Alice MaggioThis is a very general concept in my faith and its relation to foreign policy, but its worth analyzing: Relational effort and reconciliation.
Much of the Bible is filled with the overall idea that we ought to prioritize relationships above all else. Ephesians 4:32 comes to my mind: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” I know it might be far too simple to say ‘Play nice with everyone and the world will know peace,’ however, it has been helpful, not harmful, to think about foreign policy with faith as the foundation rock. We ought not to forget the connection between faith and the Middle East, as Nicholson articulated:
Religion is especially powerful in the Middle East—all three Abrahamic religions began there after all—but it’s a major stumbling block for Beltway wonks who are trained to avoid any mention of faith. For most of them, religion is either irrational, oppressive, or irrelevant in a world driven by mere economic and political interests. In a creedal republic like the US, making distinctions between people based on religious affiliation is the ultimate transgression. Differences don’t matter—we must not talk about them. Here we find the original error of American foreign policy: assuming that everyone in the world is just like us, wants to be like us, or ought to be like us. We feel guilty if we think anything different.
My faith influencing my opinions and thoughts on foreign policy have been subconscious. They seem to be less overt than the way policy makers and politicians who let their faith lead their decisions, but the influence is still strong. There is also something to be said about treating other nations and cultures and groups of people with respect and dignity, when we believe that all humans were designed and created by God. I am also considering how my Western upbringing and values might outshine my faith with regard to foreign policy. Nicholson’s discussion on this above stopped me in my tracks, and made me reframe how much I have unconsciously absorbed the loud background noise that is America’s social and foreign policy warriors.
