Faith and Foreign Policy: The Views and Influence of U.S. Christians and Christian Organizations

Faith and Foreign Policy identifies and explains significant differences, along with some similarities, in the attitudes and preferences among Roman Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, and Mainline Protestants in the following foreign policy areas: national security and use of force, human rights, the Middle East, international law and organizations, and protection of the global environment. It locates the sources of these differences primarily in doctrinal and cultural/historical factors, including beliefs about the nature of God, the nature of evil and of Satan, eschatology, the human-environment relationship, the proper role of government, the validity (or lack thereof) of other religions, the relationship of God to the United States, and discipleship and mission. The book highlights how religious leaders, organizations, and believers can influence - and have, through a variety of mechanisms, influenced - the general direction of U.S. foreign policy and specific policy decisions. It provides a unique perspective to the understanding of U.S. behavior and policies by helping to comprehend the origins and diversity of these Christian groups' attitudes and preferences.