"Religion in Myanmar is a sensitive issue, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. The impact of religion on Myanmar society and politics was the focus of a panel exploring anti-Muslim sentiment at the 2017 Myanmar Update at ANU. A lively discussion offered new perspectives on religious participation, before concluding with an optimistic paper on the collection of positive inter-religious memories. First, Thawng Tha Lian?s paper approached the role of the Christian church in Myanmar?s political transition, with a focus on Chin State. He argued that for Chin people, churches are uniquely placed to play a role in the nation?s democratic project, due to their strong social, legal and financial standing. This paper cited the experiences of church leaders in negotiations with armed groups and the government, as well as in ceasefire monitoring. Barriers to religious leaders? participation in politics were also identified, however, including recent instances and memories of religious oppression by the government..."