Religion: A Missing Component of Professional Military Education PKSOI Paper | Page 11

It is not about seeking simple answers, defining religion as good or bad. Nor is the mantra-like claim, no
matter how inaccurate it may be, that the principle of
Separation of Church and State restricts military actors
in engaging with religious players helpful. The goal
of strategic and operational military leaders ought to
be to achieve an in-depth and multidimensional understanding of the many constructive roles religious
actors play, and can perform, in peacebuilding, and
arrive at ways of positively interacting with religious
institutions as a counterpart to state PSO processes.
I am not suggesting that religion as a positive
peacebuilding force be accepted uncritically, nor am
I suggesting that all religious actors move toward
achieving a just and sustainable peace in constructive
ways. History and current events certainly prove otherwise. I do propose, however, that when religion is
absent from the analysis of conflict, it is questionable
if inclusive and sustainable peace can be arrived at.9
All said, though, it is relevant to remember that in a
macro sense, “Religion maintains a trajectory toward
peace.”10
In this paper, I propose that the study of religion,
as a principle of PSO, be included in PME at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. The near complete absence of religion as a core academic subject in
PME curricula is shortsighted and ignores the growing presence of religion, and its potential as a driver
of peace as well as violence. Post-9/11, a substantial
degree of focus has landed on the divisive aspects of
religion, ignoring the many potentially positive roles
religion and religious actors can play in PSO. Clearly,
individuals can cynically employ religion to advance
their political, economic, and social goals.11 Others
have focused on the disruptive and conflict-ridden as-

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