God and Foreign Policy: The Religious Divide Between the U.S. and Europe

Transcript

E.J. DIONNE, JR.: The presence today of so many interested people suggests that the subject of the religious divide between the U.S. and Europe is one that engages lots of people, in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. To put our discussion into context, I would like to cite some of the things that have been said and written about the differences between the U.S. and Europe on questions of religion.

Francois Heisbourg, the director of the Foundation for Strategic Research, a Paris think tank, said the following: "The biblical references in politics, the division of the world between good and evil, these are things that we simply don't get." He goes on: "In a number of areas, it seems to me that we are no longer part of the same civilization." He's speaking here of the United States and Europe. "You have a fairly religious society on one hand and generally secular societies on the other, operating with different references. What would unite us does not seem to be in the forefront."

The Economist wrote recently: "America differs starkly from Europe, where religion is often what Grace Davie of Britain's Exeter University describes as a ?public utility.' As she puts it, ?In Europe there is a concept of "vicarious religion," of a small number worshiping on behalf of everyone else. Americans find Europe's secularism bizarre.'"

The complete event transcript is available on the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life website.