Often times religion has been cited as a cause of violence. More and more scholars are exploring religion's potential for peace. In her new book, Civil Society in Malerkotla, Punjab: Fostering Resilience through Religion, Bhangoo looks at a diverse religious community in Northern Punjab that became legendary for it's commitment to peace under the threat of violence.

Karen Bhangoo Randhawais originally from British Columbia, Canada and is currently a professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and adjunct Professor of Law at Pepperdine University. She has a PhD from the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University.

Steven Kotev is a Washington D.C. based conflict resolution consultant offering mediation, negotiation, conflict analysis, facilitation, training and somatic education to private and government clients. He holds a Master of Science degree from George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a black belt in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. He is a former employee of the Association for Conflict Resolution, the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Resolution and the D.C. Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency as an ADR Specialist.