05/31/2026
On February 22, 2024, the Keston Center for Religion, Politics, and Society at Baylor University hosted the international panel discussion “Seeking Peace in Times of War: Hope or Hopeless?” The event brought together scholars and experts from different regions of the world to examine the root causes of contemporary conflicts, discuss pathways to peace, and explore whether hope remains possible amid ongoing wars and global instability.
Among the distinguished panelists was Vladimer Narsia, Fulbright Scholar in Peace and Conflict Studies at St. Philip’s College and Assistant Professor of Theology and Canon Law at Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. Other participants included Joanne Held Cummings (former U.S. State Department official and Director of Middle East Studies at Baylor University), Xenia Dennen (Chair of the Keston Institute, UK), and George Njung (Assistant Professor of African Studies at Baylor University). The discussion was moderated by David A. Smith, Senior Lecturer in History at Baylor.
The panel highlighted the importance of dialogue, reconciliation, religious engagement, and international cooperation in addressing conflict and building sustainable peace. Drawing on their diverse professional and regional experiences, the speakers reflected on current global crises and considered how societies can maintain hope and pursue peaceful solutions in times of war.
Keston Spring Panel Explores Possibilities for Peace in Times of War February 15, 2024 On Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 104 of Baylor’s Moody Memorial Library, the Keston Center for Religion, Politics, and Society welcomes an international panel to discuss “Seeking Peace in T...
