Interreligious Council Research Articles

‘God protects us from death through faith and science’: a qualitative study on the role of faith leaders in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and in building COVID-19 vaccine trust in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

ObjectiveThis study explored faith leaders’ perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine and their role in building COVID-19 vaccine trust in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.DesignA qualitative study with in-depth interviews and thematic analysis...

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA: JOS CRISIS ASSESSMENT

The security challenges in Nigeria informed this study titled “Conflict Management and National Security in Nigeria: Jos Crisis in View”. The study examined the effect of Jos crisis management mechanism on national security in Nigeria. The research works methodology adopted descriptive and Field survey method for collection data from primary and secondary sources, through unstructured interviews and archival materials respectively. Data collected were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage which were presented with the aids of tables and charts. The paper work established that there is a direct, strong and sufficient relationship between conflict management and national security in Nigeria. It also revealed that there are some challenges militating against the management of Jos crisis to enhance national security in Nigeria. Some of the identified challenges include poor crisis monitoring and intelligence gathering, insufficient public support and poor governance. Others are logistic constrain and non-implementation of Commission of Inquiry reports. The prospects identified were; media parley, re-constituted plateau state inter-religious council for peace and harmony and re-structured operation SAFE HAVEN and Operation RAINBOW.

HIV prevention and public morality in Pakistan: the secular normativity of development

Religious leaders, development experts and state officials in Pakistan were brought together on shared platforms to negotiate a morally–appropriate but scientifically informed response to HIV. Instead of dialogue and negotiation in line with the secular ideal of development, the moral authority of the religious figure compelled others to forefront the conservative in them, thereby undermining the goal of HIV prevention in the country. The everyday practices of state officials and health experts were already infused with Islamic public morality but the inclusion of religious leaders resulted in acceptance of their conservative position on HIV, gender and sexuality. Through the case study of an Inter-Religious Council on HIV, I argue that intervention strategies which specifically involve religious leaders end up enabling systematic marginalization of those who are already at a greater risk of HIV.

Crises, Conflict and Cooperation: The Two-Sided Impact of COVID-19 on Peace in Nigeria

ABSTRACT How do public health crises affect peace? Guided by the understanding that peace has situational and relational dimensions, this study explored the impact of public health crises on peace using the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria as a case study. Data collected between March and July 2020 through in-depth interviews with 37 Nigerians, Nigerian media sources, and the website of Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC) indicate that the COVID-19 outbreak and state response to it had mixed effects on peace in Nigeria. The article argues that this has major implications for interreligious peace in Nigeria and other religiously diverse societies.

World Russian People’s Council and Interreligious Council of Russia: New Formats of Interreligious and Interethnic Dialogue in Post-Soviet Russia at Turn of 20th — 21st Centuries

The article is devoted to the study of the role of the World Russian People’s Council and the Interreligious Council of Russia in establishing interfaith dialogue in post-Soviet Russia. The speeches of delegates at council meetings and sessions of the World Russian People’s Council are analyzed. The importance of interfaith dialogue at the site of the World Russian People’s Council was confirmed by the participation of the highest clergy and clergy of different confessions of the Russian Federation and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the cathedral meeting “Russia: the path to salvation” (1998). The importance of the agreement on the establishment of the Interreligious Council of Russia (1998) for the representation in it of the “traditional religions” of the Russian Federation: Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism is noted. The assessments of publicists and researchers in relation to the Interreligious Council of Russia, including critical ones, are given. It is noted that the interaction of the Russian Orthodox Church with representatives of other confessions continued at the 5th and 6th World Russian People’s Councils in 1999 and 2001. The conclusions indicate that the activities of the World Russian People’s Council and the Interreligious Council of Russia at the turn of the XX—XXI centuries showed the importance of cooperation and respectful relations between representatives of Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and other confessions.

