Religious Conflict

“Coming to HDS is my story of leaving the war place. Part of my motivation to come here was about me wanting to find beauty in the midst of ugliness.”—Farah Zahra, MDiv ’17

During a recent HDS forum on violence, freedom of expression, and justice, panelists raised questions about free speech and its limitations.

How can academic institutions address the fallout from acts of terror, such as the January 7 Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris? Should they? During a recent HDS forum, "Violence, Freedom of Expression and Justice," panelists raised questions about free speech...

On the anniversary of 9/11, Dean David N. Hempton speaks to the students of Trinity School in New York City about violence, conflict, and remembrance. Read coverage of this event

"We cannot profess our solidarity with those who are oppressed when we are unwilling to confront the oppressor." Morning Prayers at Harvard's Memorial Church on September 22 were delivered by David N. Hempton, Dean of the Faculty of Divinity, Alonzo L...

On September 10, President Barack Obama outlined a strategy to combat the jihadist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) following the recent killings of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. The strategy involves the...

As part of the Divinity School's Leadership Day, held April 5, Harvard President Drew Faust and HDS Dean David Hempton sat down to discuss the role of the study of religion and spiritual life in the 21st century—at Harvard and beyond. The talk was...

For much of history since WWII, religious conflict has plagued civilization. In the Middle East, Israeli Jews fight Muslim and Christian Arabs, while Shia and Sunni Muslims battle each other. In the West, secularists and moderate Christians and Muslims...