Suderman, Andrew G.2012-01-302012-01-302011-11-16Suderman, A.G., 2011, ‘Overcoming modernity’s individualism: Becoming a community of peace in the face of violence’, Verbum et Ecclesia 32(2), Art. #507, 7 pages. http://dx.DOI. org/10.4102/ve.v32i2.5071609-998210.4102/ve.v32i2.507http://hdl.handle.net/2263/17921This article was prepared for the ‘Violence in the Democratic South Africa: A Challenge to Theology and the Churches’ Conference, held by the Centre for Public Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Andrew Suderman is a research associate in the Department Dogmatics and Christian Ethics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.Modernity’s understanding of the primacy of the individual represents a significant challenge to a holistic understanding of the vocation of the church. Furthermore, individualism, that is the understanding of oneself as separate and apart from others, is often the foundation for violence against the other as the interconnectivity, and therefore the dependence and vulnerability inherent within a relationship, is lost. When the church is relegated to serve individuals as private and individualised belief systems, it is banished to a cold, dark cell of isolation. In order to respond to violence, the church needs to create communities that restore and reconcile relationships, thus embodying peace.en© 2011. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Individualism -- Religious aspectsViolence -- Religious aspectsCivilization, Modern -- 21st centuryMission of the churchChurch and the worldPeace -- Religious aspectsArticle