Parliament of Worlds Religion 2004 Barcelona

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

Page 208

Program Descriptions
Monday, July 12, 2004 INTERRELIGIOUS SESSION 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
The Experience of Interreligious Dialogue in Uruguay Nestor Da Costa Velazquez
Do We Need Religion in order to Have a Stable Ethics? James Kraft Adela Cortina
Room 124 Training Session
Room 129, English Lecture
Training session that presents the most important initiative on interreligious dialogue in Uruguay, which takes place in Montevideo. The role of the interfaith dialogue in a strongly secular society will be explained in this presentation.
Nestor Da Costa Velazquez is a sociologist, professor of the Catholic University of Uruguay, Secretary of the UNESCO Center of Montevideo and Advisor of the Interamerican Bank of Development (BID) and of the UNDP.
The paper argues that humans generally do need religion in order to have a stable ethics. Common to religions is the belief that our universe and our being human have ultimate meaning, However, in a world in which many people believe that there is ultimately no point to our lives, this essay argues that not believing in ultimate meaning has negative implications, thus making the religious alternative more appealing. Ultimately, given the basis for a stable ethics within religious belief, one can find, across religions, a common connection to a future grounded in positive action.
Community Assessment and Interview Skills Grove Harris Mussie Hailu Rita Semel
Room 125, English Partner Cities, Panel Discussion/Training Session
Dr. James Kraft is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Huston Tillotson College in Austin Texas. One of his main research issues concerns the methodology and epistemology for inter religious dialogue and the reasons people have for doing inter religious dialogue. Adela Cortina, Ph.D. in Philosophy, is Professor of Juridic, Moral and Political Philosophy at the University of Valencia. She has studied in Munich and Frankfort, and has published several books about ethics. She strongly supports the theory that global ethics improves freedom, reduces unfairness and helps solidarity
This program is part of the Goldin Institute sponsored series highlighting the work of the Partner Cities around the world. How does one begin to organize interreligious dialogue and cooperation within a community? How can accurate pictures of the religious communities in an area help interreligious groups in that community? Join the Managing Director of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, along with both the Chair and the East African Representative of the URI Global Council to learn how you can ascertain the diversity of interests and assets in your region, and engage that diversity in establishing a shared vision for your community.
Vital Experiences in the Rarámuri Religious Tradition - Elements to Dialogue Patricio Cancino Franklin Arturo Merino González
Room 130, Spanish/Raramuri Interactive Workshop
Grove Harris is the Managing Director for the Pluralism Project at Harvard University and teaches at the University of MassachusettsBoston. Her writing includes "Paganism" in On Common Ground: World Religions in America. Ms. Harris leads international consensus training workshops, and a Wiccan Maidens' group for girls ages 13-16. Her Masters in Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School incorporated studies of organizational development and business management into the study of religion and ethics.
Presentation of the religion of the Rarámuri indigenous people (Tarahumara), living in Chihuahua State, Mexico. Their religion is based on the experience of the mystery, ancient wisdom, communitarian life, nature and interaction with Christian religion. An indigenous authorithy of the Rarámuri has been invited to participate in the workshop.
The Honorable Dr. Mussie Hailu is Country Director for Employment for All, an Austrian International NGO, as well as the Executive Director and Representative to the Economic Commission on Africa and the African Union for the United Nations Association of Ethiopia. He is also the URI's Representative for East Africa and the Founding Member in Ethiopia.
Patricio Cancino Franklin is a Jesuit priest living with the Raramuri since 2000, he has worked with street children and in suburban shanty towns in Mexico.
Arturo Merino is a subsistence farmer in the "Sierra Tarahumara". He was chosen for governor of the Raramuri community of Tewerichi (Mexico). He leads the Project of Shared Faith in Tarahumara (PROFECTAR), which specially deals with the preservation of the nature.
Rita Semel is Chair of the URI Global Council, Executive ViceChair of the San Francisco Interfaith Council and Board Vice-Chair of the Graduate Theological Union. She was also Founding Board Member of the Interfaith Center at the Presidio.
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