We propose to teach Americans about their own religious traditions and the religions of foreign places in order to make them wiser and more effective foreign service officers, development workers, business people, journalists, citizens of the world.  Thus:

 

The Religion Consulting Group

 

The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations recently released a report on the blind spot caused by the religious illiteracy of most foreign policy experts.  The Washington Post (2/4/10) reports:

 

“American foreign policy is handicapped by a narrow, ill-informed and ‘uncompromising Western secularism’ that feeds religious extremism, threatens traditional cultures and fails to encourage religious groups that promote peace and human rights, according to a two-year study by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.”

 

Madeline Albright adds:

 

“When I was secretary of state, I had an entire bureau of economic experts I could turn to, and a cadre of experts on nonproliferation and arms control whose mastery of technical jargon earned them a nickname, “the priesthood.”  With the notable exception of Ambassador Seiple, I did not have similar expertise available for integrating religious principles into our efforts at diplomacy.  Given the nature of today’s world, knowledge of this type is essential.”  - Madeline Albright, The Mighty and the Almighty, p. 75.

 

Few would suggest at this point that the world would be better off if we did not talk about relations between the races, or relations between the sexes, or sexual orientation.  We submit that religion is just as important as race or gender or sexuality and that the world is ready for a conversation about religion.  Indeed, much effective work in the world requires sensitivity to religious sensibilities.  Religion, as collections of myths and symbols, as ritual activity, as religious institutions, as various ‘priesthoods’ – economic, scientific, cultural – is not going away.  It will not help to ignore it.

 

To end the "episodic and uncoordinated nature of U.S. engagement of religion in the world," the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations task force recommended:

 

-- Adding religion to the training and continuing education of all foreign service officers, diplomats and other key diplomatic, military and economic officials. That includes using the skills and expertise of military veterans and civilians returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

-- Empowering government departments and agencies to engage local and regional religious communities where they are central players in the promotion of human rights and peace, as well as the delivery of health care and other forms of assistance.

-- Address and clarify the role of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy.  Some parts of the world -- the Middle East, China, Russia and India, for example -- are particularly sensitive to the U.S. government's emphasis on religious freedom and see it as a form of imperialism.

 

The Religion Consulting Group proposes to provide this vital training.

 

We especially offer our expertise to people engaged in international development, which requires cooperation between private enterprise, government, civic organizations, religious institutions and the personal beliefs of individuals and groups of individuals.

 

One can certainly find a lot of information about religion on the internet, as one can find information about everything else.  Internet reading, however, is a pale substitute for working with live human beings who have been immersed in the study and practice of religion for decades, who have already read the literature, studied with the experts, dialogued with members of different faiths and visited foreign countries.  We can teach a work group from your company or agency, help them integrate the information and be ready to take maximum advantage of their time away.