On the Significance of Religion for the SDGs : An Introduction

This timely volume addresses the rising interest in the role of religion in global issues worldwide. The ambitious Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as the framework for this exploration, discussing questions such as: * What role does religion play in poverty and poverty alleviation? * How does religion inspire people in combatting gender inequality? * What is religion’s role in fueling conflict and which resources can religion offer for peace and reconciliation? Based on the conviction that not one single faith tradition or discipline can adequately address the complexity of current global issues, this book brings in the perspectives of different faith traditions and different disciplines. Combining cutting-edge research with case studies and concrete implications for academics, policymakers, and practitioners, this concise and easily accessible volume helps to build bridges between these different actors and their engagement. It serves as the introductory volume to the series, __Religion Matters: On the Significance of Religion in Global Issues__. The Open Access version of this book, available at [www.taylorfrancis.com](https://www.taylorfrancis.com), has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. Cover Endorsements Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Notes on the Author Contributors Foreword Executive Summary Implication 1: Beyond the Binary - Bridging the Religious-Secular Divide Implication 2: Reading Religion Right - Seven Dimensions of Religion Implication 3: Creating Spaces of Trust - The Need for Encounter Between All Relevant Actors Implication 4: Bilinguality - Religious and Developmental Literacy Implication 5: Theology Matters - Why We Need Immanent Critics Implication 6: Women in Focus - Rethinking Religious Leadership Implication 7: Youth in Focus - And What About Social Media? Implication 8: What Good Is This? - Accountability and Measuring Impact Implication 9: One Faith Is Not Enough - The Power of Multifaith Engagement List of Abbreviations Introduction Religion Matters: Religion and the SDGs Religion and the SDGs: The What's, the Who's, and the How's But What Exactly Is Religion? What Lies Ahead: Outline of This Book Part I: The Rise of Religion in Development - Background and Current Trends 1. Religion Matters - Rediscovering Religion The Death of God in the West Rediscovering Religion The Formerly and the Not Religious - What About Europe and China? Does Religion Really Matter? Wanted: Religious Literacy 2. The Sustainable Development Goals and Religion - The Rise of Faith Actors in Development A New Framework for a Better World: The 17 SDGs Rediscovering Religion in Development Meet the (Not So) New Players in Development: Faith Actors and FBOs The Rise of Faith Actors and FBOs in Global Development - Prelude (1950s to 2000) The Rise of Faith Actors and FBOs in Global Development - Towards Inclusion (2000 to the Present) 3. Meet the Family - Religion's Different Faces in Development One Name, Many Faces Religion as Religio-Scape: Demographics, Dynamics, and Trends Religion as Community: Relationships and Identities Religion as Teachings: Concepts, Norms, and Values Religion as Spirituality: Personal Experience, Motivation, and Meaning Religion as Practice: Symbols and Rituals Religion as Institution: Leaders, Networks, and Service Delivery Religion as Framework: Language and Weltanschauung Why Even Engage in Development? The Perspective of Christian Public Theology The Not-So-Easy Relationship between Church and State Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Christian Call to Responsible Action What is Public Theology? Public Theology and Development: The Example of the RBI 4. What's So Special about Them? Potentials and Problems of Faith Actors in Development What's the Difference? Faith Actors in Development: Potentials Formal Characteristics of Faith Actors Generating Trust (Religion as Community and Practice) Forming Identities (Religion as Spirituality and Community) Building Relationships (Religion as Community) Facilitating Personal Transformation (Religion as Practice and Spirituality) Establishing Networks (Religion as Institution) Fundraising (Religion as Institution, Practice, and Spirituality) Service Delivery (Religion as Practice) Material Characteristics of Faith Actors Norms and Values (Religion as Teachings and Practice) Commitment (Religion as Teachings, Practice, and Spirituality) Resilience (Religion as Teachings, Practice, and Spirituality) Meaning (Religion as Spirituality and Framework) Holistic Development (Religion as Practice and Spirituality) Faith Actors in Development: Problems Proselytisation (Religion as Community and Practice) Incompatibility with Certain SDGs (Religion as Teachings, Community, and Spirituality) Formal Contributions, Yeah; Material Contributions, Nay: Instrumentalising Faith Actors? (Religion as Teachings, Practice, Spirituality, and Networks) Faith Actors and Secular Actors: Equal Partners in Development? Part II: Religion and the SDGs 5. "It is Not God's Will for Us to Be Poor!" Religion Matters for Poverty Alleviation (SDG 1 and 2) Poverty's Unwelcome Comeback Religion and Poverty - A Long-Standing Relationship "It Is Not God's Will for Us to Be Poor!" Pentecostal Churches and Poverty Alleviation Religion as Teachings: Theological Interpretation of Poverty Religion as Practice: Transformation of Poverty Religion as Framework: Social Interpretation of Poverty Spotlight: A Christian Perspective on Pentecostal Poverty Alleviation in South Africa (Peter White) Structural and Political Factors of Poverty in South Africa Countering Poverty: Faith and Hope Gospel Pneuma-diaconal Approach to Poverty Alleviation 6. "Holistic Healing" - Religion Matters for Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3) COVID-19 and the Global Disruption of Health Care Improvements Good Health and Well-Being: Religion Matters Medical Missionaries? Empire, Religion, and Health Care Revisited "Science Says: Religion is Good for