The World Affairs Council completed the 2006-07 season of its Global Issues Forum at UNF Center on April 10, with an insightful, witty and provocative lecture by Jon Meacham, the Editor of Newsweek, as well as a noted historian and best-selling author.  Meacham spoke on the intersection of religion and politics in America from the founding of our nation to the present day.

When drafting our Constitution our founding fathers deliberately chose to guarantee religious freedom rather than religious tolerance, said Meacham, and the U.S. has consistently reaffirmed religious freedom over religious dogma at critical moments throughout our history.   Meacham noted that separation of church and state is not equivalent to the separation of religion and politics, but nevertheless cautioned that assuming one’s political position is ordained by God eliminates any possibility of discussion and dialogue with those who take an opposing view.

Religion must be managed and marshaled for the public good, argued Meacham, but we must simultaneously keep in mind Christ’s words that “My Kingdom is not of this world”.  The challenge for believers is how to create a moral society in a perilous world, while the challenge of our nation is to tell America ’s story of religious liberty, a story that is truly bi-partisan.  In both instances, said Meacham, we must exhibit forbearance and tolerance of those with a different point of view.  “Hold them close”, he said.  “It is what makes us different. It is what makes us special.”

Earlier in the day, Meacham drew on his intimate knowledge of Roosevelt and Churchill to speak to Council Sponsors and select Board members on “Leadership Lessons for Today” at a  luncheon hosted by the Law Offices of Holland and Knight.

-Tom Brennan

Board of Directors

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville

^{Sponsored By:} Water Street Capital, The Kahn Family Foundation, The River Branch Foundation and The Davis College of Business at Jacksonville University

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