Managing Ethnic and Cultural Diversity For Political Development In Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria

In particular, Africa and Nigeria have their lion share of ethnic and cultural diversity problems that seem to defer solutions. Moreover, if these problems are not managed, the country's quest for political development will always be frustrated by ethnic and cultural jingoism. Therefore, this study investigates how Africa can manage its ethnic and cultural diversity for effective political development through Nigeria's prism as a case study. A qualitative study in which content analysis of secondary material and in-depth interview of 25 academicians and experts in Nigeria and Africa cultural and ethnic historical realities was conducted. The study found the factors that encourage cultural and ethnic diversity among Nigerians, including language barriers, partisan politics, marginalization, economic deprivation, and religious bigotry. The ways to manage cultural and ethnic diversity are protecting cultural, religious, and language rights of minorities; promotion of inclusive narratives and socialization mechanisms; institutionalization of federal character; justice and fairness in formal and informal institutions; establishment of inter-religious council and establishment of the inter-ethnic council. Factors that can determine national identity that is important for the unification of the people are promoting national symbols, promoting national integration, promoting public culture, recognizing minority rights, institutionalizing citizenship, and adopting a unified language. The ways to manage ethnic and cultural diversity for political development are modernization, inclusive political institutions, adoption of a unified language, diversification of economic base, inclusive development projects, employment generation/poverty reduction, and strengthening community representatives. Keywords : Africa, Ethnicity, Culture, Conflict, Political Development, and Nigeria DOI : 10.7176/IAGS/90-06 Publication date : April 30th 2021

Religions – a Janus-Faced Phenomenon in Local Politics

Religions can facilitate cohesion, belonging and feelings of safety or can underpin tensions, separatism or terrorism. This has led local, national and international policymakers to use inter-religious councils to overcome local conflicts by facilitating dialogue. Sweden has a growing number of inter-religious councils around the country. This article focuses on the inter-religious council in Midtown. The aim is (1) to describe how politicians, civil servants and religious leaders as participants in the council express their expectations on the Midtown inter-religious council, and (2) to analyse these accounts in the light of ongoing research and European examples of inter-religious dialogue. Data have been collected via interviews and participant observation, and analysed through two critical lenses, one focusing on social cohesion, the other on fears of militant religious extremism. Results show that members of the Midtown council view religions as constituting possible obstacles but mainly as an important asset in a process of developing a cohesive society.

An Assessment of Religion, Peace and Conflict in the Post 1991 of Ethiopia

Religious violence has become increasingly relevant in political and academic discourses. Because of the revival of religions, the contemporary world cannot be understood without accounting for the role of religion and religious organizations in peace and conflict, including the case of Ethiopia. The purpose of this article is to examine the role of religion in peace and conflict in the post 1991 of Ethiopia. Methodologically, the paper employed qualitative research approach by relying on secondary sources of data. The findings of the research revealed that Ethiopia has many positive assets that have to be exploited fully and critically including the role of the Inter-Religious Council. The religious policies of the present Ethiopian government are remarkably different from any of the previous ones with regard to the measure of religious freedom they provide. Paradoxically, one may wonder why is it at this time, where religious freedom and equality of religion are guaranteed, we are witnessing increased tensions and violent religious conflicts in contemporary Ethiopia. Inter-religious relations in Ethiopia have been peaceful and tolerant for long period. However, the rise of inter-religious conflicts in recent decades is taking place. Generally, in contemporary Ethiopia religion is used both as an instrument for producing conflict in certain circumstances and as a powerful resource for peace and transformation of conflict in the society. On the whole, identifying the role of religion in conflict is a very complex task to accomplish, as there are multiple variables to be well-thought-out.

English

Since 2016 when the government of Uganda announced its intention to enact a policy about regulating religions and faith-based organizations, there have been contrasting responses from those this policy intends to regulate. The mainstream religious groups especially; the Moslem community, Anglican Church of Uganda, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox church and generally all those that subscribe to the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda have welcomed the State's proposal. On the other hand, the proposal has met both stiff and liberal minded resistance from both the born-again churches and relatively newly founded religious faiths and groups. This is partly so due to the historical relationship between the State and Religious institutions which has been characterized by uncertainty at one time, and flowering at another. The contemptuous attitude of the born-again church towards the State’s proposed religious and faith based organisations policy (RFBOs) calls for renewed interest in analysing church-state relations in Uganda. Using the institutional approach, this paper analyses the historical relationship that has subsisted between the state and religious institutions in Uganda, over the years, showing how this influences reaction of religious institutions to a State's attempt to provide a regulatory framework over them.   Key words: Born again, registration, regulation, religious policy, faith based organisations.

