Theologian Hans Kung wrote, “There will be no peace among nations, without peace among religions.” Throughout human history, religion has been used as a motivation and justification for war, while at the same time religion has been used to inspire people to seek peace. In this session, Bishop William Swing and General James Mattis discuss issues of religion, war and peace.
Military leaders have responsibilities as much to support peace as they have to fight wars.
- General James Mattis
General James N. Mattis
- US Marine Corps (retired)
- Davies Family Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution
- Former United States Secretary of Defense
General James N. Mattis returns as the Davies Family Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution as of May 2019, after having served as the United States’ 26th Secretary of Defense. General Mattis has commanded at multiple levels through his 44-year career as an infantry Marine. As a general, he served concurrently as the Commander of US Joint Forces Command and as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation. Before retiring in 2013, he was Commander of US Central Command, directing military operations of over 200,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, Coast Guardsmen and women, Marines and allied forces across the Middle East. He is co-editor of the book Warriors & Citizens: American Views of Our Military (2016).
The Rt. Rev. William Swing
- President and Founding Trustee of URI
- Former Episcopal Bishop of California
William E. Swing, 7th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California (1980-2006), was born in Huntington, West Virginia. He graduated from Kenyon College and Virginia Theological Seminary, and holds six honorary degrees. Bishop Swing served as a priest in Wheeling, Weirton, and Chester, West Virginia. He also started a church at Waterford Park Race Track in Chester, pioneered homeless work in San Francisco, and played a critical role in saving St. Luke’s Hospital. He served on the Board of the American Foundation for AIDS research for 20 years and has spoken throughout the world. He was instrumental in starting a capital development bank in Oakland. He is known as an outspoken leader about the standing of gays and lesbians in the church. He led the radical expansion of the Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg, California. Bishop Swing is the Founder and President of the United Religions Initiative. He is married to Mary Taylor Swing and has two children and three grandchildren.
