It cannot be denied that religion is often a source of violence. However, we must not forget that religion can also serve as a foundation for efforts to create and foster peace. Unfortunately, we often focus solely on the first point. We fail to fully explore the role of religion as a source of peace.

To explore the role of religion as a driver of peace, with the support of the Tifa Foundation and the Tanenbaum Center, PUSAD Paramadina, CRCS UGM, MPRK UGM, and LAIM invited Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye—religious leaders and peacebuilding activists from Nigeria—to serve as speakers at a Public Lecture and Workshop on Institutionalizing Interfaith Mediation in Yogyakarta on October 10–13, 2017.

The book *Religion as a Catalyst for Peace*, published by CRCS UGM, is a collection of essays based on reflections from those public lectures and workshops.

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