John Esposito

John Esposito

Founding director, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University

“On Faith” panelist John L. Esposito is professor of religion, international affairs and Islamic studies at Georgetown University. He also is founding director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. A specialist in Islam, political Islam and the impact of Islamic movements from North Africa to Southeast Asia, Esposito is editor-in-chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World (4 vols.), The Oxford History of Islam, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, and The Islamic World: Past and Present (3 vols.). His more than 30 books include: Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam, World Religions Today (with D. Fasching & T. Lewis), The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, Islam: The Straight Path; Islam and Politics; Islam and Democrac, Makers of Contemporary Islam (with J. Voll) and Islam and Secularism in the Middle East (with A. Tamimi). A consultant to the State Department and corporations, Esposito was appointed to the World Economic Forum’s Council of 100 Leaders and to the High Level Group of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. He is a recipient of the American Academy of Religion’s 2005 Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion and of Pakistan’s Quaid-i-Azzam Award for Outstanding Contributions in Islamic Studies Close.

John Esposito

Founding director, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University

“On Faith” panelist John L. Esposito is professor of religion, international affairs and Islamic studies at Georgetown University. He also is founding director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. more »

Main Page | John Esposito Archives | On Faith Archives


He'd Be Rejected by Democrats and Republicans

Jesus in the 21st century would be different from Jesus and his message in the context of New Testament times.

That said, the Jesus of the Gospels and Paul's epistles, would be neither a Democrat nor a Republican, at least not as these parties are currently configured.

He would be seen as a radical (and by some as politically naive), as in counter establishment and counter cultural, preacher and candidate. Jesus ministry, worldview and message would be inclusive not exclusive, reject an "us" and "them" vision, emphasize peace not war, the Eight Beatitudes rather than sanctions and weapons of mass destruction, unequivocally condemn social and economic injustice, support the ordination of women (given what we now know about the role of women in Jesus and apostolic times).

He would be against the excessive institutionalization and "hierarchization" of religion and denounced the emphasis on doctrine and law over the faith and spirituality. He would be dismayed at the propensity of some religious leaders and their followers to confuse their "Cs," to substitute conflict and condemnation for caring and compassion.

The Jesus of the Gospels would be against excessive secularization and modern forms of nationalism that produced European colonialism, a 20th Century that was perhaps the bloodiest century in history, and a Bush administration that "used" God and the promotion of democracy as an excuse for pursuing a failed foreign policy that has alienated many of our friends and played into the hands of our enemies. Jesus would have believed in a law and order and moral accountability but balanced by mercy and compassion.

So clearly, opposition candidates and the media, as well as self-righteous religious leaders, would have a field day with this politically naive, unrealistic candidate!

Please e-mail On Faith if you'd like to receive an email notification when On Faith sends out a new question.

Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook

Reader Response

ALL COMMENTS (18)

Post a comment

We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.

User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.

Top Local Global

On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is PostGlobal, a conversation on international affairs. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for On Faith to David Waters, its producer.