Washington National Cathedral

The Sunday Forum: Critical Issues in the Light of Faith

The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, host

Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III talks with Washington Post columnist David Ignatius about “The Faith of a Columnist.”

Much of the faith expressed in this conversation is not quite religious faith, but is rather a faith in American tradition to improve the nation; a faith in reconciliation to end wars; a faith in human beings to understand their world and make it a better place; a faith in voters to make mature and well-informed decisions.

In Ignatius’s view, the American political system has grown increasingly dysfunctional in recent decades. The dysfunctionality is now exacerbated by two costly wars and enormous financial problems. Ignatius praises former President George W. Bush’s efforts to reform immigration laws. The efforts failed, however, and the public cost is an increasingly difficult unsolved problem. More recently, the government has had tremendous problems in devising health care reforms that will satisfy a divided public.

“The system that should be solving the problems is not supple and resilient,” Ignatius observes. He reminds us that the United States has met, and solved, grave problems in the past. The political system of the United States ground to a halt in the years before the Civil War, but Ignatius points out that the nation slowly recovered after 1865.

Why is common ground so scarce today? One reason is that journalism has changed significantly during the past several decades, Ignatius says. Journalists were previously trained to present information that would challenge assumptions, and enable readers and hearers to form opinions and make decisions.

Now, many old and new sources of news simply “reinforce what you already believe” and “tell you that you’re right; the people that you don’t like are terrible … the people that you think are your allies are great,” Ignatius summarizes. This approach deepens divisions in society. Lloyd adds that, in an age of instant communication, “It’s hard for people to slow down and reflect, and they’re very easily manipulated.” For a democracy to remain strong, ordinary people must have adequate facts and display common sense—and vote for skilled leaders.

Ignatius discusses the widespread fear of a “clash of civilizations” between the Judeo-Christian world and the Muslim world since the attacks of September 11, 2001. He recently moderated a meeting of 25 leaders from the Sunni and Shi’a Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal traditions convened by Washington National Cathedral. But what practical value does interfaith dialog actually have, beyond informing those in attendance? Ignatius expresses hope that participants returned home with a greater understanding of the other traditions, and that they might convey that understanding to local congregations around the world.

About David Ignatius

David Ignatius is a twice-weekly columnist and associate editor of the Washington Post, writing on global politics, economics, and international affairs. Ignatius’s column has won the 2000 Gerald Loeb Award for Commentary, a 2005 Edward Weintal Special Citation, and the 1984 Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting. He is also creator and co-moderator of “Post-Global,” an online conversation about international affairs at washingtonpost.com. Before joining the Post he worked for ten years as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Ignatius is the author of six books including the most recent, Body of Lies, which has been made into a movie.