Peace and Peacebuilding: Religious and Philosophical Reflections on Social Flourishing

Keynote speakers:
Rev. Dr. Barbara Glasson (Touchstone, Bradford)
Prof. Jeffrey Haynes (London Metropolitan University)

Panel speakers:
Prof. Neil Ferguson (Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace, Liverpool Hope University)
Laura Payne (Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies, Coventry University
Kelly Simcock (Programme Manager, Foundation for Peace, Warrington)
Dr. George Wilkes (Edinburgh University)

Synopsis
This one-day workshop is the third in a series for the Philosophy and Religious Practices research network, funded by the AHRC (as part of their Connected Communities programme).  The Network aims to reconnect philosophers of religion with religious practitioners and so to make the work of philosophers of religion more relevant to other contemporary research on religion.

This workshop will take place at Liverpool Hope University.  It will be an opportunity to explore the concept of peace, particularly as this informs (and may be transformed by) concrete efforts of peacebuilding – locally, nationally and internationally – in culturally diverse communities.  A central aim of this workshop is to encourage discussion, between religious practitioners, community based organisations and theorists, on how peacebuilding can be approached in multicultural and multifaith settings, given the aspiration of individual and social flourishing.

Key themes and questions for discussion in this workshop include:

• Cultural and religious differences as a source of tension and conflict as well as the basis for conflict resolution and social flourishing.
• The significance of identity (particularly, cultural, religious and gendered identities) and recognition in developing peacebuilding initiatives.
• ‘Multiculturalism’ or ‘Interculturalism’? Is there a difference between these two categories? To what extent can these two categories help or hinder peacebuilding projects?
• How can philosophy (especially philosophy of religion) contribute to debates on peace and social flourishing, both in the academy and in a wider
• social and political sense?
• Must peace always aim for reconciliation?
• The role of education, especially religious education, in fostering a culture of peace.

For further information on this one-day conference please email Dr. Patrice Haynes: [email protected]

For further information on the Philosophy and Religious Practices Network please visit our website: