Academic Activities

Peace and Conflict: Ethical, Religious, and Geopolitical Perspectives

Conference / Centre for Applied Ethics and Centre for Sino-Christian Studies

Peace and Conflict: Ethical, Religious, and Geopolitical Perspectives
8 JAN 2026 9 JAN 2026

Date

8-9 January, 2026 (Thu-Fri)

Venue

SWT 501 (Council Chamber, Shaw Tower, Shaw Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University)

Prof. Edgardo COLÓN-EMERIC

Dean of Duke Divinity School; Ruth and A. Morris Williams Jr. Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry, Duke University, US

Prof. Cheng LIU

UNESCO Chair on Peace Studies; Professor, Department of World History, Nanjing University, China

Speakers' List

Prof. Benedict S. B. CHAN, Fr. Wojciech GOLUBIEWSKI, Dr. Sameena KAUSAR, Prof. Martin CHUNG, Prof. Victor CHAN, Prof. Ann Gillian CHU, Prof. Rachel Siow ROBERTSON, Dr. John MOK, Prof. David KWON, Prof. Levi Mahonri CHECKETTS, Prof. Hee Kyu Heidi PARK, Prof. KWONG Chi Man, Prof. Carl HILDEBRAND, Dr. I Sil YOON, Dr. Vilma “Nina” Balmaceda, Prof. Baldwin WONG, Dr. Timofey AGARIN, Prof. Madhav JOSHI, Prof. Ebrahim MOOSA, Prof. Wai Luen KWOK, Prof. Caron GENTRY

Register Now
Programme Book
Peace and Conflict: Ethical, Religious, and Geopolitical Perspectives
Peace Conference 2026
Hong Kong Baptist University, Research Committee, International Activities Programme 2025/26.
 

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Date: 8-9 January, 2026 (Thu-Fri)  

Venue: SWT 501 (Council Chamber, Shaw Tower, Shaw Campus, HKBU)

Language: English 

Participation Mode: In-person, and YouTube Live Stream

 

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Youtube Live Stream:
8 Jan 2026 (Thu): https://youtube.com/live/jfmWhtkR-7w?feature=share
9 Jan 2026 (Fri): https://youtube.com/live/rTEXoqzoyYA?feature=share
 
 

*Participants who successfully registered the event will receive a confirmation email a few days before the event.*

*HKBU students can only fulfill CCL requirements by participating in person.*

 

 

About the Conference

Embark on a profound exploration at the “Peace and Conflict: Ethical, Religious, and Geopolitical Perspectives” conference, where we intricately examine the multidimensional aspects of Peace and Justice as captured in Sustainable Development Goal 16. By bringing together international scholars and diverse perspectives, this conference strengthens our global academic network and actively supports the objectives of SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and strong institutions. These gatherings serve as a convergence point for diverse philosophical and religious perspectives, shedding light on the intricate ethics of war and peace, strategies for conflict resolution, the power of non-violence, and the nuances of psychological peace. Through a philosophical and religious lens, we navigate the varying ethical frameworks that underpin notions of peace and conflict. Drawing from the rich tapestry of religious perspectives, particularly Christianity and East Asian perspective, we reflect on the profound concept of peace, harmony and Shalom. Known as the peace of the Lord, Shalom embodies completeness, soundness, wellbeing, and ultimate reconciliation. Join us as we examine the interplay between religious teachings, ethics, and the pursuit of peace, aiming to cultivate a deeper understanding of how diverse perspectives can contribute to a harmonious and just world.

Conference Schedule
Day 1- 8 Jan 2026 (Thu)

9:15-10:00  

Opening Ceremony

 
10:00-11:00

Keynote Session 1

Moderator: Prof. Benedict S. B. CHAN

"The Concept of Peace and Nonviolent Actions in the New Era"

Speaker: Prof. Cheng LIU 

11:15-11:35

Session 1-

Ethics of War and Peace

Moderator: Prof. Ann Gillian CHU

"From Contingent Pacifism to Just Peace Theory: Confucian and Christian Perspectives in Potential Dialogue"

Speaker: Prof. Benedict S. B. CHAN

11:35-11:55

"Digital Saber Rattling: Artificial Intelligence, Power and Peace"

Speaker: Prof. Levi Mahonri CHECKETTS

11:55-12:15

"Ethics of War and Peace: Aquinas and Mozi in Dialogue" 

Speaker: Fr. Wojciech GOLUBIEWSKY OP

12:15-12:45Q&A
14:00-14:20

Session 2-

Peace, Regions, and Politics

Moderator: Prof. Martin C. K. CHUNG

"Muslim Womens' Education in India: Implications for Peace and Development"

Speaker: Dr. Sameena KAUSAR

14:20-14:40

"From Pacifism to Pragmatism: The Rise, Decline, and Future of Peace Studies in Japanese Universities"

