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Brianna Aguilar
English 115
John Kubler
6 September 2014
Summary: Albright, Faith and Diplomacy
In the chapter Faith and Diplomacy from Madeleine Albright's book, The Mighty &
the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs, Albright advises that including
religion in foreign affairs, contrary to what some may believe, could actually benefit and bring more
peace to the world. As former U.S. secretary of state, and U.S. ambassador of the United Nations,
Albright gives her readers insight on exactly how having knowledge of different religions and
cultures could positively affect the way nations interact with each other, especially highly religious
nations.

Albright begins by introducing counter arguments including a quote from John Adams and
the song, Imagine, by singer John Lennon. Both sources suggest that religion is often the cause of
universal conflict such as war. While Albright is aware of the harm religion can bring on many
nations, she also believes religion may bring peace and solution when used in the right ways. It is
easy to blame religionor more fairly, what some do in the name of religionfor all our troubles, but
that is too simple. Religion is a powerful force, but its impact depends entirely on what it inspires
people to do. Here Albright expresses that religion is truly a powerful thing but it is in the way that
it is put to use and the way it is interpreted that will ultimately decide whether the outcome is a
positive or negative one.
One of Albrights main suggestions throughout the chapter is that Diplomacies should have
as much knowledge of cultures and religions as they can. This, according to her will influence how

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people think, feel, and act. She then goes on to explain this idea through three stories, all having the
same theme of religious tolerance and ways religion positively affects our world. The first story she
speaks about implies that religion is often a form of empowerment and motivation for its followers,
without it there wouldnt be much to fight for. Standing amid huge crowds, the listeners recognized
in each other once again the qualities that made them proud to be Polishfaith in God and
willingness to run risks for freedom, Albright uses this example of Poland in 1981 during the
Solidarity movement to show the kind of strength that religious faith can bring to a group of people
and the positive impact religion has on politics.

As stated earlier in the chapter Albright also agrees that religion, if interpreted in a negative
way, can be harmful to the way different cultures interact with one another. With this observation at
hand she continues with a second story, but this time she compares religious intolerance with the
morals people hold personally. She explains a story that has to do with a young Christian woman,
Mary, who is shot by a Muslim man because she refuses to renounce her religious beliefs. She is
then left for dead, but lives and remains paralyzed after being shot. While being questioned by
Albright, Mary explains that she has forgiven the man that has left her paralyzed because; she too
has been forgiven by her God. The conversation she has had with Mary brings up Albrights point
that religion can teach us many things, including tolerance. She also brings up that although religion
can cause people to do terrible unimaginable things it could also teach people great lessons. The
second lesson is that religion at its best teaches forgiveness and reconciliation, not only when those
acts are relatively easy but also when they are almost unbelievably difficult. Just like Marys
religion gave her the strength to forgive her attacker, religion can be preached in a way that teaches
people to tolerate one another no matter how different.

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Similar to the second story Albright also introduces a third story that compares good vs. bad uses of
spiritual beliefs. She notes that although religion can be used to excuse evil doing it is also a great form of
hope when fighting evil. Overall she sees religion as a way of understanding one another. She also adds
that although two people have the same faith, it doesnt necessarily mean those two people will have the
exact same beliefs. Albright concludes that religion should not be a form of war, but rather a way of
understanding one another as human beings.