion from other parts of the world. Comparing and connecting the results of case studies will allow scholars to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the role of religion in conflict and post conflict societies. Researchers will see beyond the particularities of their immediate situation and develop more general theories and principles. Scholars with these diverse competencies shall be integrated from the very beginning in each CRP.
Secondly, theological scholars from the most influential religions as well as from smaller religions and religious movements will work closely together over a sustained period and in a systematic manner. This is the first time this will happen and such approach represents a real innovation in developing European research that is really common research. No one religious tradition will assume a dominant position. In addition, the more neutral or even critical voices of scholars in religious studies will play an important role in every research project. This will insure that we have internal theological and external religious studies perspectives on religions.
Thirdly, in recent years religions have played a role in a series of reconciliation processes, including South Africa and Northern Ireland, amongst others. The knowledge from these and other processes has not been systematised, broadly disseminated, or compared across religions and geographical areas. Widespread participation by scholars working in these areas will allow this to happen. At the same time, scholars reflecting on how different religions conceptualise reconciliation will feed into our conversations. This provides an opportunity to broaden knowledge about the reconciliatory or violent potential of religions within the religions themselves.
The relationships between religion, violence and reconciliation have never been examined in the comprehensive, scientific, and trans-disciplinary manner which we propose in this project. This is surprising, given the increasing international profile of religious violence and the challenges and opportunities posed by religious actors in post-conflict settings. Understanding the relationships between religion, violence and reconciliation is one of the most pressing scientific and practical challenges in the contemporary world. EuroRARE will facilitate the development of a network of scholars to exchange research results and create a framework for understanding the role of religion in conflict and post-conflict settings. The programme offers a unique opportunity to create a new European research area with a high level of international academic exchange and the connection of different national research cultures. It represents an important contribution to European integration in the field of research in Humanities and Social Sciences.
