“Destroy the world to save it”
-Psychosocial perspectives on religious violence and terror
Summer course 2010, CONF 524
Sabanci University
Instructor: Ph.D. Önver A. Cetrez, UppsalaUniversity
e-mail:
Course Description and Objectives
Religion as an explanatory factor has been involved in national and international relations, both in history and in contemporary acts of violence as well as in peace processes. How is it possible for religion to play this ambivalent role? Who are the agents and venues through which religion affects national and international relations? What are the processes through which religion can facilitate violence, terrorism, as well as peace?
The course aims at giving the student theoretical, methodological and applied competencies to individually, critically, and professionally analyse and evaluate the different roles and impact of religion in situations of conflict and conflict resolution.
The course is for those interested in research or work in national and international conflict resolution contexts. It focuses on interactions between psychology and religion within the different cultural contexts under investigation. Individual, organizational, and societal levels are examined through theoretical and applied perspectives. Special attention is given to cultural and gender analysis for understanding how constructions of conflict and conflict resolutions within the religious discourse are formed, and the implications of these constructions for how policies and programs are constructed. Theoretical concepts and applications from psychology of religion, social-psychology, and cultural psychology are included. Among these, the psychology of religion investigates the nature and function of religious experience through studying the psychological processes involved at the individual level, within cultural, group and social circumstances.
Central themes in the course related to religion are: apocalypse, purification, sanctification, justification, victimization, idealization, and ritualization of violence, as well as exclusionary religious values, forced migration, fundamentalism, forgiveness, and responsible reconciliation. These themes are set within the larger processes of modernity, globalisation, secularisation, and migration. The contributions of psychology of religion to the understanding of conflicts and co-existence at individual and collective levels are highlighted.
The role of religion in conflict situations are being discussed and analyzed through seminars and case studies, both historical and current.
After completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Locate, analyze, and evaluate both theoretical and applied knowledge at a scientific level in relation to conflict and conflict resolution.
- Independently identify, formulate and investigate problems in one’s own freely chosen conflict resolution field through the preparation of scientific texts.
- Synthesize research knowledge of relevance for religion and conflict from different fields and indicate how such knowledge can be relevant from a societal perspective.
- Orally present, discuss, and respond to scientific arguments and conclusions, both during seminars and workshops and through home exams and pro memoriam.
- Communicate knowledge about the intersections of psychology, religion, and culture for both academic and non-academic groups.
- Develop and refine one’s own specific ideas, values, and means of understanding central questions and strategies for addressing conflict resolution questions of psychology of religion.
Readings
The following books are to be used within the course (changes may occur):
Appleby, R. S. (2000). The Ambivalence of the Sacred.Religion, Violence, and Reconciliation. Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Coward, H., & Smith, G.S. (Eds.) (2004). Religion and Peacebuilding. New York: State University of New York Press.
Ellens, J. (Ed.) (2007). The destructive power of religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Westport, CT: Praeger.
Herriot, P. (2007). Religious Fundamentalism and Social Identity. London: Routledge.
Jones, J. (2008). The Blood that Cries out from the Earth: The Psychological Roots of Religious Terrorism. New York: OxfordUniversity Press.
Juergensmeyer, M. (2005). Terror in the mind of God: the global rise of religious violence: Berkeley: University of California Press.
Lincoln, B. (2003). Holly terrors: Thinking about religion after September 11.
Moghaddam, F. M. & Marsella, A. J. (Eds.). (2004). Understanding Terrorism: Psychological roots, consequences and intervention. American Psychological Association, Washington DC.
Articles and book chapters
Altemeyer, B. & Hunsberger, B. (2005). Fundamentalism and Authoritariansim. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park, Handbook of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. New York: Guilford Press.
Bayes, J. H. & Nayereh, T. (Eds.). (2001). Globalization, Gender, and Religion. The Politics of Women´s Rights in Catholic and Muslim Contexts. New York: Palgrave MacMillan Publishers.
Cetrez, Ö. (2008a). “I hate when people ask me where I come from …” The challenges of postmodernization for understanding religious-cultural identities in Sweden. In Forum 21 European Journal on Child and Youth Research. IJAB – International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany.
McCullough, M.E., Giacomo, B., & Lindsey, M.R. (2005). Religion and Forgiveness. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park, Handbook of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. New York: Guilford Press.
Psychologists for Social Responsibility(1989). Dismantling the Mask of Enmity: An educational resource manual on the psychology of enemy images.
