Introduction: Religion and the search for peace

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book addresses key concepts, history, theories, models, resources, and practices in the complex and ambivalent relationship between religion and peace. It examines the relationships that exist globally between religion and peace. The book then focuses on young people in the Israel/Palestine conflict. It also discusses the intersection between Islamic and feminist political thought, particularly within the context of the Arab Spring. The book focuses on Indonesia since the fall of Suharto's New Order dictatorial government in 1998. It also discusses religious contributions to the ongoing peace process in Nepal, drawing on fieldwork data collected between 2011 and 2015. The book then explores how Sri Lanka's 10 percent Muslim population engages in peacebuilding through identity and religious reforms.