Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 279

PROGRAM DE
Monday, December 7, 2009
people are predicting future famines and wars as a result of these interconnected problems. This panel discussion will explore the role of Christianity in responding to this crisis. Christian theology and practice have recently begun to shift in order to meet the environmental challenge, Can Christianity respond to worldly issues in a more concrete, immediate way, or will it continue to offer worldly salvation at the end of one's life? Can it move beyond individual concerns with good and evil to envision a common good for the entire world community? How can seminaries and churches go green'? What can we learn from eco-justice movements? A panel made up of distinguished Christian leaders and theologians will explore these questions.
Bishop Geoffrey Davies is Coordinator and founder member of the Southern African Faith Communities' Environmental Institute, which works to raise awareness of environmental issues such as climate change among different faith communities. He participated in Christian Aid's Cut the Carbon march around the UK, which aimed to draw attention to global warming and the urgent issue of reducing our carbon footprint. Norman Habel is a Fellow at Flinders University, Adelaide, and was formerly Head of Religion Studies at the University of South Australia. He is editor of The Earth Bible' series and 'Exploring Ecological Hermeneutics. He has chaired the ecological hermeneutics of the Society of Biblical Literature for several years. His forthcoming book is entitled An Inconvenient Text.
John Hart is Professor of Christian Ethics at Boston University School of Theology. He is the author of 'Sacramental Commons: Christian Ecological Ethics', 'Ethics and Technology, and 'The Spirit of the Earth". He is the board president of the Montana Environmental Information Center, member of the Delegation of the international Indian Treaty Council to the United Nations International Human Rights Commission, and an invited observer to the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples, Rio de Janeiro.
Dr Joel Hunter is senior pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, a congregation of 12,000 that worships at four sites in Metro Orlando and more than 1,000 sites worldwide via interactive Webcast. Dr Hunter serves on the boards of the World Evangelical Alliance (420 million constituents) and the National Association of Evangelicals (30 million members). Recently, he was appointed to the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He is author of several books.
Beyond Beliefs Muslims and Non-Muslims Living in Australia
Dr Pamela Ryan
Room 107
Film and Discussion
Riots in Sydney in 2005 signalled a deepening divide between Muslims and non-Muslims in Australia. In March 2007, some 400 Australians took over Old Parliament House in Canberra for three days to consider how to bridge this divide. This film suggests how the principles of deliberative democracy may be used to build reconciliation, understanding and social cohesion. The film was directed by Sophie Hyde and Bryan Mason.
As a psychologist, political scientist, organisational consultant and academic, Dr Pamela Ryan has helped numerous private and public organisations handle successfully a diverse range of strategic, psychological, organisational, cultural and political issues. As Managing Director of Issues Deliberation Australia/America, Dr Ryan has led psychologists, sociologists and researchers in major public policy projects in Australia and the United States. Dr Ryan is also co-founder of the international nonprofit organisation, Psychology Beyond Borders.
11:30am-1:00pm
INTERRELIGIOUS SESSION
Addressing the Shadow in Our
Own Traditions Melanie Landau Anna Halafoff Susan Carland Rachel Woodlock Room 108
Panel Discussion
The theme of darkness is prevalent across many of the world's major religions. This multifaith panel, consisting of emerging Monash University women scholars, will explore elements of the shadow, or darkness, in the Buddhist, Jewish and Muslim traditions. This panel will seek to build bridges and recognise the common humanity that underpins all traditions. By allowing ourselves to be open to the darkness, and to integrate and transform it, nothing gets left out and all can be included and transformed.
Melanie Landau is a lecturer at the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University. She is currently completing her PhD on a feminist analysis of traditional Jewish marriage. She has studied and taught Jewish texts in Australia, Israel and the US. She has diverse interests including facilitating personal transformation and group processes as well as creating community across difference through learning, dialogue and ritual.
Anna Halafoff is a researcher for the UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations - Asia Pacific, and the Global Terrorism Research Centre, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University. She is a practicing Buddhist in the Tibetan FPMT tradition.
Susan Carland is a researcher in the Centre for Islam and The Modern World at the School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University. Rachel Woodlock is a researcher in the Centre for Islam and The Modern World, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University.
Women's Peace Initiatives
Marta Benavides
Room 109
Women have been working for peace in myriad ways, in coalitions, as members of religious communities, as members of political groups, as independent activists, and as cultural workers, and often below the radar of those recognised as peace agents. This session will be led by veteran women peace activists, and will offer women the chance to conspire about fomenting peace across the globe, from their diverse spiritual perspectives. It is intended as an informal gathering for women's wisdom sharing, including speaking bold, honest truths.
Marta Benavides of El Salvador is one of the surviving activists from the original group of human rights and peace advocates who began their work during the 1970s in a rising climate of repression. A leader of an ecumenical revolution focused on bringing peace to her country, the ordained pastor who chose 'to live and not die for the revolution' brings people together to defend human rights and develop a culture of peace.
www.parliamentofreligions.org 275. www.jainelibrary.org