Religious conflict: A negative beginning with a positive ending

Georg Simmel "Seeing religion as a fundamental process in man’s life and conflict as a dark tunnel the leads to a bright end of the tunnel, Georg Simmel presents conflict as “a negative beginning with a positive end".

The Manner of how planners think and act in ethnically or racially polarized societies has not been critically examined, how they address the issues of race and ethnicity plays a crucial role in how conflicts end (George Simmel). therefore, planners need develop a sense of positive possible outcomes of religious conflict, and how can they bring about the positive results of religious conflicts between groups in polarized countries?

Religious Conflict as a Necessary Tool for Peace and Unity

Edles and Appelrouth (2010) describe conflict as being necessary for “the development of the self and at the same time creation of group unity”. In order words, conflict is necessary in order to help the individual realize their individuality. Simmel believed that conflict is necessary for unity, which can also lead to social change. When a social institution such as religion is threatened, it leads to maintaining religious boundaries, it defines or redefine values and morals and group ties are strengthened as conflict is resolved.

Simmel outlined the five basic positive functions which conflict serves. These are connection, definition, revitalization, social glue, integration and safety valve.

Conflict as a Form of Connection:

Any interaction between groups or individuals also involves connection and conflict. A quest for religious dominance between two different religious groups in a society, intra-religious struggle for relevance between members and the persecution of religious bodies by the secular world which may lead to conflict, also connects these opposites. Conflict provides a basic way of asserting one's relationship with another person and or, one’s religious relationship with another. Among groups, conflict maintains a form of negotiation. Within groups it does so, by releasing tensions among members that might harm the group. With this connection, better ways will be devised to reach a consensus or achieve relative peace.

Conflict and Identity/Boundary Definition:

Identity is one of the several fundamental human needs that underlie many intractable conflicts. Conflict over identity occurs when a person or group feels that his or her sense of self, is threatened, or denied legitimacy or respect. Conflict among groups sharpens their exterior boundaries. It heightens the sense of “us” versus “them”. Within groups conflict focuses the differences between ranks and social levels, in turn encourage hard work and improve initiatives and ideas.

Conflict and the Revitalization of Norms/Traditions/Mores:

Conflict among groups revitalizes traditions and norms. When conflict occurs in religion, an institution regarded as the hub for virtues, propels it to renew and strengthen its norms and morals. Within religious groups, the adherents are confronted with an opportunity to recommit themselves to the values that underlie membership in the group. As they are looked up to as role models who should uphold virtues, they will do everything possible to channel that negativity in positivity; failure is an option. Man is naturally religious; hence he should strive to pursue those positive attributes associated with religion, even when faced with conflict.

Conflict as Social Glue

Group cohesion may be strengthened as much, if not more, by an internal threat. In some cases, conflict, according to Brahm (2004) can provide a safety-valve to allow a group to clear the air in a less destructive way than might otherwise occur. Each conflict is a push away from one party and toward other parties. It can lead to creation of associations or coalitions for which there is no “positive” incentive. In a community with multiple, crisscrossing associations and coalitions alliances along one major line of cleavage can be prevented. The different groups and organizations in religion with differing opinions and ideas often conflict overpower, relevance, dominance or space, but by the time such conflict is resolved, it has strengthened united them the more.

Conflict as an Integrative Force:

Although conflict may seem like a negative phenomenon, it is, on the other hand, an integrative force through which coexistence with individuals intolerable in themselves could be possible. That conflict occurs means that there is disharmony and discord among the different religious groups which weakens its foundation. Simmel (1903) believed that opposition is an integrating component of the relationship itself; it is not merely a means of conserving the total relationship, but it is one of the concrete functions in which the relationship in reality consists of. For him, less violent conflicts promote solidarity, integration and orderly change of the system and if constructively handled, can lead to long-term peace and cooperation capable of uniting and forming a strong whole. It is no news that different religious groups experience internal conflicts but yet they resolve it within themselves. For example, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that governs all the Christian in the country is often faced with internal conflicts and disagreements, yet at the end, they resolve it and stand as one. This is also applied to other religious organizations.

references

Simmel, G. (1955). Conflict and the web of group affiliations. New York: The Free press,