Sacred Spaces in Conflicts: Faith Based Organizations and the Peacebuilding Landscape in Northeast India and Southeast Myanmar

Abstract

This study examines how Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) create and sustain moral, spiritual, and communal spaces for reconciliation in two protracted ethno-political conflicts, namely, the Nagas in Northeast India (NEI) and the Karen people in Southeast Myanmar (SEM). Using Religious Peacebuilding Theory and drawing from historical documents and informal conversations with FBO leaders, the study analyzes how faith communities operate as critical yet often overlooked peacebuilding actors. The findings show that both movements emerged from similar colonial disruptions, which helped shape early political consciousness and collective ethnic identity. Although each community pursued self-determination, internal fragmentation driven by ideological and leadership differences complicated political negotiations. In these divided contexts, FBOs created “sacred spaces” that nurtured trust, dialogue, and communal healing in ways state institutions often could not. Among the Nagas, a largely Christian social setting allowed faith-based actors to draw on shared ideas of forgiveness, and covenant. This moral coherence gave them strong legitimacy to mediate between rival groups, ease internal violence, and support political dialogue. In the Karen context, where both Buddhist and Christian communities shape social life, peacebuilders had to form intentional interreligious partnerships. Faith actors worked together to create inclusive spiritual and cultural spaces that encouraged unity, strengthened resilience, and mobilized grassroots involvement in peace efforts. The study concludes that FBOs advance peace not only through theology but by creating sacred relational spaces where divided communities can envision new futures. Peacebuilding policy should recognize them as co-authors of reconciliation, strengthen interfaith cooperation, and deepen contextual theological training for conflict transformation.