Violence, Religion and Terrorism
Who is on the Violence,
Religion and Terrorism Workgroup?
General Assembly Referral
The 214th General Assembly (2002) took the following
action on the “Study on Violence and Terrorism”:
The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy recommends
that the 214th General Assembly (2002) of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) direct the Advisory Committee on Social Witness
policy to authorize a task force to study and report on terrorism,
the relationship of religion to violence, U.S. military response,
and U.S. political and economic involvement that may contribute
to global problems and report to the 216th General Assembly
(2004). A vital part of the study will be the defining of terrorism,
war, and political violence for the General Assembly, and reviewing
the applicability of the concepts of just peacemaking, just
war, and nonviolent intervention in the context post September
11, 2001.
The 214th General Assembly (2002) approved the request for
a study and it was referred to the ACSWP.
Progress Report
The Work Group on Violence, Religion and Terrorism of the
Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) is
hard at work studying terrorism and the relationship of
religion to violence.
Meeting
January 30-February
1, 2003 in
San Francisco,
the Work
Group heard
presentations
and held
conversation
with
Robert Hamerton-Kelly
and Rene
Girard on "Violence and
Religion" and shared a dialogue with Byron Bland on "Creating
a Political Language for Peace: Grassroots Dialogue within
a Peace Process." In
addition, members
of the Work
Group offered
presentations
on Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)
history
of peacemaking
and understanding
the peacemaking
policies, defining
terrorism,
the threat
to civil liberties,
and the
possibilities
of non-violent
intervention.
The
work group
met in New
York City
April 10-12,
2003 and
explored
perspectives
on the United
Nations and
terrorism
with Jeffrey
Laurenti,
examined
a draft study
paper on “Iraq
and Beyond,” heard from Shin Umezu on “Indonesian
Perspectives on Religion and Terrorism,” and explored “Non-Violent
Responses to Terrorism” with
Walter Wink
and June Keener-Wink.
Much of the
work group
time was spent
in thinking
through various
outlines for
beginning a
draft paper.
There will be
a seminar on Violence, Religion and Terrorism at Ghost Ranch
June 30-July 6, 2003 led by Ron Stone, member
of the work group and the ACSWP, along with other members
of the work group. The seminar will deal with many of the
issues of the work group as well as applying the ideas to
the local situation.
The work group will bring its final
report to the 217th General Assembly (2004).
Study materials
and bibliography (in process)
The following are a collection
of print resources from meetings of the work group:
- Bland,
Byron, “Creating a Political Language for Peace:
Grassroots Dialogue within a Peace Process”.
- Combs,
Cindy, “Declaring
a “War” on
Terrorism”.
- Combs,
Cindy, “Defining Terrorism: A Contemporary
Challenge for Christian Communities”.
- Garcia,
Ismael, “Reflections On Imperialism, Violence
and Terrorism”.
- Hall, John R., “Religion
and Violence: Social Processes in Comparative Perspective”.
- Hamerton-Kelly,
Robert, “Violence and Religion”.
- Little,
David, “Terrorism, Public Emergency,
and International Order: The U.S. Example”.
- Long,
Jr, Edward LeRoy, “Warfare, Terrorism and the
Morality of Conflict: An Historical, Political, and Theological
Overview”. - coming soon
- Louisville Presbyterian
Theological Seminary, The Seminary Council of, “The
Wages of War: A Statement Adopted by the Seminary Council”.
Invitation
for feedback
on Violence,
Religion
and Terrorism
issues:
Please
share your
comments and
reflections
on these issues.
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