Parliament of Worlds Religion 1999 Capetown SA

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

Page 69

Major Presentations
1999 PARLIAMENT MAJOR PRESENTATIONS
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10:00 AM-11:00 AM GOOD HOPE ARENA A New Religious Discourse for a Rapidly Changing World
Mr. Ebrahim Rasool
In this presentation, Mr. Rasool, the leader of the African National Congress for the Western Cape, will explore the challenge of steering a course between religious apathy and extremism.
THERE
Mr. Rasool is the leader of the African National Congress (Party) for the Western Cape.
10:00 AM-11:30 AM IN COMMERCE 2.56
The Faith of Modernity and Traditional Religions: Conflict or Creative Engagement
Rabbi Herb Bronstein
The premise for this presentation is that the Parliament should have the opportunity to process our world religious situation after the critique of modernity. The session is based on the following premises: first, Modernity can be considered a faith which originated in Western Europe and is considered by some dichotomous with traditional religious faiths of various kinds. It has its creed, its constructs and its salvific vision. Second, the core faith of Modernity, which is that reason, science, and technology could bring earthly salvation on all levels material and social and that empiricism is the source of all truths, is no longer viable. Indeed, some intellectuals ascribe to the constructs and premises of western Modernity, with its emphasis on development, many of the problems and oppressions of our time. Third, it is important for various religious traditions to assess the new religious situation and the challenges to indigenous and 'axial' spiritualities now that the faith of Modernity is being roundly criticized.
Herbert Bronstein teaches Comparative Religion at Lake Forest College and has been a Senior Scholar at the North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois for over 25 years. He has combined a successful vocation as a congregational rabbi with life long achievements in scholarship, academic teaching, and lecturing at various universities.
10:00 AM-11:00 AM IN SCIENCE 2.71
Liberation Theology and Freedom of Religion in Postcolonial South Africa
Ms. Nokuzola Mndende
The Bill of Rights asserts that everyone has the right to freedom of Religion. This lecture discusses the extent to which African Religions have been liberated and unclothed from colonial and apartheid interpretations. The presenter will also explore how capitalism and Christianisation have been used to further marginalise and humiliate those who are poor. The presenter will also illustrate how Africans are still made objects of study by outside researchers.
10:00 AM-11:00 AM IN THEATER 1 Peace: For Ourselves, For the World
Ms. Nokuzola Mndende (practitioner of African indigenous religion and scholar at the South Africa University of Cape Town: National Chairperson of the National Council of African Traditional Religion.
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Swami Chidananda Saraswati
This Major Presentation will focus on how the insights of the Hindu tradition can help bring internal, inter-familial, national, international and universal harmony. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj will explain how the Indian cultural tradition has universal (secular) answers to the violence, disharmony, and disillusionment of the world today. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj left his home at 8 years old, in order to live a life devoted to God and to the service of His people.
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Nine years of meditation, seclusion and silence in the Himalayas prepared Him for this divine life. Pujya Swamiji is President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, India, one of the largest institutions in India, and he is Founder/chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation, an international, non-profit, humanitarian foundation. He is also the founder and inspiration behind innumerable temples, health care projects, educational institutions and ecological programs across the globe.
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10:00 AM-10:45 AM IN PODIUM HALL
The Qur'anic Concept of Universal Principles Mawlana Mujahidul Islam Qasmi
The Qur'an is an embodiment of the will of God, which provides universal guidance on principles of justice. This presentation illustrates these principles that can provide guidelines for universal justice in the global family. Mujahidul Islam Qasimi is a reknowned 'alim (religious leader) from India. He is a Secretary General of All India Milli Council, the Director of the Figh Academy of India and he is Amir (President) Imarat-e Shariah in Bihar, India.
10:00 AM-12:00 PM IN THEATER 3
Trends, Models, Paradigms of Change: Preparing for Life in the 21st Century
Dr. Linda Groff
This presentation will have four parts, with each part looking at a deeper level of analysis and change. The presentation will begin with a brief introduction to Future Studies, including characteristics of a futurist perspective. Next, Dr. Groff will discuss key trends in different areas. She will propose a number of models of processes of change transforming our world, with examples of each, which collectively provide an overview of much future literature. A summary of new scientific paradigms, or overarching world views, including common characteristics of such paradigms, will be followed by a look at cultural paradigms or world views. This will follow with a discussion of how such changes are impacting all of our lives, and how we can be proactive, instead of reactive, in dealing with change. Linda Groff is Professor of Political Science & Future Studies at California State University. Dominguez Hills, in Carson, California for over 26 years. She is also the Director of Global Options Consulting. Linda teaches, writes, consults, and gives talks and workshops on global, futures, evolution, peace, conflict resolution, intercultural, interreligious, spiritual, and Internet topics to a wide range of educational, community, business, and government groups, and has published over 25 articles on such subjects.
11:00 AM-11:45 AM IN ST. MARKS
Beyond Dialogue - Interfaith Solidarity for Reconstruction and Reconciliation
Dr. Farid Esack
In this presentation Farid Esack, Commissioner for Gender Equality of South Africa, will offer his reflections on the history of the interfaith movement and the challenges confronting it if the movement is to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of ordinary people. This presentation will focus on marginalization and interfaith action to confront this issue.
Dr. Farid Esack is a Commissioner for Gender Equality in the South African government and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Religion, Identity and Culture at the University of the Western Cape. He is a Muslim theologian who has studied in Pakistan, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
11:00 AM-11:45 AM GOOD HOPE ARENA
Jubilee: The Teaching of Compassion
Rabbi Sjalom Awraham Soetendorp
Rabbi Soetendorp will describe his experiences with the Jubliee Year campaign, which works to cancel the crushing debt owed by third world countries.