Interfaith Conflict Resolution Course

Want to learn how to defuse delicate interfaith conflicts? Online perhaps? And for free? It’s possible! The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) offers a free online Certificate Course in Interfaith Conflict Resolution. I am currently in the process of completing mine, but I thought I would share this valuable resource now so that others can profit from the information as soon as possible.

Too often and for too long, religion has been used as a scapegoat for violence, hate, and war. Interfaith dialogue is becoming an increasing popular practice in the 21^st century as a way to peacefully achieve understanding, respect, and reconciliation between the faiths. The Certificate Course in Interfaith Resolution is designed to provide average individuals, faith-based organizations, and religious leaders with the inter-religious peacemaking tools to resolve interpersonal, local, and widespread conflicts. The course explores the objectives, methods, and most successful applications of interfaith dialogue.

The course applies general interfaith peacemaking techniques to two case studies. The first is the interfaith peacemaking efforts between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. The second is the role that diverse faith-based communities played in helping resolve the 36-year civil war in Guatemala. The course also includes a bevy of video interviews, as well as other resources.

Interfaith Conflict Resolution Course

According to their official website, the course aims to provide its students with the following skills:

Identifying key challenges and opportunities associated with religion and peacemaking

Identifying typical phases of interfaith dialogue, along with common objectives, proven methodologies and best practices

Analyzing case studies in interfaith dialogue with reference to objectives, methods and best practices

Developing effective goals and objectives for programs involving interfaith dialogue

Applying proven methods and best practices in programs involving interfaith dialogue

Responding to challenges and obstacles associated with establishing effective dialogue between faith communities

Identifying ways that faith leaders can be effective in third-party engagement

Analyzing case studies and applying lessons learned in faith-based third-party efforts

The course consists of six chapters with a final online exam at the end:

1. Introduction
1.1 The Role of Religion in Peacemaking
1.2 Challenges and Opportunities
2. Phases in Successful Interfaith Dialogue
2.1 Laying the Groundwork
2.2 Learning About the “Other”
2.3 Developing Empathy
2.4 Admitting to Problems and Shortcomings
2.5 Building Relationships
2.6 Addressing Justice Issues
2.7 Acting Together
3. Case Study: Interfaith Dialogue in Nigeria
3.1 Tensions Between Christians and Muslims
3.2 Religious Peacemaking Negotiations
3.3 Apology and Forgiveness
4. Case Study: Faith-Based Third-Party Efforts in Guatemala
4.1 Historical Legacy of Violence
4.2 The Ecumenical-Interfaith Initiative
4.3 The Turning Point
5. Lessons Learned in Faith-Based Third-Party Efforts
5.1 Impartiality
5.2 Justice
5.3 Humility
5.4 Compassion
6. Key Themes for Interfaith Dialogue
7. Certificate Exam

Established in 1984, the USIP is an independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by the Congress of the United States. By providing the analysis and training tools to prevent and end conflicts peacefully, the USIP is dedicated to empowering other peacemakers around the world with these resources as well as directly engaging in conflicts.