"Peace is not an absence of war,” wrote Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza, in the 1600s. “It’s a virtue, a state of mind, a tendency to kindness and justice.”
Today, with the presence—not the absence—of wars and other kinds of conflicts, what form might virtues, states of mind and tendencies take? What wisdom can we find in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions? And is there common ground in their views of peace and their ways of peace? In the end, is peace a feeling or an action?
This course will look at the presence and absence of peace at various levels and in a range of situations—interpersonal, intercultural, international.
What You’ll Learn
- Discuss the different conceptions of peace and how it manifests (or doesn’t) in various levels of society.
- Explore how different religious traditions understand peace and examine their connections.
- Discover practical ways ideas like kindness, justice, and forgiveness can shape how we respond to conflict in everyday life and in the wider world.
Who It’s For
This course is anyone interested in ethics, religion and conflict transformation. It’s also for anyone seeking deeper insight into how ancient wisdom can help us respond to contemporary conflicts today.
Who Delivers It?
Angela Gluck has worked as a teacher, trainer and consultant to schools and local authorities. She has written over 40 books on aspects of religion and history and broadcasted on these subjects. She devotes part of her work to teaching children, young people and adults in cross-communal settings. She is an active trustee of The Separated Child Foundation.