Faith and Globalization 2008 - Audio

Tony Blair speaks at Yale University about faith and globalization in relation to recent world events such as the economic crisis, the election of Barack Obama, climate change and the Mumbai terrorist attacks. He also lists the ten most important topics relating to faith and globalization for people to keep in mind as the world moves forward.

Professor Miroslav Volf, Lamin Sanneh, and José Casanova discuss how faiths will engage economy, politics and international affairs under the process of globalization.

Miroslav Volf interviews sociologist Jose Casanova about the shortcomings of the secularization thesis, transformations in our understanding of modernity, and the relationship of democracy and faith in our globalized world.

The impacts of faith and globalization extend to diverse sectors of society. Survey perspectives on this matter from religious leaders, business professionals, media reporters, political leaders, and academicians.

Tony Blair responds to a student's question about whether one can be fully committed to one's faith and still be a fully committed, engaged and responsible politician.

Tony Blair responds to a student's question about whether key values informing a just engagement with globalization must be derived from religion or from humanistic sources.

Tony Blair responds to a student's question about how to practically inject values into the global system.

Tony Blair responds to a student's question as to whether we can simply add values to existing structures or whether structural change is necessary.

What are the challenges and opportunities of expressing one’s faith while holding political office? Consider how leaders from around the world address these challenges and utilize these opportunities.

Kamari Clarke and John Witte respond to a student's question about how to adjudicate between international and national standards of human rights.

John Witte responds to a question about whether there is a common enough basis among world religions for a human rights declaration.

John Witte responds to a comment about the differing ideas of faith in Christianity and Islam and the implications for accepting a universal declaration of rights.

After introductory remarks by Miroslav Volf, John Witte, Jr. of Emory Law School presents his case for a theory of universal human rights, and Kamari Clarke of Yale argues for the need to locate human rights discourse within particular contexts.

Miroslav Volf interviews John Witte, Jr. about human rights language in today's globalized world, the historical development of human rights law, and the enduring need of universal human rights discourse in contemporary society.

The language of human rights has become the universal moral discourse in our globalized era. Explore how faiths support and motivate respect for these rights or critique and oppose the validity of human rights.

Tony Blair responds to a student's question about the argument that using violence is a feasible way of gaining national attention for one's cause.

Rev. Harold Good and Tony Blair respond to a student's question about how to steer warring sides off the path of violence and toward dialogue.

Tony Blair, Rev. Harold Good, and Miroslav Volf respond to a student's question about the role of fatigue in bringing both sides to the table for dialogue.

After preliminary reflections on faith and reconciliation by Miroslav Volf and Tony Blair, Fr. Alec Reid and Rev. Harold Good discuss the role of faith in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Rev. Harold Good responds to a student's question about the place and importance of theology in the peace process.

Harold Attridge, Dean of the Yale Divinity School, interviews Reverend Alec Reid and Reverend G. Harold Good about the role of faith in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Faiths can provide rich resources for promoting reconciliation between persons and cultures. Examine the possible contributions that faith can play in healing divides and nurturing the common good.

Professor Kuzmic responds to a student's question about the various ways religious and secular values can be mobilized to promote a concern for human life.

Professor Seneviratne responds to a student's question about how secularization might play a role in mediating the religious conflict in Sri Lanka.

Professor Seneviratne responds to a student's question about whether it is useful for the international community to analyze the conflict in Sri Lanka through the lens of religion.

Lisa Tepper-Bates speaks with H. L. Seneviratne concerning Sri Lanka, Buddhism and Hinduism's relationships to the violent struggle there, as well as the confluence of economic and political factors which are fueling tensions on the ground.

After introductory remarks by Miroslav Volf on the interplay of religion, globalization forces, and violence, H.L. Seneviratne (University of Virginia) discusses the civil strife in Sri Lanka, and Peter Kuzmic (Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary) reviews the factors at play in the conflict in the Balkans.

Miroslav Volf speaks with Peter Kuzmic about the conflict in the Balkans, discussing the ethnic and religious nationalism in the post-Soviet bloc and ways special interest groups manipulate such rhetoric for their own ends.

The destructive potential of faiths and their capacity to divide communities is more acutely felt in our closely interconnected world. Investigate the conditions under which faiths contribute to conflict and the possibilities for preventing these negative outcomes.

After introductory remarks by Joel Podolny on the relationship between business and faith/values, Christine Bader and Tim Collins discuss the possibility of infusing business practices with principles of social responsibility.

Christine Bader and Tim Collins respond to student questions on corporate social responsibility.

Christine Bader and Tim Collins respond to student questions on corporate social responsibility.

Economic institutions like corporations and governmental agencies face new challenges under the conditions of globalization. Consider the manner in which such institutions address the faith of their employees and their constituents, as well as the way “faith-based” companies develop creative ways of matching social responsibility with economic competitiveness.

Harold Attridge, Dean of the Yale Divinity School, interviews John Kelsay Distinguished Research Professor and Richard L. Rubenstein Professor of Religion at Florida State University on the topics of Christianity, Islam, 9/11 and the study of religion.

Miroslav Volf, the Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology and Director for the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, introduces the students in the Yale University Faith and Globalization seminar to the ideas of the Significance and Ambivalence of Faiths.

Professor Miroslav Volf introduces the seminar on Faith and Globalization and outlines the goals and objectives of the course.

Tony Blair outlines the reasons behind his new Faith Foundation and describes the goals and ambitions for his partnership with Yale.

The broad and public influence of faiths on global affairs is increasingly evident. Investigate the mixed character of this influence and the ambiguities pertaining to one's evaluations of the results.

John Kelsay, Associate Dean for Humanities, Distinguished Research Professor and Richard L. Rubenstein Professor of Religion at Florida State University, addresses the Faith & Globalization class.

William Chapman, Director of Policy at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, welcomes the class and introduces a special message from Mr. Blair.

Both "faith" and "globalization" are abstract and contested concepts. Explore what each can mean and why it matters to understanding the interaction between faith and globalization in the contemporary world.