교황 프란치스코와 중동의 평화

Pope Francis and the Peace of the Middle East: The Relation between Religion and Politics in the Perspective of the Religious Studies of Difference

Modern society is religious society. Religion is deeply rooted in human society, contributing to social integration and exerting huge influence on the thought and behavior of social members. However, religion represents itself as a typical ideology of a certain society. As religion is combined with ethnic groups, this forms the exclusiveness of religion, resulting in religious conflicts. Both Islamic and Christian fundamentalists try to achieve their goals in extreme ways. Those who have moderate opinions are interested in the simple maintenance of their coexistence rather than the active peace between them. Asked to answer the question of the principle of reconciliation, it should be reciprocality because peace cannot be achieved by one side. Even if possible, the reconciliation based on the sacrifice and understanding of not both sides but only one side has its limitation. Therefore, the first step for both sides is to admit and identify their differences. After all they have existed for centuries and will do in the future. It is the high time that the inner voices of both Christians and Muslims should be raised, posing critical views on their own religions. They could be called as ' homo religiosus' who is willing to have a talk with the opposite side. Both of them believe in God and confess that God created the world. Therefore, they should denounce violence toward each other and the world, and admit the differences of their neighbors.