Human tendency is to focus on the issues that divide society and community. Hence, throughout human history, local and global wars have caused the loss of millions lives, the destruction of civilization and hope. This course examines the root causes of conflict, effective methods and skills of negotiation, art of mediation, to achieve peace and stability for mutually enriching coexistence. Students will examine cultural norms and values that enhance prejudice, superiority conflict, dominance, and conflict in various cultural contexts. By sharpening cross-cultural knowledge and understanding of human beings without bias, the course provides knowledge and skill of conflict resolution.
This course strengthen the student’s skill in understanding the source of conflict, arts of negotiation, the role of a mediator, the role of cultural norms and values in developing personality and worldview, the beauty of unity in diversity. The course equips students with a broader understanding of the world community and be instrument of peace and social stability.
Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills is an ever demanding, evolving, and involving profession that requires creativity, flexibility, integrity, wisdom and determination. The course clarifies to be proactive is a better approach to conflict resolution than to be a reactive. Students will have an opportunity to the history of conflicts in various parts of the world, to the negotiation and reconciliation processes that worked and failed.
Conflict resolution and mediation skills put emphasis on the fundamental biblical truth about the nature of humankind, both the greatness and wickedness of man. The course will address key biblical teachings such as love, forgiveness, kindness, patience, the peace of God, and God as a model of reconciliation.
This course will examine how God took the initiation to reconcile human beings with Him and the process and price of reconciliation. The course challenges the student to give what they have received and to follow the path of the prophets and the apostles.
Conflict resolution helps us to answer the age-old question, “Who is my neighbor?” The answer could be a person of different race, skin color, religion, different economic status, or one who have different sexual orientation.
Students will recognize that the course will challenge them to think biblically and be relevant to the people who need Christ-centered service. During Jesus’ time, lepers, blind and lame people were considered as non-human. Women and tax collectors were despised. However, Jesus healed so many of them and ushered them to the kingdom of God. Moreover, he called them brothers and sisters. To bring reconciliation, Jesus transcends the cultural norm of his time. Students will clearly understand that they are the fruit of reconciliation.
Students will comprehend that reconciliation starts by self-examining, understanding one’s strength and weaknesses with willingness to accept others as God would accept them.
Discussion and reading will help students to develop healthy self-esteem, positive attitude towards people outside of their racial and cultural boundaries. Through excellent cross-cultural communication skills and biblical understanding of the human nature, students will look for threads that unite human beings than the walls that divide them.