Sandole, D.J.D, Byrne, S., Sandole-Staroste, I., & Senehi, J. (2009). Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. London: Routledge.
Silberman, I. (2005). Religious Violence, Terrorism, and Peace: A Meaning-System Analsyis. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park, Handbook of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. New York: Guilford Press.
World values Survey (WVS) Database,
Further up to date articles are to be specified before the start of the course.
Additional suggested reading
Avruch, K., Black, P., & Scimecca, J. (Eds.) (1991). Conflict resolution: Cross- cultural perspectives. NY: Praeger.
Cetrez, Ö. (2005). Meaning-Making Variations in Acculturation and Ritualization: A multi-generational study of Suroyo migrants in Sweden. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, Psychologia et Sociologia Religionum 17. [Doctoral dissertation] Uppsala, Sweden: Uppsala University.
Jones, J. (2002). Terror and Transformation: The Ambiguity of Religion in Psychoanalytic Perspective. London & New York: Routledge Press, 2002.
Kimball, C. (2002). When religion becomes evil: Five warning signs. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins. (240 pp)
Psychologists for Social Responsibility(2002). Enemy images: A resource manual on reducing enmity.
Steffen, L. (2003). The Demonic Turn. The Power of Religion to Inspire or Restrain Violence. Cleveland, U.S.: The Pilgrim Press.
Stern, J. (2003). Terrorism in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill. Ecco Publishers/HarperCollins Publishers. (2nd)
Wellman, J. (Ed.) (2007). Belief and bloodshed: Religion and violence across time and tradition. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.(2nd)
Performance requirements
The forms of examination are for this course written assignments, active participation in seminars, and group discussions. Students are also required to give oral presentations. Students will be evaluated on the basis of the following:
Attendance and course participation (10 %): Attendance in all lectures and seminars. Read the weekly assigned reading and participate in classroom discussion. Students are required to come to class having read the assigned articles for the week.Also, for each seminar hand in and discuss a 2 page pro memoria on the specific problem raised.
Research papers1 and 2(30 + 30%): All students will be required to submit (2) ten page research papers, which will be presented and discussed during two separate workshops.Based on course readings and an independent ability to synthesize research knowledge within the disciplinary fields of psychology, religion, and culture, the papers will include presentation, analysis, discussion, and reflection on the topic chosen, for example: “The role of religion in conflict and conflict resolution from a multidisciplinary perspective in the case of [freely chosen by the student].”
The first research paper, prepared in group, will deal with the topic of religion and conflict. Topic selection should be submitted and approved by the teacher not later than the end of the second week of class. Topics can be submitted to the teacher for approval via email. The second research paper, prepared individually, will deal with the topic of religion and conflict resolution. Topic approval may be submitted to the teacher via email and approval should be gained no later than the end of the fourth week of class.
Home exam (30 %): Based on the course readings, the students are given specific open ended questions to answer in form of a home exam. The home exam is the final examination for the course.
All written assignments and out of class questions or comments can be emailed to () with a specific subject line, for example: NN (Name of student), Paper One.
All email attachments must be submitted as a Word document or PDF and please ensure that you place your name on the first page of your attached document, as well as paginate your document.
Grading
The grades pass or passed with distinction are given on successful completion of the course.
For the grade pass the following is required: that the student through the literature can describe and analyze the actual phenomena and/or the problem that is being formulated. It should be clear that the basic content from the literature and its message is gained, as well as that the student can use concepts, models, and tools of analyses from the course literature.
For the grade passed with distinction the following is required: apart from above, that the student can show a deepened understanding of the course literature, its content and message. The student should be able to reflect and relate to different traditions of knowledge and scientific perspectives, in a critical and analytical way in relation to the phenomena that is being discussed.
Weekly Reading and Assignment Schedule:
This course consists of 7 weeks, specified by the following aims and readings (readings are specified further before the course start).
The lectures are every Tuesday and Thursday, between 8.40 – 11.30, building FASS, room G056.
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1st week: Religion, peace, and conflict from cultural and gender perspectives – Patriarchal control and fundamentalist interpretations of religious traditions
Aims Day 1 - Introduction: Introduce the aims, give an overview, and present the literature and tasks of the course. Present and discuss the central theoretical concepts for the course. Listen to expectations of the students.
