Across societies, violence has historically manifested in forms ranging from physical assault to psychological pressure. This chapter examines, at a theoretical level, the relationship between religion, identity and symbolic violence and explores it through examples from Turkey. Symbolic violence operates through language and social norms even in the absence of physical coercion; distinctions drawn along religious/identity lines can thereby acquire legitimacy and set conflict dynamics in motion. In particular, longstanding antagonisms between religious communities and entrenched “us–them” perceptions may fuel violence at the level of language and symbols. In the Turkish context, sectarian identity conflicts—such as Alevi–Sunni tensions—have at times escalated into episodes of violence with fatal consequences. Several religion-based incidents in the late twentieth century (e.g., the events of 1978 and 1993) illustrate how tensions heightened around sacred values and symbols can devolve into overt physical violence. While setting out the theoretical underpinnings of symbolic violence grounded in religion and identity, this chapter also offers recommendations—drawn from concrete cases in Turkey—for building social peace and fostering tolerance. It concludes that embracing pluralism and respect for difference constitutes a critical step toward breaking the cycle of symbolic violence.