Blair calls for religion to be "rescued from extremism"

Published on April 03, 2008

In the first of a series of lectures organised by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Tony Blair tonight called for religious faith to be rescued from extremism and put at the centre of solving the world's problems.

The former prime minister said that in an increasingly globalised world, the role of faith is "especially important".

Religion could "awaken the world's conscience" and help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate poverty and hunger, he said.

In an address on faith and globalisation at Westminster Cathedral, Mr Blair warned against the "extremist and exclusionary tendency in religion today".

He said: "In the last 10 years we have also been reminded sharply, in acts of terror committed in the name of faith, that we ignore the power of religion at our peril."

Mr Blair, who converted to Catholicism after leaving Downing Street last year, continued: "Religious faith... is most obviously associated with extremism in the name of Islam through the activities of al Qaida and others.

"Even if by far most religious people are not prone to the use of terror, at least not nowadays, there are extremists in virtually every religion.

"And even where there is not extremism expressed in violence there is extremism expressed in the idea that a person's identity is to be found not merely in their religious faith, but in their faith as a means of excluding the other person who does not share it."

He argued that it is not extreme for a person to believe their own religion is the only faith - "most people of faith do that" - but said it should not stop them respecting other religions.

Mr Blair said people must accept that faith is not in decline and the world has become more economically, politically and ideologically independent.

"The divide, then, is between those who see this as positive, the opening up offering opportunity, and those who see it as threatening and wish to close it back down," he said.

He said since leaving office he realised that the "centre of gravity, economically and politically is shifting east".

China and India are "of vital strategic importance" he said.

"I believe, in this era of rapid globalisation, where power is shifting away from its traditional centre in the West, the world will be immeasurably poorer, more dangerous, more fragile and above all, more aimless - I mean without the necessary sense of purpose to help guide its journey - if it is without a strong spiritual dimension."

Mr Blair, who said he was "not a religious leader" and made "no claims to moral superiority", is currently working as an international envoy to the Middle East.

He has also taken up positions in the private sector and a teaching job on the subject of faith and globalisation at Yale University in the US.

In the first of the Cardinal's Lectures about faith and life in Britain, Mr Blair set out plans for his new Faith Foundation, to be launched later this year.

It will focus on bringing different religions together to tackle the MDGs - "in many ways the litmus test of the world's values".

The eight goals include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, providing universal primary education and combating HIV and Aids.

Mr Blair said: "The MDGs are stark in their ambition and necessity.

"We are falling short as a world in meeting them.

"It would be a great example of faith in action to try to bridge the gap and awaken the world's conscience."

The former Prime Minister said the Tony Blair Faith Foundation will bring together Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists to promote faith as a relevant and positive force for good.

About 1,600 people who applied for free tickets to hear the former premier were present in the Cathedral in central London to hear the address, Mr Blair's first major speech in the country since leaving office.

It was preceded by a silent vigil outside by Pax Christi UK, the Catholic peace activists, followed by a noisy "wall of sound" demonstration by anti-Iraq war demonstrators from the Stop The War Coalition.