Readings:
Psychologists for Social Responsibility (1989)
Silberman, I. (2005)
Aims Day 2 – Culture and gender perspectives: Understanding and discussing cultural and gender perspectives.
Readings:
Bayes, J. H.Nayereh, T. (Eds.). (2001). Chap X
Moghaddam, F. M. & Marsella, A. J. (Eds.). (2004). Chap X
Sandole, D.J.D, Byrne, S., Sandole-Staroste, I., & Senehi, J. (2009). Chap X
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2nd week: Religion’s role in conflict situations – Theoretical perspectives
Aims Day 1 - Images and biased thinking:Presenting psychological theories behind violence, among these collective-individual identity theory, object relation theory, and attachment theory.
Readings:
Herriot, P. (2007). Chap X
Jones, J. (2008). Chap X
Moghaddam, F. M. & Marsella, A. J. (Eds.). (2004). Chap X
Suggested:
Jones, J. (2002)
Aims Day 2 - Cosmic war:Presenting social constructivism theories focusing on how religion facilitates violence, among these positioning theories and role theories.
Readings:
Juergensmeyer, M. (2005). Chap X
Lincoln, B. (2003). Chap X
Suggested:
Kimball, C. (2002)
Steffen, L. (2003)
Stern, J. (2003)
Wellman, J. (Ed.) (2007)
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3rdweek: Religion’s role in conflict situations – Practical perspectives
Aims Day 1 – Case studies:Presenting empirical cases on how religion facilitates violence from different religious contexts, both religious texts and religious groups.
Readings:
Ellens, J. (Ed.) (2007). Chap X
Juergensmeyer, M. (2005). Chap X
Lincoln, B. (2003). Chap X
Suggested:
Kimball, C. (2002)
Steffen, L. (2003)
Aims Day 2 - Seminar: Present and apply a specific theory from Moghaddam and Marsella (2004) or Herriot (2007) on a freely chosen religious group as found in Juergensmeyer (2005).
Readings:
Juergensmeyer, M. (2005)
Moghaddam, F. M. & Marsella, A. J. (Eds.). (2004)
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4th week: Workshop 1 and Religion’s role in migration and acculturation
Aims, Day 1 – Workshop 1: Present and discuss research paper 1 (see above instructions).
Aims, Day 2 - Religion’s role in migration and acculturation – Religion as a cultural construction of reality: Understanding the role and function of religion among immigrants and their children, focusing on exclusion, adaptation, worldview formation, and values.
Readings:
Altemeyer, B. & Hunsberger, B. (2005)
Cetrez, Ö. (2008)
Suggested:
Cetrez, Ö. (2005)
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5th week: Religion’s role in conflict resolution
Aims, Day 1 -Religion’s existential dimension: Presenting psychological theories and models on how religion facilitates peace, among these cultural psychological perspectives and social identity theories.
Readings:
Herriot, P. (2007). Chap X
Moghaddam, F. M. & Marsella, A. J. (Eds.). (2004). Chap X
Psychologists for Social Responsibility. (1989)
McCullough, M.E., et al., (2005)
Suggested:
Psychologists for Social Responsibility. (2002)
Aims, Day 2 – Sanctity of life: Presenting theories and models behind religion and conflict resolution, including religious peacebuilding, religious actors, and reconciliation.
Readings:
Appleby, R. S. (2000). Chap X
Coward, H., & Smith, G. S. (Eds.) (2004). Chap X
Suggested
Steffen, L. (2003)
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6th week:Religion’s role in conflict resolution – Case studies and seminars
Aims, Day 1 – Case studies: Presenting empirical cases of conflict resolution from different religious contexts, both religious texts and religious groups.
Readings:
Appleby, R. S. (2000). Chap X
Coward, H., & Smith, G.S. (Eds.) (2004). Chap X
Suggested
Psychologists for Social Responsibility. (2002)
Steffen, L. (2003)
Aims, Day 2 - Seminar: Present and apply a specific theory from Appleby(2000) on a freely chosen case as found in Coward and Smith (2004).
Readings:
Appleby, R. S. (2000)
Coward, H., & Smith, G.S. (Eds.) (2004)
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7th week: Workshop 2
Aims, Day 1 – Workshop 2: Present and discuss research paper 2.
Aims, Day 2 – Course evaluation:Summarizing, discussing, and highlighting issues brought up in the course as well as pointing out new issues for future studies. Evaluation of the course. Preparing for the examination.
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August 23-25: Home exam
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