1. Conflict development and its religious aspects Prof Tõnu Lehtsaar

2. Definition of conflict 1. A state of open, often prolonged fighting; a battle or war. 2. A state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests; a clash. 3. Psychology A psychic struggle, often unconscious, resulting from the opposition or simultaneous functioning of mutually exclusive impulses, desires, or tendencies. 4. Opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot.

3. Characteristics of a conflict Who are the parties What is the issue Do the people communicate How far has it developed –Issues –Participants –Emotionality Level of aggressiveness

4. Sources of conflict Face saving Unjustice Violation of implicit norms Perceptual differences PowerSourcesRoles

5. A win/win approach rests on strategies involving going back to underlying needs recognition of individual differences openness to adapting one s position in the light of shared information and attitudes attacking the problem, not the people.

6. Constructive conflict greater quantity and quality of achievement, complex reasoning, and creative problem solving; higher quality decision making; healthier cognitive, social, and psychological development by being better able to deal with stress and cope with unforeseen adversities; increased motivation and energy to take action; higher quality relationships with friends, co-workers, and family members; a greater sense of caring, commitment, joint identity, and cohesiveness with an emphasis on increased liking, respect, and trust; heightened awareness that a problem exists that needs to be solved; and increased incentive to change.

7. Destructive conflict engagement Lack of or poor communication (blaming, judging, accusing)» Lack of cooperation or uncooperative engagement to resolve the conflict» People disregard or criticize others' needs» Use of coercion and manipulation to get what you want» People suffer emotional, psychological, or physical harm

8. Destructive conflict solutions Solutions are imposed/decided by one person without regard for the other's goals. The outcome is perceived as unfair or embarassing. The outcome generates a desire for revenge or other negative responses. The solution does not address one or more of the issues that were involved. Relationships are damaged, increasing the liklihood that future conflicts will be handled destructively

9. Escalation stages DissatisfactionCooperationConfrontation Diffuse aggression Attacking Face saving Destruction

10. Religious aspects of a conflict Issue is religious Parties are religious/religions Motives are religious Ways of solution are religious Religious attributions Supranatural explanations Related to identity

11. Religious conflict Religious conflict is a clash between religious parties based on differences in deeply held philosophical assumptions about being, knowledge, world and God. They arise from our deepest symbols and meanings

12. Characteristics of religious conflict The language of two sides is different The other side is often treated as ignorant, misquided, evil or sick They are long lasting, years/generations They come back Issue is identity related Citeria of success is to harm other Hopelessness

13. Facilitators of religious conflict Simplism-reduction chices to a few clear options Moralism-defining all actions as morally right/wrong Monism-defining clear undisputable norm/authority Preservationism-tradition versus changes

14. Transcendent communication Acceptance of other side as subject Self exporation and listening Finding joining places morally/physically New perspectives requiering critical thinking Recognizing powers and limits of a variety of points of view Builds relationship of respect

15. Practical Guidelines Stephen Littlejohn Create right condition Manage safety Provide process that encourages constructive conversation Maintain ends-in-view