Parliament of Worlds Religion 1999 Capetown SA

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

Page 136

1999
PARLIAMENT
DIALOGUE
OF THE
Prof. Uthai Dulyakasem, Buddhist, The Thailand Environment institute, Bangkok, Thailand
Ven. Dr. Phangcham was the president of the Buddhist Council of the Midwest (BCM), from 1993-1997 and is currently president emeritus of the BCM. He has been on the Board of Trustees for the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) since 1993. He is also consultant to the international Buddhist Committee and coordinator of International Visahka Festival in Washington D.C. 1999. Ven. Dr. Phangcham received his BA from Muhachular Buddhist University and, a M.Ed., a M.Phil. (1982), Ph.D. in Education (1985) from Delhi University. Delhi, India. Ven. Dr. Phangcham has been an educator for over three decades and a Buddhist Monk since he was 19.
Dr. Deepankar has been a practicing physician in the Chicago area for the past 18 years. He is currently the Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois. In his nonprofessional life he has been engaged in the struggle for human rights and justice for Dalits "ex-untouchables," Neo-Buddhist, Muslims. Christians, and other minorities for the 21st century. Dr. Deepankar is also President of the New Republic of India International, and Vice President of the Association of Indians in America.
Prof. Rahem, Sudan, currently Professor of Political Science and Islamic Studies at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization. Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
THURSDAY,
The Ven. Samahito was ordained as a Buddhist Monk in 1965 and has been a lecturer on Thervada Buddhism for the past three decades. He has taken part in a number of interfaith groups, Buddhist organizations, and currently lectures at UCLA.
2:00 PM-2:45 PM IN COMMERCE 3.70
The Death and Rebirth of Religious Studies: from
1893 to 1993
Mr. Robert Wilson-Black
The 1890's in North America and Europe was a time of great scholarly interest in the practices and texts of "other" (nonWestern) religious traditions. But worldwide conflict, depressions and shifts in academic thought and interest created a great vacuum in the study of religions. Not until the 1940s -50s did academic institutions revitalize programs, and it wasn't until the 1980s that strong networks of scholars were developed. Why, how, with whom and where did this happen?
2:00 PM-3:00 PM IN COMMERCE 2.57
How our Definition of Success Influences our World
Robert Wilson-Black is a member of the Xa Church (Disciples of Christ), a scholar at Disciples Divinity House and Ph.D. Candidate in American Religious History at the University of Chicago where he currently works in the administration. Editing a book on Ethnic identity within Denominations and a participant in the Pew Trust's Public Religions Project, Rob travels internationally on a regular basis, visiting institutions of higher education and he enjoys being a pastor's spouse in his free
time.
Ms. Charlene Hunter
Every spiritual and religious tradition has, as its core, the understanding that success as human beings is characterized by union with the Divine. Yet westernized cultures have developed the belief that "success" comes from an accumulation of information, property and power that will ultimately lead to wealth, security and happiness, and this belief is spreading amongst indigenous cultures. This 2 hour forum will include comments from a diverse panel on how our westernized belief about success is impacting our world. How is this belief in conflict with our core spiritual/religious understanding? How can we individually and collectively address this belief to create a more sustainable and truly wholesome world?
Charlene Hunter is Director of Operations for the Emissaries of Divine Light. She has been on the Board of Trustees for over 20 years.
WORLD S RELI
Panch
2:00 PM-2:45 PM IN THEATER 3
GIONS
DECEMBER 2
The Interfaith Movement - Where Are We Now And Where Are We Going?
Ms. Kusumita P Pederson
The speaker will present an overview and analysis of the interfaith movement in the world today, trying to determine what we actually know about all the different kinds of work being done in different contexts. The interfaith movement is entering a new phase- what is new about it? Major problems and challenges will be identified, as well as the opening of new possibilities. The presentation is intended to stimulate constructive discussion.
Kusumita P. Pederson is Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at St. Francis College in New York. She was previously Executive Director of the Project on Religion and Human Rights, Joint Secretary for religious affairs of the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival and Executive Director of the Temple of Understanding. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions.
2:00 PM-3:00 PM IN COMMERCE 2.54
The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage: Its History and Vision
Ms. Ingrid C. Askew; Sr. Clare Carter; Elaine Kenseth Abel; Jacquelyn Smith Crooks
Four different perspectives will be discussed by a panel who will share their involvement with the history and vision of the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage- a twelve month journey retracing the history of the transatlantic slave trade. Ingrid Askew is Coordinating Director for The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage as well as an actress, stage director and cultural activist, whose work has spanned 18 years in the New England area. Ms. Askew is one of two founders of the Interfaith Pilgrimage along with Sister Clare Carter of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order. Ms. Askew assisted in the development of educational theater components with participants of the Pilgrimage by focusing on themes relative to the Middle Passage and slavery.
Sister Clare Carter is the co-creator of the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage. in 1981 she was ordained as a Buddhist nun of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order at Mt. Kiyosumi, Japan. In addition to the building of Peace Pagodas, the order is internationally recognized for their initiation of Pilgrimages. It was Sister Clare's vision and spiritual commitment to World Peace and Justice that led to the creation of the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage.
Elaine Kenseth-Abel is an educator and activist whose work in reuniting Cambodian refugees with their families has brought her much honor and respect in her community in Western Massachusetts. Elaine assisted with the coordination of the Interfaith Pilgrimage walker orientation retreat, and the Pilgrimage opening ceremony logistics. She handled the numerous day to day challenges that always arise when undertaking a project of this magnitude.
Jacquelyn Smith Crooks is an educator by profession and is currently studying at Andover Newton Theological School, where her focus is in the area of Faith, Healing and Spirituality. During the past year and a half, Jacquelyn has been working as Pilgrimage coordinator of the Newton/Metro West (Boston) Committee. She has worked extensively from stateside to assist the walkers through fundraising and established the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage Resource Center, currently housed at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, MA.
2:00 PM-2:45 PM IN SCIENCE 2.70
Islam & Other Religions: Issues and Directions for the Next Century
Dr. Muzzamil Siddiqi; Sheik Kamil al-Sharif; Dr. Mawlani Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani; Prof. Amir Al-Islam The panelists will examine issues on the global level and suggest how a better picture will emerge in the 21st century through better understanding and cooperation between Islam and other religions. They will mainly consider the possibility of peace-loving people from different faith communities rising above their communal interests and working together for social
Dialoque
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