Washington ( CNN ) -- Religion is a growing factor in world affairs , but the U.S. government tends to view it through the lens of counterterrorism . That 's the conclusion of a two-year study by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs . The success of American diplomacy in the next decade `` will be measured by its ability to connect with the hundreds of millions of people throughout the world whose identity is defined by religion , '' the report says . `` The challenge before us is to marginalize religious extremists , not religion , '' it concludes . The report , `` Engaging Religious Communities Abroad : A New Imperative for U.S. Foreign Policy , '' finds the key challenge for America internationally is to `` understand the role of religion in world affairs and to constructively engage with religious communities around the world . '' The report , presented to the White House this week , was written by task force of 32 experts , including former government officials , religious leaders , heads of international organizations and scholars . Religious communities , they point out , are central players in major developments around the world : the war in Afghanistan , the promotion of human rights , environmental policy and the pursuit of peace . `` Well-organized and well-funded extremist groups also use religion , '' they say , `` to deepen existing cultural and political fault lines and justify militancy and terrorism . '' `` Religion has played a negative role in U.S. foreign policy in the past , especially in relations with the Muslim world , '' notes Thomas Wright , executive director of studies for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the report 's project director . The strategy of engaging religious communities is not trying to circumvent the First Amendment , observed Wright . `` The separation of church and state is vital and must be preserved in foreign as well as domestic policy , '' Wright said . But citing President Obama 's Cairo speech to the Muslim world in June 2009 , Wright said `` the United States has greatly improved its capacity to understand religious dynamics in world affairs . '' The report notes the speech `` set the stage for a new departure in U.S. foreign policy toward Muslim communities '' but `` the scope must be much broader . '' `` Engaging Islam is only one very crucial component of a larger challenge ... engaging the multitude of religious communities across the world as an integral part of our foreign policy . '' Without `` more serious and thoughtful engagement '' with religion , the report says , `` U.S. foreign policy will miss important opportunities . ''
Chicago Council on Global Affairs issues two - year report on religion , foreign policy . Report : U.S. government tends to view religion through the lens of politics . It says major challenge for U.S. is to understand powerful influence of religion in other societies . Report specifically points out negative relations with the Muslim world .