Conflict Resolution
CNR 665 Syllabus
COURSE NUMBER: CNR 665
COURSE TITLE: CONFLICT ANALYSIS IN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
CREDITS: 3 SEMESTER CREDITS (3:3)
PREREQUISITES: None
FOR WHOM PLANNED: This is an elective in the Master’s and Certificate Programs in Conflict Resolution. Open to all graduate students.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
An overview of conflict analysis and intervention strategies in religious communities and organizations. Analyze and implement models of reconciliation and forgiveness.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the dynamics of conflict in faith-based settings
- Develop a framework for conflict analysis at multiple levels:
- personal
- interpersonal
- structure
- culture
- Design early intervention strategies and procedures to prevent or interrupt a conflict cycle
- Design conflict intervention strategies that accommodate multiple perspectives on the role of forgiveness and reconciliation
- Analyze a faith based conflict scenario and case study from a systems perspective
TEACHING STRATEGIES:
This course analyzes conflict in faith-based organizations such as churches, synagogues, and charitable and humanitarian organizations. To understand and analyze various types of conflict in faith based communities, students will learn a specific analytical framework to fully and accurately diagnose conflict in order to prevent or interrupting escalation.
The course is framed from three perspectives. First, the course can be viewed as a study in culture. This course examines conflict and peacemaking in religious communities from multiple perspectives. Second, this course uses the analytical lens of organizational design. The study of conflict in religious communities has applications to other organizational settings, faith-based, humanitarian or charitable. Analyzing conflict in a specific religious settings serves as a microcosm for conflict analysis and resolution in the society at large. This is particularly true of the truth and reconciliation model which originated in South Africa, has religious content (forgiveness, healing), and was supported by Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Catholic and Anglican churches in Africa. The relation between religion and the State will be explored in this and other case studies. Finally, this course is of particular interest to religious leaders and community members who want a better understanding of how to resolve conflict in these types of diverse faith-based settings. By the completion of the course, students will have a clearer understanding of the causes and dynamics of social and religious and social conflict in religious settings, as well those entry points where conflict can be prevented or diffused.
The coursework involves seven units of study: (1) Introduction: the reality of conflict in religious communities (2) Personal and interpersonal factors relating to faith related and social conflict, (3) An overall framework for analyzing conflict, (4) Structural and cultural components of conflict (5) Introduction to the cultural concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation from multiple religious perspectives, (6) Comprehensive analysis by students of (a) the conflict and truth and reconciliation process in South Africa based on readings, and (b) a religious community in conflict found in the readings. Readings, participation in discussions, and thought papers will be combined as the basis for grading.
This class dovetails nicely with other program courses such as mediation, conflict in communities, and dispute system design.
EVALUATION METHODS AND GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENTS:
To determine final grades, students will be evaluated on the following:
Class Participation and Performance (25%)
- raising and answering questions related to the theoretical and practice related issues presented in the course
- synthesizing the framework for conflict analysis to specific types of cases in
- religious communities and organizations
- providing constructive feedback on the simulated, interactive learning process
- providing constructive assistance in helping classmates improve their conflict analysis skills throughout the semester
- demonstrated excellence in simulated role plays and skill building exercises, with intelligent questions and feedback to fellow students and instructor
- Online formats only: there will be 3-5 hours of “live” online role plays, group planning, student presentations, and/or discussion sessions during this course. Students are required to post a minimum of four (4) separate substantive log-ins to the discussion board to answer discussion questions from the readings and lectures and respond to the postings of classmates and faculty each week.
Thought Papers (75%)
Five Thought Papers are to be written throughout the course.
A student’s final grade will be comprised of the following:
Thought Paper 1: - 15%
Thought Paper 2: - 15%
Thought Paper 3: - 15%
Thought Paper 4: - 20%
Thought Paper 5: - 20%
The topic and length requirements of each paper is detailed and discussed in the class calendar.
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REQUIRED TEXTS
Marshall, Shelley. Well-Intentioned Dragons. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1994.
Wiesenthal, Simon. The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness. NY: Schocken Books, Revised Edition, 1997.
Tutu, Desmond. No Future Without Forgiveness. New York: DoubleDay, 1999.
Susek, Tom. Firestorm: Preventingand Overcoming Church Conflicts. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Other than texts, all reading assignments listed below are available for download in the eReserve section of Blackboard.
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