Speaker: Dr. Victor Chi Ming CHAN

14:40-15:00

"Navigating Diversity on Social Media: a Study of Hong Kong Christian Communities"

Speaker: Prof. Ann Gillian CHU and Prof. Rachel Siow ROBERTSON 

15:00-15:20

"“The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church”: Examining How Catholics in Post-Reform China Handle a State-imposed Theodicean Challenge"

Speaker: Dr. John Chit Wai MOK

15:20-15:50Q&A
16:05-16:25

Session 3-

Peace and Cultural Religious Lenses

Moderator: Prof. Baldwin Bon-Wah WONG

"The Agonism of Islamic Justice in the Age of Humanitarianism and the Reproduction of Atrocity"

Speaker: Prof. Ebrahim MOOSA

16:25-16:45

"Is Forgiveness Impossible? A Dialogue Between Derrida, Confucianism and Christian Faith"

Speaker: Prof. Wai Luen KWOK

16:45-17:05

"Hope in a Time of Misogynyist Politics"

Speaker: Prof. Caron GENTRY

17:05-17:35Q&A

 

Day 2- 9 Jan 2026 (Fri)
9:00-10:00

Keynote Session 2

Moderator: Prof. Wai Luen KWOK

"Oscar Romero’s Witness to Peace: Ecumenical Lessons from the Global South"

Speaker: Prof. Edgardo COLÓN-EMERIC

10:15-10:35

Session 4-

Christian Approaches to Peace

Moderator: Prof. George K. W. MAK

 

"Forgiving Amidst Deep Disagreement: Developments and Considerations in Favor of the Christian Model"

Speaker: Prof. Carl HILDEBRAND

10:35-10:55

"The Victoffender and the Ethics of Peace: Rethinking Justice in the Context of Forced Migration"

Speaker: Dr. I Sil YOON

10:55-11:15

"Theological Contributions to Strategic Peace Building"

Speaker: Dr. Nina BALMACEDA

11:15-11:45Q&A
13:15-13:35

Session 5-

Disagreement

and Peace

Moderator: Prof. Levi Mahonri CHECKETTS

"The promotion of oneness in a modern pluralistic society: a two-track model"

Speaker: Prof. Baldwin WONG

13:35-13:55

"The Promise that Wasn't: Politics of Representation in Postconflict Democracies"

Speaker: Prof. Timofey AGARIN

13:55-14:15

"Peace Accords Matrix: Research and Policy Insights for Successful Peace Processes"

Speaker: Prof. Madhav JOSHI

14:15-14:45Q&A
15:00-15:20

Session 6-

Technology and Peace

Moderator: Prof. Pak-Hang WONG

"Trading in Death: Catholic Social Teaching, South Korea’s Arms Fairs, and the Moral Imperative of Disarmament"

Speaker: Prof. David KWON 

15:20-15:40

"Is Eschatological Peace Possible on the Climate Justice Protest Site?"

Speaker: Prof. Hee Kyu Heidi PARK

15:40-16:00

"Dark Heritage Under a Football Field: How Historical Geospatial Methods Helps Find and Interpret a Forgotten Part of WWII Hong Kong History"

Speaker: Prof. Chi Man KWONG 

16:00-16:30

Q&A

16:40-17:00Closing Remarks

Closing Remarks

19:30-21:00Public Talk
“Hope in Times of Adversity 逆境中的盼望”

Speaker: Dr. Nina BALMACEDA 

Venue: HKSKH All Saints’ Cathedral香港聖公會諸聖座堂

* Please find the detailed information below.

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Peace Conference 2026-
Public Talk: “Hope in Times of Adversity 逆境中的盼望” 

Date日期: 9 January 2026 (Fri)

Time時間: 7:30-9:00pm

Venue地點: HKSKH All Saints’ Cathedral 香港聖公會諸聖座堂 (11 Pak Po Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon 九龍旺角白布街11號)

Free Admission 歡迎自由入場

The talk will be delivered in English, Cantonese interpretation will be provided.

講座將以英語進行，屆時將有廣東話同聲傳譯。

B_Peace Conference (Public Talk) B_Peace Conference (Public Talk)

 

Speaker: Dr. Nina Balmaceda

Irene and William McCutchen Associate Professor of the Practice of Reconciliation; Director of the Center for Reconciliation, Duke Divinity School, US

 

Dr. Balmaceda actively promotes reconciliation work in Latin America and chairs the non-profit organization Peace and Hope International.

Balmaceda博士在拉丁美洲積極推動復和工作，並擔任非盈利組織和平和希望國際的主席。

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For any inquiries, please contact cscs@hkbu.edu.hk or cae@hkbu.edu.hk.