Beirut, 5 - 13 February 2013

“Reconciliation” – Committed to Staying Together:
One People, Multiple Confessions

Content

The influx of migrant communities has resulted in many European nation-states becoming more multicultural and multi-religious. Reactions to these changes have brought profound problems.
Lebanon was created as a multi-confessional and multicultural secular democracy, with the National Pact describing participation, responsibilities and accountability between confessional and public structures. This model of democracy has also brought with it many problems, suggesting that existing models of democracy do not adjust easily to religious plurality.
The final module looks into various experiences and draws lessons for better interreligious living in secular societies.

The module

• demonstrates how people from different backgrounds live together
• analyses the evolution of confessional structures into civic/public institutions in Lebanon
• shows the connection between local, regional and global interests and their impact on pluralist societies.

Methodology

The module comprises lectures, panels and study groups. The groups are made up of EPIL and local participants, who explore the relationship between the sharing of power and national solidarity.
This final module ends with an analysis and synthesis of how interreligious living can build a culture of peace (strategies for peaceful coexistence). It also seeks to identify specific pedagogical tools and methods that contribute to the building of a culture of peace.

Location

Beirut, Lebanon is built on many layers of religion, culture and civilization. Its first important contribution to education was in the third century with the Roman School of Law, and its unique role in education has survived conflict and rebuilding.

Partners

Ecumenical and Interreligious Department, Armenian Catholicossate of Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon
Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon

Contact

Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World
Lebanese American University
Tel: +961 1 786456 ext. 1275
E-mail: anita.nassar@lau.edu.lb
www.lau.edu.lb