Hewlett Emmanuel H. Hontiveros
Stem 11 D
Seatwork 4: Religion and conflict
1. The aspects would be that religion contains a very strong group identity and exclusivity, hardcore worshippers and believers stating that they are the only true believers, seeing other
outsiders as threats sparking discrimination, division and tension among them. Some of them
believes that religion has absolute truths, whether being on morality, existence and the afterlife
since religions have different perspectives about that. Making it hard for people that seek divine
justification for their own actions and making it look that religion is non-negotiable, thus
creating conflicts.
2. Religious extremists escalate conflicts via justifying violence religious doctrines; these types of
religious person’s claims that there is divine authority within their actions, seeing themselves as
a form of higher law, thus creating contribution for conflicts. An example of these types of
justifications are the people that do terrorism, often brainwashing people into believers,
believing that if they killed themselves while fighting or serving; they will fulfil their sacred
duties. This is why suicide bombings and mass killing are a thing; Isis and Al-Qaeda are groups of
people or people are one of the examples that did this kind of horrendous thing,
3. There are ways that we can solve these kinds of problem, we can promote education on
religious diversity, helping people develop critical thinking skills in order to stop them from
being brainwashed or the adoption of extremist interpretations. This could also emphasize
common values like giving peace, forgiving people, justice, and compassion towards other
people. The government can also control and monitor hate speeches about religions, extremist
misinformation or propaganda. Religious leaders must also denounce extremist ideologies,
correcting misinterpretations of religious texts that justifies violence or harsh acts against
mankind.
4. For me, the best way in order to counter or avoid religious conflicts is that we all must only use
religion as a sign of belief, something that can guide our actions or our moral compass/morality.
Not using it for violence but using religion’s teachings for good; forgiving, helping people and
giving justice to whom need. Not for attacks, violence and war; but for peace and harmony.
5. For me, Eric Brahm’s main ideas is that, religion can be a source of conflict, which I agree, from
only observing the things happening around us, wars have been fought, both recent and in
history. Religion can also teach us peace, we have moral and ethical teachings that teaches us
about the wonderful things we could do, peace, forgiveness, and justice, and this also helps us in
order to guide ourselves to the correct path, doing the right thing. For the last thing is that
Religion is neutral, both good and bad for us; which I also agree too since religion bought us
wisdom, peace, morality, love and all. But religion also brought us war, violence and
misinformation. Thus within over all I wholeheartedly agree about Eric Brahm’s ideas.