The global stage of interfaith relations: Religious leaders navigate new roles

Religious leaders interfering in or affiliating with one or the other side in a political
conflict is nothing new, rather an age-old tradition, at times taken for granted, at times
strongly questioned and debated. Our time is experiencing a paradigm shift where a
potential for new roles of traditional religions and their leaders is evolving in conflict
resolution and reconciliation.
Another factor promoting the involvement of civil society groups in the prevention
and resolution of conflicts with a religious undertone are the new social media that
facilitate the spread of opinions, trends and manifestation of solidarity at a speed and
scope never seen before.