Chapter 2 Religion and development policy

28 February 2008Download (2.5 MB)

Policy development related to religion and belief is a challenge of its own. In the Netherlands, religion is seen as a personal choice, far removed from the public domain. But that does not mean that policymakers can ignore religion as a driving force in society. Religious faith manifests itself in the public domain all over the world, especially in developing countries, where daily life is interwoven with religious belief and vice versa.

With these facts in mind, we consider it important for staff at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for NGOs to have a sound understanding of the nature of religious belief. The World Bank drew this same conclusion several years ago in its famous report 'Mind, heart and soul in the struggle against poverty'. But a reappraisal of the relationship between religion and development policy reveals ambiguity. It is evident that many (though not all) conflicts are played out along religious and ethnic lines. Religion does indeed play a negative role in some conflicts and it also has a bad name in relation to gender equality, human rights, and the prevention of HIV/AIDS. Our first point, therefore, is that understanding the part played by religion in such situations is a precondition for managing conflict, advancing human rights and preventing HIV/AIDS. Our second point is that, as a significant source of human values, religion can inspire the pursuit of worthy goals, from reconciliation and poverty reduction to health care and education.

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