On April 2 at Providence‘s “Islam, the Middle East, and Christian Engagement  with the Middle East” event in Middleburg, Virginia, Chris Seiple spoke about how Americans and Christians could use soft power to engage with various communities.

He also spoke on his work in the region in advocacy of religious freedom and attempts to stem the genocide against all groups taking place at ISIS’ hand, including genocide against ancient Christian groups such as the Assyrians, who are coming close to extinction.

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Also at the event:

To watch Robert Nicholson talk about his article in the inaugural issue of Providence, which argued for autonomous safe havens where Middle Eastern ethnic communities, including Assyrians, could provide their own security, click here.

To watch Juliana Taimoorazy explain the situation Assyrians face in northern Iraq, click here.

To watch Marek Jan Chodakiewicz place Islam in its historical context, click here.

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Chris Seiple is President emeritus and Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Global Engagement, which seeks to advocate for religious freedom around the globe, due to a belief in the global, public goods that spring from religious freedom. One of IGE’s 3 main divisions is the Center for Faith and International Affairs, which seeks to equip scholars and international affairs practitioners with the tools necessary to understand religion’s impact on world affairs.

Dr. Seiple has visited the Middle East 8 times in the past 18 months, including visits to Jordan and Lebanon and 7 visits to Iraqi Kurdistan. Before this talk, he had just returned from celebrating Easter with the persecuted Christian church in Erbil, Iraq.

Chris has his PhD in international relations from Tufts, is a former Marine officer, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Learn more about Dr. Seiple here and the Institute for Global Engagement here.

Photo Credit: By James Gordon via Wikimedia Commons. Chaldean Catholic Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Mar Yousif) in Ankawa, a suburb of Erbil, Iraq.