World Cancer Day As a Platform for Advocacy, Stakeholder Mobilization and Awareness Creation: The Experience of Uganda Cancer Society

Background: World Cancer Day (WCD) provides a platform to raise awareness. This year Uganda's commemoration was held at the Parliamentary grounds. Aim: To bring together Uganda's stakeholders through an inclusion approach to advocate for, share information and raise awareness on cancer while recognizing efforts made and appreciating challenges faced in the fight against the epidemic. Strategy: Partnership building was key. Partners involved were; Uganda Cancer Society (UCS), Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, media, Uganda Corporate League, interreligious council, Kampala Capital City Authority, Parliament of Uganda, Uganda Police and UCS member organizations. Program process: A committee was set up and a concept developed adopting the tri-process approach; “Before - During - After” for implementation of activities. Outcomes: The digital campaign was launched using the signs for change and the #WeCanICanUg. There was high media coverage; 3 major national stations Urban TV, NBS TV and NTV UG, one regional station-CGTN Africa, as well as online platforms such as; WHO Africa Web site, UICC World Cancer Day impact report, the Grape Vine, Chimp reports, and more than 5 YouTube media uploads as per our monitoring and surveillance efforts on reach and impact. The lighting of the Queen's way clock tower attracted many passersby and media coverage. In addition there was awareness creation in select churches (6) and mosques (2) on 4th and 2nd February respectively. The WCD ceremony was attended by over 400 guests and officiated by the Speaker of Parliament who doubled as chief walker. The 7.3 km match past attracted involvement of the community along the way. The Speaker called upon the government through Ministry of Health to inject more money into training of more cancer specialists to work on cancer patients. She also stated the need to have cancer services moved closer than just the regional centers but to every district referral hospital for cancer screening and cancer treatment. She pledged Parliament's unconditional support to work with civil society in the cancer fight. The Minister of Health committed to the full operationalization of regional cancer centers by 2019. She applauded the role of civil society through Uganda Cancer Society on the advocacy efforts stating that they had already started yielding good results . The event ended with the corporate league football competitions which were aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles through physical exercise. Notably was the match between the Parliamentary team and the UCI team. The winner was given a trophy marked WCD 2018. What was learned: The role of civil society through umbrella bodies like UCS plays a crucial role in cancer control as seen during through planning, mobilization, partnership building and execution of WCD activities. Creativity and innovation is key in generating stakeholder and public interest in cancer control activities like WCD.

Ban on the Hijab at School: Human Rights Against Migration Background

Russia has only recently faced the problem of wearing hijabs in educational organizations within the last three years, while in Western Europe the debate on this issue has not subsided for several decades. Due to the fact that the common position has not been worked out, it seems important to examine the compliance of the ban on wearing Islamic headscarves in educational institutions with international instruments enshrining the right to education and freedom of conscience and religion, to analyze the position of the Russian Federation through the example of specific legal measures undertaken to solve the situation within the Stavropol region and the latest document published by the Interreligious Council of Russia (issued on March 26, 2015), as well as to analyze the opinion of the European Court of Human Rights stated in the case "Leyla Sahin against Turkey" (2005). A separate issue on the topic concerns the proportionality of the rules on hijabs in their application to and their effect on local and migrant populations of certain states. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s1p509

Managing the anti-retroviral therapy supply chain of Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) with leveled funding for five years

Managing the anti-retroviral therapy supply chain of Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) with leveled funding for five years

The Ripe Moment for Civil Society

AbstractThis article explores whether and how civil society engagement in a peace process can 'ripen' the conditions and facilitate the success of a peace process. The activities and methods of the Inter-religious Council of Sierra Leone are examined for their impact on each stage of the peace process with a view to shedding light on how civil society can help create the ripe conditions for formal peace negotiations, be an effective participant in negotiations, as well as improve the sustainability of a peace agreement.

Faith in resolving Sierra Leone's bloody conflict

This paper gives an account of the war in Sierra Leone that took place between 1991 and 2002. It discusses attempts at conflict resolution, reconciliation and peace building, with an emphasis on the role of faith communities and the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone.

Interreligious Student Work From the Perspective of A MEMBER OF AN INTERRELIGIOUS COUNCIL

Interreligious Student Work From the Perspective of A MEMBER OF AN INTERRELIGIOUS COUNCIL