Spirituality as peace work

This article presents a new perspective on the role of religion in conflict situations. Narrative interviews were conducted in a joint Jewish and Palestinian village in Israel using the Spiritual Center located in the village as a reference point. The interviewees draw a picture of spirituality as a tool for peace which is characterised by pluralism, self-participation, a focus on extraordinary liminal experience, weak institutionalisation and the orientation towards peace. Moreover, they distinguish spirituality from the concept of religion, which is understood as a conflict catalyst. This perspective can be analysed with Knoblauchʼs concept of religiosity as symbolically constructed transcendence which includes both religion and spirituality, and allows their differentiation as two specific forms. Creating a better understanding of religiosity in contrast to religion can be a starting point for conflict transformation