My Trip to Zamboanga, Part 2: The Research!

As I mentioned below the main part of my trip to Zamboanga was focused on my research. For any of you interested in how that’s going, read on!

I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but I am doing research for my Master’s on the use of interfaith rituals as a form of grassroots peacebuilding. I want to learn how these rituals are used, why, with what effect, and how they can be improved to build even more peace. From what I have learned so far interfaith rituals are a popular and often used tool for grassroots peacebuilding in the Mindanao context. Many of my interviewees stated that interfaith rituals help the participants realize they worship one God and share many commonalities among their religions. Interreligious dialogue, in general, allows for a space in which Muslims, Christians, and Indigenous Peoples can learn about each other and break down prejudice and biases. Interfaith rituals help this process in particular because they have a mystical quality to them; many have said there is just something there that brings together the participants. It also seems to me that interfaith rituals are quick and easy proof that the tri-people can do something together. Interfaith dialogue can sometimes be all talk about respect, collaboration, and peace, but an interfaith ritual can easily, quickly, and meaningfully put this talk into practice (working on a social action event, for example, while also meaningful proof of collaboration and respect takes much more time, work, and investment than a ritual like spontaneous prayer).

However, my interviews have also raised a ton of questions for me. There were uncomfortable moments during my interviews and focus groups discussions in which people stepped on each other’s toes and upset someone from another faith tradition. Sometimes it seemed to me that some of my interviewees didn’t have a deep understanding of the faith tradition of others, even though they had been heavily involved in interreligious dialogue. Many interviewees also told me that they do not participate in the rituals of other’s religion, but only observe. Only Muslims could actually participate in Muslim rituals and vice versa with Christians. It became obvious that many are only comfortable with interreligious dialogue if a strict divide is maintained between the religions.

Now I am at the stage of trying to formulate my questions and figure out where to go next. First, there is a question over depth of dialogue. I was a little upset by the lack of understanding some interviewees had of each other’s faith traditions. Is a deep understanding necessary though? Do they need to have deep knowledge of each other’s doctrine and practices, or is the fact that they sit together and are tolerant of one another the main goal? Is tolerance and respect all that is needed for peace here in Mindanao, or should interreligious dialogue progress to try to attain something deeper? And how do I even begin to judge the level of “depth” of dialogue?

I am also struck by the use of the word “participate.” What does it mean to “participate” in the rituals of another faith? Is merely witnessing a form of participating? Is it participating if you are present at the ritual and pray to your own God during this time? But everyone told me that they believed everyone shared the same God, so if we all have the same God, why can people not actively participate in each other’s rituals? How does this issue of participation affect peacebuilding? Does the level of participation engaged in by the participants affect the amount of peace built from this experience? Or again, is just getting the tri-people to sit together at a ritual, regardless of how participation is interpreted, what brings about peace? Many said that interreligious dialogue bridges gaps among the tri-people, but which gaps are being bridged if the tri-people want to maintain separate in some ways? What separation is necessary to overcome for peace and what is okay to live with for the sake of protecting one’s culture and traditions?

Lastly, everyone answers that interreligious dialogue helps bring together Muslims, Christians, and Indigenous, but I want to dig deeper as to why. Why is interreligious dialogue or rituals any better or worse a peacebuilding tool than any other strategy? What does it uniquely have to offer, if anything, and why?

Throughout all this I’m also still learning how to be a better researcher. How do I rephrase questions that aren’t clear? Where is the line in using leading questions? When should I ask further questions of an interviewee and when should I simply interpret the interviewees questions based on my own background research and opinion?

Anyone have some answers or advice for me? :)