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THE QUESTION
Religion's role in American foreign policy
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is recommending that the U.S. government develop a strategy to engage religious communities of all faiths in addressing foreign policy challenges.
Should U.S. foreign policy get religion?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on February 22, 2010 11:47 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Social stability requires religious freedom
Given the pervasive nature of religion in most societies across the world, how these communities experience and interpret religion is essential to how they react to the world, including the U.S.
Posted by Asma T. Uddin, on February 27, 2010 11:10 PM
Let's argue the truth of our ideas
The problem with American foreign policy is that it never considers that a particular religious belief might be true or that some beliefs might be false. We don't argue with religious folk, we attempt to placate them.
Posted by John Mark Reynolds, on February 26, 2010 4:55 PM
God and foreign policy: From the frontlines to Embassy Row
Religion is a critical ally that U.S. foreign policy ignores at its peril. President Obama was right to promote a deeper engagement of foreign policy and religion in Cairo recognizing the importance of religious allies in politics, human rights, aid and peacemaking across the globe. The greatest challenge, however, will not be to enact this at the highest levels of diplomacy but how effectively to engage players at the grassroots where people live.
Posted by Katharine Henderson, on February 25, 2010 6:25 PM
Opening Pandora's Box overseas
If we are going to allow religion to define the country's foreign policy, then how are we going to ensure that religion does not become a state policy and partisan religious groups allowed to define all policies? Are we not opening a Pandora's Box?
Posted by Arun Gandhi, on February 25, 2010 1:39 PM
U.S. foreign policy: mission, message, means
The secularist illusion that foreign policy can be conducted without consideration of religion has fast faded since 9/11 and the global increase of religion's valence in common and political life.
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on February 25, 2010 8:21 AM
Understanding other religions is a smart approach
For most of the rest of the world, the secularization process has not occurred as much, and the religious beliefs and practices of many people in the world remain important and integral in their lives and in their governments. We cannot pretend this situation does not exist, nor can we wish it away with our claims to the superiority of secularism.
Posted by Ramdas Lamb, on February 25, 2010 4:45 AM
Please, no religion in foreign policy formation
I can think of nothing more potentially damaging than allowing religion to be a part of shaping foreign policy. We are already strained and divided by political ideology, so much so that precious little work on behalf of the people is getting done.
Posted by Susan K. Smith, on February 24, 2010 4:36 PM
Establishment Clause applies to U.S. foreign policy
To suggest that the Establishment Clause can never apply beyond our borders would be an emasculation of that critical pillar of the First Amendment that ensures religious liberty for all Americans and whose underlying principle of governmental neutrality informs a proper understanding of religious liberty abroad.
Posted by J. Brent Walker, on February 24, 2010 12:38 PM
U.S. foreign policy has "got religion' -- accidentally
Task Force Members in their report succeed in showing is that U. S. Foreign Policy leadership is more and more coming to understand that religion is already in the mix in conflict. They provide reasons for the nation(s) to recognize anew that religion is a waxing, not a waning force globally, and that not to understand this or to misunderstand its role, can be paralyzing and lethal.
Posted by Martin Marty, on February 24, 2010 10:53 AM
Foreign policy must respect, not exploit religion
Recognizing the power of religion in the world is the better part of wisdom for anyone working on international concerns. Thinking that any government--especially ours--can and/or should use religion as a foreign affairs strategy is a prelude to disaster.
Posted by Welton Gaddy, on February 24, 2010 9:46 AM
Understanding U.S. and world requires "getting religion"
The structures of the world's religions are the best existing vehicles for transmitting important lessons, and for communicating with and leading the world's peoples. Religions have the attention of the world's citizenry, and thus can make the most impact.
Posted by Leo Brunnick, on February 23, 2010 6:22 PM
Religious communities must be engaged in foreign policy
Ignoring religion will doom peace initiatives because so many of the conflicts in the world today are based on interpretations of religious belief that promote violence rather than the peace on which these religions are founded.
Posted by Feisal Abdul Rauf, on February 23, 2010 6:18 PM
More religion in foreign policy: what the road to hell is paved with...
The role of religion around the world, and in individual nations and regions, is so complicated that I cannot imagine anything good resulting from American diplomats becoming more closely involved with religious communities abroad.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on February 23, 2010 4:26 PM
Reach out to all religions, but more carefully with Islam
Islam makes no accommodation for those of other faiths, or no faith, as America does. Any diplomatic "outreach" must understand this truth. It must also include at least some common principles in order for that outreach to produce objectives in the best interests of the nations involved, most especially the United States.
Posted by Cal Thomas, on February 23, 2010 3:59 PM
Foreign policy + religion = recipe for disaster
When any country's foreign policy gets religion, disaster usually follows. What U.S. foreign policy should get is secular. This involves learning more about the religious and cultural beliefs of people in countries where we are engaged.
Posted by Herb Silverman, on February 23, 2010 2:22 PM
There's religion, and then there's religion
Just as we ought to have a bright line between church and state in the United States, we ought rightly to maintain a distinction between the diplomatic relations we have with sovereign governments and the religious hierarchies that exist without regard to the responsibilities and limitations of those sovereign governments.
Posted by Jack Moline, on February 23, 2010 12:39 PM
Practical religious contributions to policy
History teaches that healthy societies are governed by guiding principles that support inclusiveness and universality where the welfare of their citizens is concerned.
Posted by Phil Davis, on February 23, 2010 12:01 PM
Religion: the smartest power of all
American foreign policy has been seriously debilitated from the lack of sustained analyses of the multiples roles religion plays around the world. Religious leaders and foreign policy experts should (and sometimes do) work towards each other in bringing religious assets to the table where they can support rational policy. This would be the "smart" in smart power.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on February 22, 2010 9:22 PM
Save & Share:
Navin1: I am shocked to think that our government is so stupid as to not take religion into consideration of the long term development of American i...
bpai_99: Absolutely not. The US should be an example of reason and freedom of thought. Religion is directly opposed to those ends.
"I will not att...
JimZ1: The Founding Fathers were right. We can only get ourselves into more trouble by interjecting religious mumbo jumbo into our foreign policy....
