Live Chatting with Andrew Bacevich and Stephen Prothero

A live chat between two nationally prominent BU professors, Andrew Bacevich and Stephen Prothero, ponders the role of religious impulses in American foreign policy. Is it a salutary role? A CAS professor of religion, Prothero cites two examples of presidents making policy as if Americans were God's chosen: Woodrow Wilson, who said the United States should enter World War I to make the world "safe for democracy," and George W. Bush, who considered Afghanistan and Iraq the vanguard of an American-led democratization of people around the world.

"Religion is pervasive—part of the human experience," says Bacevich, a CAS professor of international relations. While disclaiming expertise in religious matters, he says that when it comes to making policy, "we should exercise great care to avoid distorting or overstating religion's role."

The conversation is followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.

Hosted by the Office of Public Relations on October 27, 2010.

Category:

Education

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• andrew bacevich
• stephen prothero
• live chat
• religion
• foreign policy
• america
• Lectures