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.

Listen now

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

Podcasts

20 January 2025

1 min read

New episode: Seen & Unseen Aloud

Gangsters old and new, Russian reformers, and accepting the grey in life.

Natalie Garrett

Natalie produces and narrates The Seen & Unseen Aloud podcast. She's an Anglican minister and a trained actor.

Jacob and Esau.

Matthias Stom, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Listen now

As 2025 gets going, Katherine Amphlett encourages us to travel back in time with Lady Mary to get to know some of the bad guys of the Old Testament to find how little has changed; Simon Burton-Jones reminds us that there is a great deal more to Russia that Putin and Lauren Westwood paints a colourful picture of life in the grey areas.

Join with us - Behind the Seen

Seen & Unseen is free for everyone and is made possible through the generosity of our amazing community of supporters.

If you’re enjoying Seen & Unseen, would you consider making a gift towards our work?

Alongside other benefits (book discounts etc.), you’ll receive an extra fortnightly email from me sharing what I’m reading and my reflections on the ideas that are shaping our times.

Graham Tomlin

Editor-in-Chief

https://www.seenandunseen.com/behind-the-seen

Find out more and sign up