World of Faith and Freedom : Why International Religious Liberty Is Vital to American National Security

## Abstract The global resurgence of public religion has major implications for America's vital interests abroad and its security at home. The 1979 Shiite revolution in Iran, the Catholic contribution to the “third wave” of democratization, the 9/11 attacks — all demonstrate just how important a force religion has become. And yet, despite being the most religious nation in the West, the United States has not adjusted well to religious actors in international affairs. Its policy makers and diplomats seem either ignorant or baffled about religious ideas, communities or movements. American security has suffered as a result. In the broader Middle East, Russia, India, and elsewhere, U.S. reluctance to engage religious actors and political theologies has handicapped the development of stable democracy. In China, U.S. religious freedom policy has amounted to little more than occasional demands for prisoner releases. In fact, U.S. policy worldwide has been characterized more by an anemic opposition to religious persecution than to the actual advancement of religious freedom. This book examines the origins and nature of U.S. diplomacy's “religion avoidance syndrome,” and offers remedies. Focusing on the importance of religion to human nature, it develops a broad-based concept of religious freedom as necessary to human flourishing and stable democracy. It explores why scholars and policy makers have, in the nation's democracy promotion and religious freedom policies, ignored the salience of religion in human affairs. Three chapters chronicle the author's adventures in the Department of State under two administrations, and in his travels to advance religious liberty. The book ends with extensive examinations of two of the most vexing challenges for U.S. foreign policy — Islam and China. Along the way it provides concrete proposals for correcting the deficiencies of American policy and engaging more effectively a world of faith. Virtually every trouble spot on the planet has some sort of religious component. One need only consider Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran, Israel and Palestine, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Russia, and China, to name but a few. Looming behind national issues, of course, is the problem of regional Islamist extremism and transnational Islamist terrorism. In all of these sectors, religious tensions, ideas and actors are of great geo-political importance to the United States. Yet, argues Thomas Farr, our foreign policy is gravely handicapped by an inability to understand the role of religion either nationally or globally. There is a strong disinclination in American diplomacy to consider religious factors at all, either as part of the problem or part of the solution. In this engaging and well-written insider account, Farr offers a closely reasoned argument that religious freedom, the freedom to practice one's own religion in private and in public, is an essential prerequisite for a stable, durable democratic society. If the U.S. wants to foster democracy that lasts, he says, it must focus on fostering religious liberty, especially in its public manifestations, properly limited in a way that advances the common good. Although we ourselves have developed a remarkably successful model of religious freedom, our foreign policy favors an aggressive secularism that is at odds with the American model. It is essential, says Farr, that we take an approach that recognizes the great importance of religion in people's lives. Contents......Page 14 Introduction: Why Religious Freedom?......Page 18 PART I. INTIMATIONS......Page 44 1. Confounded by Faith......Page 46 2. The Intellectual Sources of Diplomacy’s Religion Deficit......Page 68 3. Religion and Stable Self-Government......Page 94 PART II. ACTS......Page 124 4. The Legislative Campaign against Religious Persecution......Page 126 5. The Lion’s Den at Foggy Bottom: Act I......Page 150 6. Interregnum (2000–2002)......Page 176 7. The Lion’s Den: Act II......Page 202 PART III. PARTICULARS......Page 228 8. Seeking the Heart of Islam......Page 232 9. Islam and the American Opportunity......Page 258 10. Riding the Dragon: The Case of China......Page 288 Conclusion: Whither Religious Freedom?......Page 324 Notes......Page 328 A......Page 364 B......Page 365 C......Page 366 D......Page 368 F......Page 369 H......Page 370 I......Page 371 J......Page 373 M......Page 374 N......Page 375 R......Page 376 S......Page 378 T......Page 380 U......Page 381 Z......Page 382 Most Trouble Spots Have Some Sort Of Religious Component, From Iraq And Afghanistan To Israel And Palestine. These Conflicts Are Of Great Geo-political Importance And Of Interest To The Us. Yet, Argues Farr, Our Foreign Policy Is Handicapped By An Inability To Understand The Role Of Religion In These Places. Introduction : Why Religious Freedom? -- Confounded By Faith -- The Intellectual Sources Of Diplomacy's Religion Deficit -- Religion And Stable Self-government -- The Legislative Campaign Against Religious Persecution -- The Lion's Den At Foggy Bottom : Act I -- Interregnum (2000-2002) -- The Lion's Den : Act Ii -- Seeking The Heart Of Islam -- Islam And The American Opportunity -- Riding The Dragon : The Case Of China -- Conclusion : Whither Religious Freedom? Thomas F. Farr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [313]-348) And Index. Introduction : why religious freedom? Confounded by faith The intellectual sources of diplomacy's religion deficit Religion and liberal governance The legislative campaign against religious persecution The lion's den at Foggy Bottom : act I Interregnum (2000-2002) The lion's den : act II Seeking the heart of Islam Islam and the American opportunity Riding the dragon : the case of China Conclusion : whither religious freedom?