A Perspective on Foreign Affairs

Abstract

Perhaps I should begin with the open acknowledgement that a theologian does not have any particular competence in the field of foreign policy. In a day when foreign policy is of imperative concern to every citizen the theologian, of course, will have his interest and his convictions in this field, but there is no reason to suppose that in making decisions of policy the theologian will exhibit superior political wisdom.But if this is recognized, why should a theologian's comments on political matters be of any interest? I think that the answer can be seen if we take a moment to look at the nature, not of foreign policy, but of ethics. When we deal with ethical decisions we are close to a man's ultimate world view, we are dealing with his religion. If, with Paul Tillich, we define a man's god as that with which he is ultimately concerned, it is obvious that a man's ethics and a man's religion are intertwined. A man is ultimately concerned with that which he deems to be of greatest value.