Christianity’s Role in Dispute Resolution in Mozambique

Religion is often portrayed as either a source of conflict or as a source of peace and reconciliation. In this paper we explore the role of religion in day-to-day conflicts in different regions of Mozambique, in Maputo and Gorongosa. We analyse the factors that are of importance in determining whether religious mediation, here mainly by Pentecostal Christians, unites or divides people. It appears that pastors who intervene directly between conflicting parties tend to aim at reconciliation, whereas pastors who intervene in indirect manners tend to sharpen and magnify divisions between people.