Witnessing Atrocity: Religion, Storytelling and Reconciliation

Event description

Academic events
Free
Inclusion
Open to the public

On one of the darkest days of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a man directed a violent Hutu mob to bulldoze a church over the heads of hundreds of Tutsis who sought refuge inside, burying them alive. The murdered Tutsi refuge-seekers were members of the church. The man who ordered the bulldozing was their pastor.

How do we think about the fact that countless church leaders across Rwanda—then the most Christianized country in Africa—not only failed to stand against the genocide against the Tutsi, but actively incited others to join in it, and took part themselves? By the end of the 100-day genocide nearly 1 million civilians had been killed by their neighbors. Many who felt they needed their faith more than ever felt betrayed by their own churches. How, then, did religion and religious institutions also play a critical role in Rwanda's post-genocide politics of reconciliation?

In conversation, Philip Gourevitch, whose award-winning book shaped a generation's understanding of the Rwandan genocide, and Anand Gopal, whose reporting has illuminated the human realities of war from Afghanistan to Syria, explore these questions of faith, atrocity, and reconciliation through the lens of witness and storytelling, reflecting on how narrative can deepen empathy and inform our response to conflict today.

This event is part of the Leard Family Initiative on Religion and Global Affairs, made possible by the Leard Family’s generous support of the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict. The initiative brings together students, faculty, practitioners and community members to deepen our collective understanding of religion’s role in matters of global concern.

About the speakers

Philip Gourevitch is an award-winning author, longtime staff writer for The New Yorker and former editor of The Paris Review. His books include We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families, A Cold Case and Standard Operating Procedure. His work has received numerous honors, including the National Book Critics Circle Award and George Polk Book Award. Gourevitch holds the Glenn & Amanda Fuhrman Chair for the Study of Language and Literature at the Bard Prison Initiative. His forthcoming book is You Hide That You Hate Me And I Hide That I Know.

Anand Gopal is an award-winning journalist, author and faculty at Arizona State University. His reporting and scholarship focus on conflict, politics and everyday life in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. His acclaimed book No Good Men Among the Living was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and won the Ridenhour Book Prize. His journalism has received a National Magazine Award, Hillman Prize and George Polk Award. He is the author of Days of Love and Rage.

Logistics

This event is hosted by the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict and will take place on the ASU Tempe campus in the Turquoise Ballroom (Memorial Union, Room 220) and will be live streamed through the Center's YouTube channel and on ASU Live. Registration is required to attend this event, so whether you plan to participate via live stream or in-person, we appreciate you taking a moment to register. Your confirmation email will provide detailed directions to the venue, including parking information and key live-stream details.

The event will consist of a conversation between Philip Gourevitch and Anand Gopal, followed by audience Q&A and a reception offering light refreshments.