JAINA Convention 2001 07 Chicago IL

Author(s): Jain Society of Metropolitian Chicago
Publisher: USA Jain Center Chicago IL

Page 41

Speaker:
Anne Vallely, PhD. have had a life-long interest in Jainism. She pursued doctoral studies at the University of Toronto in Cultural Anthropology, and wrote her PhD dissertation on Jainism in 1999. Her book "Custodians of the Lokottar: An Ethnography of a Jain Ascetic Community" (in press, University of Toronto Press) is based on her research among Jain ascetics in Rajasthan, and will be released this year. She now teaches at McGill University and Concordia University in Montreal. Mikal Radford is a PhD candidate in Religious Studies and the Social Sciences at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is presently working on his dissertation which will examine how members of the Jaina Diaspora consolidate their socio-religious ideals within a North American context. His first exposure to the Jaina tradition was during his Undergraduate work at Wilfrid Laurier University where he wrote his honors thesis "The Jaina Ritual of Sallenkhana: Fasting to Death and Western Paradox."
Number ABC 606 R
ABC 606
Number AB 406R
AB 406
Session Information:
This session we will attempt to define the terms "science" and "modern science" and then, draw the relationship between these forms of thought and Jain Philosophy. Jainism is an inherently scientific philosophy, however, this aspect of Jain thought is often misconstrued in a dogmatic fashion. The result is a discredit and misunderstanding of both Jainism and science. This presentation reviews the definition of science and shows how it applies to Jain philosophy. It is a philosophical discussion, which attempts to use mostly plain English (or at least explain any philosophical jargon), and invite audience participation in the reasoning process.
Topic Jainism and Modern Science
Speaker:
Dr.Tushar Mehta is a physician from Toronto, Ontario. Dr.Mehta has a B.S. degree in liberal arts, involving much study in philosophy, from McMaster University. Dr. Mehta's main interests are International development, Human/Animal Rights, Environmental science, Philosophy, and the Fine Arts.
Topic Jainism - Comparative religion study
Number BC 507R
BC 507
Speaker Dr. Tushar Mehta
Speaker
Jain Center of Greater Boston
Topic
Jainism, Science and Truth
Time/Location Friday 2:30-3:20 p.m. Hyatt, Pebble Beach
Session Information:
Gandhi said "I learned more about India when I was living in South Africa." Similarly you'll find that by exploring Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism, you'll gain great insight into "religion" as a historical, social, political, cultural, and of course spiritual phenomenon. This session will be lively, interactive, and will forward a new methodology to view world religion and specifically how Jainism maps into these schools of thoughts and insight into the future of Jainism as a religion.
Sunday 9:30-10:20 a.m. Hyatt, Grand Cypress A/B
Speaker:
Jain Center of Boston's Pathshala Level 6 is the same group that brought you "Ancient Scriptures Come live - Tattvarth Sutra" and "Jain Experience" in the past conventions.
Speaker Archit Shah
Time
Friday 4:00-5:20 p.m. Hyatt, Atrium Level, Forum
Saturday 4:00-5:20 p.m. Hyatt, Atrium Level, Forum
Time/ Location Friday 3:30-4:20 p.m. Hyatt, Pinehurst A/B
Saturday 1:30-2:20 p.m. Hyatt, Grand Cypress A/B
Session Information:
This session will explore the ways how Jainism and modern science approach the problem of discovering the truth. In comparing the two paths, we can see the merits and difficulties of each.
JAINA Convention 2001 Program Book Page # 31