You are here: Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies > Research › Centres › Centre for Peace Ethics

Centre for Peace Ethics

Coordinator: Didier Pollefeyt

Page content:

 

Description

The Centre for Peace Ethics is founded in 1986 by Roger Burggraeve and Johan De Tavernier and celebrated in 2011 its 25th anniversary. The Center develops research, teaching and service to church and society related to the ethical and theological aspects of war and peace.
 
Since the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall the Centre’s main focus has shifted from dealing with the question on the use of violence and the use of military deterrence by different ideological parties, to coping with the issue of peaceful multicultural coexistence and the reconciliation between different people and different religions. Particular attention is being paid to the Jewish and Christian approach of the peace issue. The study of themes such as, war and peace, violence and tolerance, evil and reconciliation took shape  in a multitude of scientific research projects, seminars, national and international colloquia, publications, activities related to teaching and social outreach.
 

Top of page

Members

Top of page

Colloquia

Every two years the Centre organises a colloquium on a current issue in the field of peace ethics. In the course of this, a characteristic methodology is being developed. What is emphasised here is the combination of a socially relevant scientific reflection and interdisciplinary and interreligious dialogue. The colloquia's minutes are published in 'Cahiers voor Vredesethiek'. Since the foundation of the Centre the following themes have been dealt with:

  • Power-In-Sight: the Use of Power and Powerlessness in Care, Pastoral Relations and Church Contexts (2012)
  • More than ever Europe. For the sake of peace (speech by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council for the 25th anniversary of the Centre for Peace Ethics) (2011)
  • Rough pupils, warm schools? Warm pupils, rough schools? (2010)
  • "Go in peace..." Religious and ethical dealing with power relations and conflicts in pastoral contexts (2009)
  • Everything passes, except the past. About handling of genocide, civil war and totalitarian oppression (2008)
  • "Hear the bells toll..." About corruption and integrity (2007)
  • When 'Love' Strikes. About Violence and Injustice in Families (2005)
  • Interreligious Dialogue: The Dignity of Difference (2004)
  • Beyond the Hardening of the Hearts? Towards an ethics of non-violence and co-createdness (2003)
  • Time for Adjustment, Time for Forgiveness (1999)
  • Does the Tradition of Human Rights Have a Future? (1998)
  • Ethical Fanaticism (1997)
  • Vengeance, Retaliation and Reconciliation (1995)
  • Nationalism and Religion (1993)
  • Tolerance, Intolerance and Religion (1991)
  • The Holy War in Western Christianity, Judaism and Islam (1989)
  • The Bible and Pacifism (1987)

Top of page

Recent publications

  • R. Burggraeve, "The Vulnerable Mastership of Children and Adolecents. In Search with Emmanuel Levinas of the Ethical Foundations for a Safeguarding and Liberating Education towards Responsibility", in R. Meus (ed.), Dignity. Safeguarding of Children and Young People, Leuven, Don Bosco Youth-Net, 2011, pp. 9-32.
  • R. Burggraeve, "A True Master of Thought – Taking the Talmudic Philosophy of Levinas as an Inspiration for Christianity", in R. Burggraeve, J. Hansel, M.-A. Lescourret, J.-F. Rey, J.-M. Salanskis, Recherches Levinassiennes, Louvain-la-Neuve/Louvain-Paris, Éditions de l’Institut Supérieur de Philosophie/Éditions Peeters, 2012, pp. 399-419.
  • J. De Tavernier, J. Selling, J., Verstraeten, J. & P. Schotsmans (eds.), Responsibility, God and Society. Theological Ethics in Dialogue (Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium CCXVII), Leuven-Paris-Dudley, MA, Peeters, 2008, 413 p.
  • J. De Tavernier, "Tolerance, Pluralism, and Religious Truth", in L. Hogan (ed.), Applied ethics in a World Church, Maryknoll, New York, Orbis, 2008, 278-287.
  • A. Dillen, "Power, Justice, Assymetry and Relationality in Pastoral Care and Parent-Childrenrelationships", in International Journal of Practical Theology 14 (2) (2011) 204-218.
  • A. Dillen, When ’Love’ Strikes. Social Sciences, Ethics and Theology on Family Violence, Leuven, Peeters, 2009.
  • M. Moyaert, "Ricoeur on the (im-)possibility of a Global Ethics Towards an Ethics of Fragile Interreligious Compromises", in Neue Zeitschrift für systematische Theologie 52 (2010) 440-461.
  • M. Moyaert, "Verantwoordelijkheid voor de Ander? Levinas, interreligieuze dialoog en de andersheid van de Ander", in Tijdschrift voor Theologie 1/51 (2012) 32-51.
  • D. Pollefeyt, "Between a Dangerous Memory and a Memory in Danger. The Israeli-Palestinian Struggle from a Christian Post-Holocaust Perspective", in J.K. Roth & L. Grob (ed.), Anguished Hope: Holocaust Scholars Confront the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, Grand Rapids (MI), Eerdmans, 2008, p. 135-146.
  • D. Pollefeyt, "Repentance, Reconciliation and Relationship: The Silence of Jonah and the Boundaries of Forgiveness: Dialoguing with Adele Reinhartz", in R. Bieringer (ed.), Reconciliation in Interfaith Perspective: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Voices, Leuven, Peeters, 2010, p. 28-39.
  • D. Pollefeyt, "Torture in the Light of the Holocaust. An Impossible Possibility", in J. Roth (ed.), Losing Trust in the World. Holocaust Scholars Reflect on Torture. Seattle - London:. University of Washington Press, 2012.

Top of page