Your Health" COVID-19 Again. Religion's Responses to the Challenges of the Pandemic Religion as Community: Personal Support and Role Models Religion as Teachings: Making Health Information Available and Legitimate Religion as Practice: Safe Rituals Religion as Institution: Networks in Times of Crisis Spotlight: Multi-Religious Perspectives on Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Azza Karam) Background: But Why Religion in Public Health? Common Action for the Common Good - The Concepts and the Actions The Multi-religious Value Added 7. "Largest and Most Successful Education Provider ... Outside of Public Education Systems" - Religion Matters for Quality Education (SDG 4) Education for All? Religion and Education: Close Companions Throughout History How Religion Matters in Global Education Today? Religion as Community: Education of Religious Personnel and Advocacy Religion as Teachings: Religious Literacy and Values Religion as Spirituality: Holistic Education and Personal Transformation Religion as Institution: Access and Service Delivery to the Poor and Marginalised Religion as Framework: Pluralism and Inclusion Spotlight: A Buddhist Perspective on Wisdom and Human Values in Education in Malaysia (Wendy Yee Mei Tien) 8. "Your Women, Let Them Be Silent in the Assemblies" - Religion Matters for Gender Equality (SDG 5) Still a Long Way to Go Where Are the Women Leaders? The Pillars of Patriarchy Revisited Childhood Lost. Faith Actors and Child Marriage Religion as Teachings: Cementing or Contesting Traditional Gender Roles Religion as Practice: Transforming Rituals and Traditions Religion as Institutions: Engaging Faith Leaders for Gender Equality Spotlight: A Muslim Perspective on Gender Equality and Violence against Women and Girls (Sandra Iman Pertek) A Muslim Case against Gender Inequality and VAWG Instrumentalising Religion Religion vs Gender Inequality and VAWG 9. "I Have a Dream" - Religion Matters for the Reduction of Inequality (SDG 10) Introduction Religion and Human Rights: No Love at First Sight Wanted: Religious Actors as "Immanent Critics" for Human Rights Religion as Community: Exclusion and Embrace Religion as Practice: The Power of Non-violence and Love Religion as Institutions: Influential Allies for Human Rights Religion as Framework: Transforming Mindsets Spotlight: A Jewish Perspective on Democracy and Minority Rights in Israel (Pauline Kollontai) Context Israeli Arab Community The Status of Human and Minority Rights Focus: Religious Rights for Israel's Arab Minority Challenging Jewish Fundamentalists Conclusion 10. "Green Religion" - Religion Matters for Climate Action (SDG 13) "Woefully Off Track" Green for God? A Brief History of Religion and the Environment "Together United" - Inter-faith Engagement for the Environment Religion as Teachings: Integral Ecological Education Religion as Spirituality: Eco-Spirituality as a Way of Life Religion as Practice: Sustainable Lifestyles Religion as Framework: Climate Justice Spotlight: An Indigenous Perspective on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Climate Change (John C. Rodwan) 11. "Brokers of Peace" - Religion Matters for Peace and Justice (SDG 16) Peace and Justice as the Foundations of Development Religion and Violent Conflict: Best Friends Forever? Some Terms: Conflict Resolution, Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding, and Reconciliation Religious Peacebuilding on the Rise Religion as Community: Building Constructive Relationships Across Boundaries Religion as Teachings: Love and Forgiveness vs. Hatred and Revenge Religion as Spirituality: Spiritual Care for the Wounded Religion as Institution: Influencers on War and Peace Religion as Framework: Holistic Human Flourishing Spotlight: A Christian Perspective on Reconciliation and Forgiveness After the Rwandan Genocide (Christophe Mbonyingabo) Brief Background on the Genocide: What Happened? Reconciliation in Rwanda After the Genocide Faith-Based Reconciliation Initiatives: The Example of CARSA Cows for Peace Intervention Role of the Christian Faith 12. Now What? Implications for Academics, Policymakers, and Practitioners Implication 1: Beyond the Binary - Bridging the Religious-Secular Divide Effectively Implication 2: Reading Religion Right - Seven Dimensions of Religion Implication 3: Creating Spaces of Trust - The Need for Encounter Between All Relevant Actors Implication 4: Bilinguality - Religious and Developmental Literacy Implication 5: Theology Matters - Why We Need Immanent Critics Implication 6: Women in Focus - Rethinking Religious Leadership Implication 7: Youth in Focus - And What About Social Media? Implication 8: What Good Is This? - Accountability and Measuring Impact Implication 9: One Faith Is Not Enough - The Power of Multifaith Engagement References Index This ground-breaking volume addresses the rising interest in the role of religion in global issues worldwide. The ambitious Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as the framework for this exploration, discussing questions such as: What role does religion play in poverty and poverty alleviation? How does religion inspire people in combatting gender inequality? What is religion's role in fueling conflict and which resources can religion offer for peace and reconciliation? Based on the conviction that not one single faith tradition or discipline can adequately address the complexity of current global issues, this book brings in the perspectives of different faith traditions and different disciplines. Combining cutting-edge research with case studies and concrete implications for academics, policy makers and practitioners, this concise and easily accessible volume helps to build bridges between these different actors and their engagement. It serves as the introductory volume to the series 'Religion Matters: On the Significance of Religion in Global Issues'. This timely volume addresses the rising interest in the role of religion in global issues worldwide, using the ambitious Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the framework for this exploration.