Parliament of Worlds Religion 1993 Chicago IL

Author(s): Parliament of the World’s Religions
Publisher: USA Parliament of the Worlds Religions

Page 43

Tuesday, August 31 • Major Presentations
mer head, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, and Ramakrishna Mission, Along, Arunchal Pradesh; in 1991, came to the Vedanta Society of Portland, Oregon as Assistant Minister.
3:00 PM–3:45 PM Red Lacquer Room "Reflections on the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions" Dr. Hans Küng Dr. Hans Küng-World renowned Christian scholar, who has pub
lished many books; director of the Ecumenical Institute at Tubingen University in German, leading world scholar on interfaith dialogue.
3:00 PM–3:45 PM Crystal Room "Sikh Women: Equality and Spirituality" Dr. Mehervan Singh; Dr. Jasbir Kaur During Guru Nanak's time, the position of women verged on inhuman. Women were completely under the control of men. Guru Nanak began to change the position of women, "How can she be considered inferior who begets kings?" The Sikh Gurus repudiated the ritual of sati (widow burning) and the tradition of purday (covering the woman's face with a veil). Of the major faiths, Sikhism may be the only one which treats women and men exactly the same. Sikh women lead congregations and have also led Sikh men into battle. Sikhism firmly believes that no country, home, or society can be creative, happy, spiritual, prosperous and truly emancipated without the active participation and cooperation of women. (Introducer: Ms. Gurjot K. Sidhu) Dr. Mehervan Singh-active with the Inter-Religious Organization,
World Conference on Religion and Peace and the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace; has published numerous articles from an ecumenical standpoint on religion and peace; publications include
Sikhism: Its Impact and Contemporary Personal Impressions. Dr. Jasbir Kaur Ph.D., Microbiology; Past President, Sikh Religious
Society, Chicago.
3:00 PM–3:45 PM Salon I "Beyond Politeness: Integrity in Interfaith Dialogue" Fareed Essack; Inamullah Khan Fareed Essack--Professor, Selly Oak College, Birmingham, United
Kingdom; Islamic scholar, specialization in South African affairs.
3:00 PM–3:45 PM Salon III "On the Shores of Darkness there is Light" Grace F. Knoche, Ph.D. Why is there suffering, pain, grief? Why death and evil? Where is the justice in life? Answers lie within the human heart. Things of matter have taken precedence over things of the spirit, alienating us from our innermost truth. We need a new vision, of hope and confidence in the integrity of cosmos. Since light is inherent in darkness, and darkness in light, both are necessary to activate the god essence in every particle of life. Each must achieve divine status consciously. Wisdom comes through trusting the invisible, inte rior qualities of heart-intuition, compassion, and love. Grace F. Knoche, Ph.D.-Leader, The Theosophical Society,
International Society, Pasadena, California; Editor, Sunrise: Theosophic Perspectives magazine; Director, Theosophical University Press; educator, writer, lecturer.
3:00 PM–3:45 PM Grand Ballroom "Zoroastrianism--An Ancient Religion for Modern Man" Keki R. Bhote This presentation will begin with a brief history of the Zoroastrian faith, and a look at the quintessence of Zoroastrian theology. Mr. Bhote will then discuss why Zoroastrianism is applicable inthe modern age, without trampling on their own religious beliefs. Keki R. Bhote one of the founders of the Zoroastrian Associatic
America and the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago; among the Chairs of the 2nd North American Zoroastrian Symposium.
3:00 PM–3:45 PM Salon IV "New Thinking-New Spirit" Arthur Zajonc The subtle new imagination of our universe offered by modern science is open to fruitful engagement with the great spiritual traditions of the world concerning both the nature of our universe and our place in it. One of the critical issues of the next century will be whether humanity heeds the opportunity for this reconciliation, or allows the schism between science and religion to persist. This presentation will explore the implications of the new relationship between science and spirituality for a renewal of society and the earth Arthur Zajonc-Ph.D.; Professor of Physics, Amherst College; Fellow of
Lindisfarne Association and The Fetzer Institute; specialist in quantum physics; visiting scientist at many laboratories, including the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Munich, and the Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris; recipient of prestigious 1992 Fulbright award; author, Catching the Light: the Entwined History of Light and Mind.
3:00 PM–3:45 PM Monroe Ballroom "Towards A Sustainable Future: The Challenge of Unity" Ismail Serageldin This presentation will review the major economic, political, social, and ecological challenges which face the world at the threshold of the 21st century. Ismail Serageldin-Vice President for Environmentally Sustainalble
Development, the World Bank; publications include: Poverty, Adjustment, and Growth in Africa; and A Helping Hand: Development
Aid in A Changing World. 3:00 PM–3:45 PM Parlor H "The World's Religions: Caring for Nature" Kerry Brown; Paul Sochczewski Caring for the natural environment is intrinsic to the world's religious traditions. In this time when religion and social action move ments for ecological sustainability must work hand-in-hand, what new commitments can the religions of the world make to caring for nature? This presentation will invite interactive discussion. Kerry Brown-Director, International Sacred Literature Trust;
gious consultant, World Wide Fund for Nature; author, The Shining Planet: World Music and the Environment; editor of several works,
including, Buddhism and Ecology Paul Sochczewski-head of creative development, World Wide Fund
for Nature; co-author, Save the Tiger, director, WWF programs for integrating cultural and biological diversity,
4:00 PM–4:45 PM Adams Ballroom "Women-Spirituality: Vedanta as Envisioned by Vivekananda" Dr. Lakshmi Kumari India's gift to the world is universal spiritual ideas with a sound scientific basis, universality and global resonance, ancient and modern, youth and reason, knowledge and action. East and West are harmoniously blended in this gift. A reappraisal of these ideals and models can undoubtedly lead to more meaningful harmony and universal brotherhood. Dr. Lakshmi Kumari-born in Kerala, 1936; M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Botany;
President of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanya Kumari (Organization which built Vivekenananda Rock Memorial Temple); mission in life is to bring Swami Vivekananda's ideals to the youth of India.
42 • THE PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS, CHICAGO, 1993 Jain Education Interational 2010_03