Suzii Paynter writes for Associated Baptist Press about the evolving dance between religion and foreign policy.
Religion has gone from being virtually ignored in foreign policy to being acknowledged. This is clearly stage one of a relationship — and is accompanied by much of the same awkwardness of any new encounter. If religion is being acknowledged in policy circles, the relationship is soon to advance to a process of more integration. In the past three years, I have participated in several forums that bring religious and foreign-policy leaders together. Both sides are learning. The public-policy folks are often strong on persuasion and information. The religious leaders are almost always trying to convey the diversity of religious interests and voices — there is no religious monolith in the 21st century either within religious traditions or among religious traditions.
