ABSTRACT
Understanding religion is essential for understanding and explaining international studies. As such, the field of international studies needs religious literacy. However, religious literacy itself demands emotional literacy, to illumine the power of religion and its affectual frameworks. I argue that it is critical to articulate a framework on how to strategize and instrumentalize a practice in cross-cultural religious literacy such that emotional literacy also contributes to public policy, especially peace-making. We must be true to the best of our own traditions in understanding the religions of the other—to know better and to be better. The chapter discusses these issues in the context of the relationship between (comparative) religion and international studies, through the example of the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. The chapter concludes with six principles to guide the way ahead.
