Congressional consideration of the Freedom from Religious Persecution
bill introduced by Representative Frank Wolf and Senator Arlen
Specter has precipitated a small-scale debate about a little-studied
subject: the connection between American religion and foreign
relations. If passed, the Wolf-Specter bill will establish an office
in the State Department to monitor religious persecution and withdraw
"non-humanitarian" aid from countries that fail to meet our
standards. Even in the absence of such an office, many Americans have
always been concerned about religious freedom abroad and the State
Department has intermittently protested persecution since the early
days of the republic. The debate on the bill would be enhanced by a
historical perspective.
The historical connection between American religion and foreign
relations may be explored on four levels. First, to what extent and
in what ways have religious beliefs contributed to the widely shared
but amorphous assumption that the United States is an exceptional
nation with a unique role in the world? Second, to what extent have
religious "interest groups" at home and religious issues abroad
influenced government foreign policies? Third, to what extent and in
what ways have serious religious ideas--including esoteric
theological doctrines--affected those interest groups, as well as
important international relations theorists and policymakers?
Finally, to what extent have foreign involvements affected the
domestic religious scene?
