Ziya Miral: global conflict and religion's role

Does religion shape violence or does violence shape religion?

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

a dirt barricade blocks a cross roads, behind which stands a roadside cross

A crossroads in Ukraine.

Jonny Gios on Unsplash.

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Is John Lennon right, would all wars cease if religion were to vanish? And, finally, what is the theology of conflict? These are topical, real-time, questions – all of which are explored in this episode of GodPod, with the help of Dr Ziya Meral.

Ziya is a lecturer in International Studies and Deplomacy at SOAS (School of African and Oriental Studies), researcher and advisor specialising in global conflict and the role of religion.

For Ziya’s book: How Violence Shapes Religion: Belief and Conflict in the Middle East and Africa : Meral, Ziya: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Podcast

Belief

Podcasts

Re-enchanting

11 June 2025

1 min read

Lamorna Ash: re-enchanting... conversion

Author Lamorna Ash talks to Belle and Justin about her odyssey to discover why so many young people are turning to a faith.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A podcast guest gestures with her hand while talking

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Lamorna Ash is an award-winning writer and journalist, she’s the author of Dark, Salt, Clear: Life in a Cornish Fishing Town and the brand new Don’t Forget We’re Here Forever: A New Generation’s Search for Religion, both of which have caught a huge amount of attention.

Lamorna tells Belle and Justin about her tour of the UK - why her curiosity caused her to drive the length and breadth of the country, seeking out young adults who have converted to Christianity - and whether, by the end of it, she could count herself as one of them.