Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2018 A Semiotic Approach to Conflict Transformation: Can Signs and Symbols Help Make Peace? Samuel Kefas Sarpiya [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Sarpiya, Samuel Kefas, "A Semiotic Approach to Conflict Transformation: Can Signs and Symbols Help Make Peace?" (2018). Doctor of Ministry. 248. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/248 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY A SEMIOTIC APPROACH TO CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION: CAN SIGNS AND SYMBOLS HELP MAKE PEACE? A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY SAMUEL KEFAS SARPIYA PORTLAND, OREGON MARCH 2018 Portland Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Samuel K. Sarpiya has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on January 10, 2018 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Roger Nam, PhD Secondary Advisor: Tricia Gates-Brown Lead Mentor: Leonard I Sweet, PhD Expert Advisor: Tricia Gates-Brown Copyright © 2018 by Samuel K. Sarpiya All rights reserved ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. vi ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... vii SECTION 1. THE PROBLEM ...........................................................................................1 Description of Violence and Conflict ............................................................................2 Religious Conflict ....................................................................................................2 Global terrorism .......................................................................................................3 Inner-City Violence .................................................................................................4 A Semiotic Understanding of Conflict Transformation .................................................7 Tools for Understanding Conflict and Transformation .................................................7 Conflict Resolution ........................................................................................................9 The Church’s Role in Conflict Reconciliation .............................................................10 Conflict Transformation ...............................................................................................10 Signs of Conflict and Transformation ..........................................................................11 Conflict ..................................................................................................................11 Transformation .......................................................................................................12 Lack of Semiotic Approaches to Peacemaking .....................................................13 What Happens When Semiotics Are Not Used .....................................................16 Leadership Development Process as the Problem .......................................................18 Christianity’s Leadership Development Process .........................................................19 Muslim Leadership Development Process ...................................................................22 Jewish Leadership Development .................................................................................24 How to Develop Leaders Who See and Understand Signs of Conflict .......................28 SECTION 2. OTHER PROPOSED SOLUTIONS ...........................................................29 Introduction: Practicing Peace in Trouble Times ........................................................29 Conflict Resolution ......................................................................................................33 Conflict Reconciliation ................................................................................................34 Resolution Versus Reconciliation ................................................................................37 Conflict Mediation and Management ..........................................................................38 Interfaith Dialogue .......................................................................................................43 Restorative Justice .......................................................................................................46 Restorative Justice and International Practice .............................................................50 SECTION 3. THESIS .......................................................................................................51 Introduction ..................................................................................................................51 My Story of Conflict Awareness .................................................................................53 Nigeria: Emergence of Christian and Muslim Conflict Awareness .......................54 South Africa: Race and Apartheid and Scriptural Understanding .........................56 USA: Systemic Racism and Classism Within a Particular Community ................59 Learning to Read the Signs of Conflict ........................................................................60 Religion ........................................................................................................................61 Plurality ........................................................................................................................62 Diagnosis in Conversation ...........................................................................................63 Learning to See Signs of Transformation ....................................................................64 iii Religion as a Source for Transformation .....................................................................65 How Do We Educate for Peace in the Abrahamic Faiths? ..........................................66 Religion as a Positive Force .........................................................................................69 Christianity as a Positive Force ....................................................................................70 Islam as a Positive Force ..............................................................................................72 Judaism as a Positive Force .........................................................................................75 Christocentric Peacemaking .........................................................................................77 Stories of Conflict Transformation ..............................................................................79 Shooting Incident Brings the Three Religions Together .......................................79 Why Story Matters .................................................................................................83 Nonviolence Approach to Conflict Transformation ....................................................84 Creating Cultures of Peace: The Beloved Community ................................................85 Beloved Community ....................................................................................................86 SECTION 4. ARTIFACT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................89 SECTION 5. BOOK PROPOSAL ....................................................................................91 Query Letter .................................................................................................................91 Cover Letter .................................................................................................................93 Title and Contact Information ......................................................................................95 Overview ......................................................................................................................95 Purpose .........................................................................................................................96 Promotion and Marketing ............................................................................................96 Competition..................................................................................................................98 Uniqueness ...................................................................................................................98 Endorsements ...............................................................................................................98 Book Format (non-fiction) ...........................................................................................99 Intended Readers ..........................................................................................................99