Future Directions

Religion clearly influences conflict. With this in mind, there are various directions for future research/exploration that scholars should undertake to not only expand research but also benefit practical understanding. An appre­ciation of the relationship between religion and conflict can help build our knowledge of virtual teams (explained in detail in the next section), resolve organizational and interper­sonal conflicts, expand our consideration of religion’s influence on intercultural research and international relations, improve our understanding of face negotiation theory, and help us better understand interfaith conflict.