The World Council of Church's "Promised Land" conference has thrown up fresh theological perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In the interview, Blair said he was particularly excited for the chance to teach, something he has not done before, and to be able to do it on a topic for which he cares deeply.
"These issues have to be explored in depth, not just through making speeches but through interacting with young people who are interested in the same topics," Blair said. "The chance to actually come to such a great institution as Yale and be able to interact with students - for me, it's a tremendous privilege."
The two-hour class, held in the Law School, will include an introduction by co-teacher and Divinity School professor Miroslav Volf, remarks by Blair and an open discussion with the students. The topic is the stakes of faith and globalization.
If adherents to a religion form exclusive loyalties oriented against practitioners of other religions and against globalization, Volf said in an interview Thursday night, conflict and violence will ensue. But if religion promotes respect for others, it can be a source of peace and help humanize the effects of globalization, he said.
The course aligns with the work of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which was launched in May. Blair said he hopes the class will be a model for teaching elsewhere around the world on the topic of faith. "There's an opportunity here to do something that is really new and different and far-reaching in its effect," he said.
