WOMEN, RELIGION, AND PEACEBUILDING: Illuminating the Unseen

"Women, Religion, Peacebuilding" is well-researched and full of fascinating information and examples of women - and men - working together to promote peace. As someone new to this field, I am learning a huge amount and am inspired to contribute, even in a small way, to the effort to move our societies toward what we would like to be. I highly recommend this book!

It is remarkable that the book is entitled Women, Religion, and Peace Building since it establishes early on that both religion (Islam, Christianity, the two worldwide religions, and most others) and wars are almost entirely the province of men. Women have been excluded from nearly all formal ends to wars. They also practically do not exist in the hierarchies of religious organizations. It is enlightening to read about women’s roles in some of the world’s most intractable conflicts.We learn the hitherto little-known names of some remarkable women in all the world’s major religions who are devoting their energies to ending conflicts that were started by men, and often supported – even inflamed – by male-dominated religious organizations.Apart from introducing us to the roles women play in peacebuilding in several very different conflicts, Hayward and Marshall have managed to knit together some common threads that further our general understanding of women in conflict.Everyone who has a serious interest in ending wars needs to read this book to learn how at least some efforts by women have been successful. It could well provide a way forward in dealing with other as yet unresolved conflicts.

I read this book together with a colleague, Khin Khin Lwin, who is more a specialist in this field of work, while I would classify myself as someone from outside this field of work, but with a healthy interest.“Women, Religion, and Peacebuilding: Illuminating the Unseen” is a rare, insightful account of the experiences and contributions of women peace builders across cultures, driven by a deep sense of faith values, principles and commitment. As a novice peace practitioner and as someone with a healthy interest in this field of work, we are inspired by these passionate, courageous women of different religious and faith backgrounds and how they utilise their spiritual/religious values to position themselves, collaborate with others and create impact within extremely challenging and complex socio-political and religious contexts to build peace.