Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 287

PROGRAM DE
Monday, December 7, 2009
Religion and Belief in Public Schools Cathy Byrne
Harry Gardner
Terence Lovat
Room 102
Panel Discussion
Global processes are increasing the ethnic and religious diversity of societies, including Australia, where about two-thirds of the nation's children are educated in the government schooling system and the other third in private religious schools. Education and religion has always been a controversial subject both before and since the government began funding religious schools in the 1960s. This seminar focuses on how religion is taught in government schools compared to private religious schools. We will discuss single-faith instruction, which is thought by some to increase religious intolerance, and will incorporate the perspective of a humanist representative who advocates teaching the Humanist perspective in public schools. Developing an understanding of our world's diverse religious traditions as well as respect for people of diverse faiths and no faith is essential for both hearing each other and collaborating together to heal the earth. Cathy Byrne is a PhD scholar at Macquarie University's Centre for Research on Social Inclusion. Her thesis will focus on the social implications of segregated, single-faith religion classes in Australian public primary schools. This is a continuation of her Master's research, which examined cultural diversity attitude outcomes of senior school study of religion. Cathy is undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Religion and Values Education.
Harry Gardner is education director for the Victorian Humanist Society. Following a career in scientific research, Gardner turned to combining his interest in children's entertainment with primary school education. He has developed a Humanist curriculum framework for lessons in values and ethics as an alternative to religious scripture classes. The course is being considered for use by the Victorian Department of Education. Professor Terence Lovat is an experienced researcher who has managed research projects concerning Values Education, Religion and Spirituality. He has published several scholarly texts and more than eighty refereed articles in scholarly journals and books. Professor Lovat is a regular keynote presenter at national and international conferences, most recently in the areas of religion, values and Islam at government sponsored conferences in Russia and Ukraine.
Has Economics Triumphed over Ethics?
Dr Hans Küng
Dr Simon Longstaff
Steve Killelea
Simon McKeon Room 103
Recently a non-profit organization in Australia felt compelled to appeal for corporate sponsorship support on the following basis: domestic violence was bad for the economy, rather than that it was ethically wrong and harmful to individuals, families and society. How does this anecdote illustrate an evolving shift in the role of ethical considerations in the economic marketplace? Has this shift been a factor in the recent global financial crisis? What broadly shared values are needed if the world is going to make
2:30-4:00pm ENGAGEMENT SESSION
progress to a more just, peaceful and sustainable world? What is the role of religion and spirituality in promoting human values and in partnering with the corporate and business sector in pursuing mutual aims? Renowned German theological Hans Kung joins with senior business leaders in an agora forum' discussion on the ethical implications of recent trends in global economic dynamics.
Dr Hans Küng is an internationally known Christian theologian and president of the Global Ethic Foundation of Tübingen University. He has published over fifty titles, including The Beginning of All Things - Science and Religion, Islam: Past, Present and Future and a manifesto; Global Economic Ethic Consequences for Global Businesses. Dr Küng lives and teaches in Tübingen, Germany.
Dr Simon Longstaff is the Executive Director of the St James Ethics Centre in Sydney, Australia. He has also been the inaugural President of the Australian Association for Professional and Applied Ethics, a Fellow of the World Economic Forum and a Member of the International Advisory Committee of the Foreign Policy Association. His book Hard Cases, Tough Choices was published by Macmillan in 1997.
Steve Killelea is Chairman and Founder of Integrated Research Ltd; The Charitable Foundation; Global Peace Index; Institute for Economics and Peace. Steve is an accomplished entrepreneur in high technology business development and at the forefront of philanthropic activities focused on sustainable development and peace.
Simon McKeon is Executive Chairman of Macquarie Bank Limited's Melbourne office and specialises in mergers and acquisitions. He has degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne and practised as a solicitor with Blake Dawson Waldron in Sydney. Mr McKeon is also Chair of MS Research Australia and founding Chair of Melbourne Cares. He is on the Board of Vision Fund which is responsible for World Vision International's micro economic development activities.
Spiritual Education and Interreligious Learning for Primary (Elementary) and Secondary Students
Elizabeth Mellor
Helen Nichol Sue Smith
Peta Goldburg Room 104
Interactive Workshop
These presentations invite participants to engage interactively with various approaches to spiritual education and interreligious learning with primary and secondary school students. Children look for inner meaning and wider connections with the world to develop their sense of belonging, well-being and resilience. Interreligious learning and these experiential approaches complement each other. Such teaching can provide an internal structure for the future adult to build his or her own spiritual/religious being. Understanding the changing needs of the maturing child is crucial. Panel members will present some practical approaches to spirituality education and interreligious education within plural education frameworks.
Elizabeth Mellor is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Biame Network Inc. a nonprofit educational and spiritually oriented organisation dedicated to promoting spiritual fulfilment and personal well being for everyone. She is an international workshop facilitator and author living in Melbourne. Helen Nichol, BBSc, Dip Ed (Sec), MAPS (assoc), brings her career experience in psychology and education to her current studies in theology and philosophy. She is Chaplain at Erasmus School, with duties include" teaching scripture and philosophy: developing and providing spiritual,
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