Historical and theological reflections of CPBC pastors on the Muslim-Christian conflict in Mindanao

Abstract

This study aims to present and analyze the view and understanding of CPBC pastors on the conflict in Mindanao. This study on their view and perception includes their awareness of the conflict; their perception on the causes and resolution of the conflict; their attitudes toward the Muslims; their role as pastors in the conflict resolution; and their hope for peace in Mindanao. To situate the views and responses of CPBC pastors on the conflict in Mindanao, this study attempts to describe and analyze Islam in Philippine context. This includes a brief history of Islam and significant events which triggered violent conflicts in Mindanao. Moreover, this study presents a brief historical background on the conflict as viewed from the perspective of history including the perception of people from different sectors, from the government, from the Muslim and from the Christian groups.

There are already voluminous materials which were published tackling on the Muslim-Christian conflict in Mindanao. These publications were written by authorities in various fields like historians, theologians, journalists, professors, and the like, both from the Muslim and the Christian side. They presented views, perceptions and positions on the conflict. These views had been widely used in seminars, fora, and dialogues, and were even involved in normal conversations on issues dealing with the Muslim-Christian relations.

However, no study had been conducted yet on the view of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC) pastors on the Muslim-Christian conflict in Mindanao. Are they united in their understanding of the conflict? Do they have the same analysis on the causes of the conflict? Do they perceive the same solution to the problem? What is their attitudes toward Muslims? These are the questions that this study purports to answer.