Peace is a shared aspiration and value in all our religious traditions. No tradition will say that it is not for peace. Peace, however, remains an ever-receding goal in our world. Speaking of peace as a shared value is important, but it does not bring about peace. Our traditions offer us transformative peace-making teachings, but these traditions are located in historical and socio-political contexts. They become intertwined and associated, often willingly, with forces and movements that promote violence by privileging one group and marginalizing others. The rise of religious nationalism in many parts of our world is only one example of an alliance between religion and political forces that is prone to violence. We cannot, therefore, overlook the role of religion in intensifying narrow loyalties, entrenching divisions and providing a justification for violence. We cannot explain away the relationship between religion and violent conflict by the argument that, in all instances, religion is being used or misused for the achievement of power in its various forms. The responsibility of religion in situations of division and conflict must be critically acknowledged. In investigating religion and peace-making our analysis must be hopeful but not simplistic. We must be both self-critical and constructive to lift up the resources of religion for peace-making and the common good. We must make the effort to go deep in our analysis to understand the paradox of religion as both peace-maker and contributor to violence.