Goshen College professor edits new ‘Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace,’ which launches online scholarly discussion of role of religion in peace

 

GOSHEN, Ind. – The “Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace” debuted in October at www.religionconflictpeace.org and is edited by Goshen College Associate Professor of Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Joe Liechty. The online scholarly journal, published by a collaborative of Indiana's three historic peace colleges, is a forum for discussion of the role of religion in both conflict and peacebuilding.

The premier issue of the journal features articles by nine major thinkers in theology, ethics, religious studies and conflict transformation. Readers may access the articles about religion as a source of conflict and as a resource for peace without subscription and distribute them (with attribution and unaltered) freely. A “letters to the editor” feature further encourages dialogue among readers and scholars.

Initial topics range from the role of religion in the global war on terrorism by Douglas Johnston, president of the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy, to an argument for recanonizing Scripture to exclude violent texts by secular humanist Hector Avalos of Iowa State University. Daniel Maguire of Marquette University brings his expertise on moral theological ethics and ordained Soto priest Brian Victoria at Antioch College identifies a “holy war” tradition in all major faiths and calls for its rejection universally.

The online journal is a project of the Plowshares peace studies collaborative of Earlham, Goshen and Manchester colleges funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The religious affiliations of the colleges are Quaker (Earlham), Mennonite (Goshen) and Church of the Brethren (Manchester).

Editor Joe Liechty can be contacted at (574) 535-7802 or joecl@goshen.edu. Liechty is a scholar and peace practitioner, and spent 23 years as a mission worker in Ireland. He has written extensively on sectarianism, reconciliation and Irish history. Liechty received his bachelor’s degree in history from Goshen College in 1978 and his doctorate degree in Irish history from St. Patrick’s College in Ireland in 1987.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.