Faith in Peace. Faith, Spirituality and Social representations of Peace of social educators in Cali, Colombia

Abstract

Cali is not only recognized by its salsa, the figures of violence have ranked it as one of the most violent cities in the world. Thinking of a change demands the understanding of the different factors that participate in the peace formula. The educator is one of the most important elements to find the way that must be taken in order to propose changes to the new generations. Here, by comparing two important socio-educational experiences (in a state-secular institution and in a religious foundation), peace was studied from the theory of social representations and the study of values focused on spirituality and faith religious that underlies speeches. A qualitative research with descriptive characteristics that allowed dividing and organizing the thinking of educators in three types of peace, amidst them, one strongly related to the spiritual dimension. Also, the forgiveness was identified as the most important value for peace, and the respect for their students as the most meaningful for peace education.

What is the meaning of peace? How can be achieved? What values predominate in the speeches? How is faith and spirituality related to peace? These are several of the questions implicit in this research, whose reflections about these key characters in peace education will allow us to know and describe nature and the ways of education for peace.