Religion has always been a major component that is capable of initiating either conflicts or peace in the world. This is very important as religion has a strong and perhaps growing significance as a key source of identity for millions of people, especially in the developing world, like Africa. This understanding has attracted the attention of African scholars with the intention of investigating the level of influence of religion on conflict and the extent to which religion can be employed as an instrument for the promotion of peace in the world. However, the role of religion in conflict and peace building has all too often been depicted in binary terms: it is seen as a source either of violence or of reconciliation. This simplification obscures the complexity of the subject and shows that there is need for further research in this area of inquiry-- Prof. KANU Ikechukwu Anthony, O.S.A.