Abstract

Religious diversity raises challenges that reverberate at multiple social and political levels. Religious institutions are sources of authoritative claims for believers. They play a crucial role in the articulation and negotiation of domestic conflicts within multicultural societies as well as at the international level. Religious Authorities and Practices of Conflict Resolution asks the following important questions: How is interfaith dialogue to be conceived and structured? Is such a dialogue even possible, if each religious group is entitled to claim decisive and exclusive authority? The challenge is to explicate how religious authority is compatible with the principle of equal normative standing that is at the core of modern ethics and democracy, and capable of grounding shared action toward peace. This volume proposes that the challenge be addressed by taking a transdisciplinary approach, which appropriates resources and methods from different perspective philosophy, sociology, economics, and law. By integrating perspectives from philosophy, sociology, economics, and law, the book provides a holistic understanding of how religious authority can influence conflict resolution. Introduction Carla Bagnoli and Vincenzo Pacillo Part I: Authority and Agency in Religious Conflicts 1. The Dynamics of Authority in Religious Conflicts: A Constructivist Account Carla Bagnoli 2. Conflict over Religious Authority: An Economic Approach Michael McBride 3. An Islamic Perspective on Authority and Equal Standing Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen 4. Authority and Tradition: Aquinas’ Perspective Paul O’Grady 5. Religious Conflicts: Ethical or Political? Faviola Rivera Castro 6. The Economics of Religious Conflicts Sriya Iyer 7. Religious Conflicts Examined Through a Hinge-Theoretic Framework Annalisa Coliva 8. A Negotiation-Theoretic Approach to Religious Conflicts Massimo Neri Part II: Normative Practices of Religious Conflict Resolution 9. Alternative Communities: Belonging and Religious Authority in Deradicalization Processes and Models of Micro Peace in the Levant Rik Peels and Scott Gustafson 10. Reconciling State Churches and Freedom under International Law Paolo Vargiu 11. Faith, Family Life and Children’s Rights: The Role of Religious Communities’ Standpoints and Parental Control Silvia Angeletti 12. Bridges of Belief: The Role of Religious Cultural Heritage in Fostering Interreligious Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence Vincenzo Pacillo 13. Transformative Conflicts, Heritage and Reconciliation Michelle LeBaron.