Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 328

PROGRAM D
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
2:30-4:00pm ENGAGEMENT SESSION
ten years and has been engaged in the development of curriculum material for religious education at all levels of secondary education. The Religious Imperative to Present the Other Faithfully 2
LUNCHTIME PROGRAMMING 1:00 - 2:30pm
Global Ethics and Religion Forum - Open meeting: final assessment and report on project Joseph Runzo Room 110 Symposium This is Panel #8 in the 'War and the Role of Religion in a Just and Sustainable World' Symposium Dr Joseph Runzo is Executive Director and President of the Board of Directors of the Global Ethics and Religion Forum, an educational nonprofit dedicated to global ethical responsibility. He has written and lectured extensively around the world on comparative religion, religious ethics, human rights and the ethics of war and peace. He is Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Chapman University, USA, and a Life Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge University, UK.
ENGAGEMENT 2:30-4:00pm
The Swami and the Rabbi: A Conversation Rabbi Fred Morgan Shantilal Somaiya Swami Shankarananda Room 220 Moderated Conversation This moderated conversation between Swami Shankarananda, head of the Shivayoga Asghram in Mount Eliza, and Rabbi Fred Morgan, head of Temple Beth Israel in St Kilda, will explore a range of important issues including the nature of God and humanity, the role of the religious leader in a multicultural world, and the possibility of interfaith dialogue through sharing spiritual biographies. Swami Shankarananda and Rabbi Morgan come from strikingly similar backgrounds: both were born in New York City to Jewish parents, both attended Columbia University in the late 1960s, both were for a time academics, and both were drawn to explore the religious heritage of India. Given the spiritual trajectories of their lives, it would not be difficult to imagine the Swami and the Rabbi in the shoes of the other. How is it, then, that they have ended up as they are? How do they see themselves in relation to the other? This program will explore these and other questions. Prior to his appointment as Chief Rabbi of Temple Beth Israel, Rabbi Fred Morgan worked as Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Bristol, and as Rabbi of North-West Surrey Synagogue. He is a graduate of Leo Baeck College, London, where he was made a Fellow in 1997. He is also Honorary Associate Rabbi of Sim Shalom Community, Budapest, Hungary. He currently serves as a President of the Victorian Council of Christians and Jews. Dr S K Somaiya is Vice President of Somaiya Vidyavihar, an educational trust in Mumbai running 37 institutes with 27,000 students. He received the prestigious Luminosa award in July 2002 in New York from the Focolare Movement. He also led the Hindu Delegation to the Interreligious Congress organised at Astana, Kazakhstan in 2003 and 2006. Dr Somaiya participated in the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders in New York in 2000. Mahant Swami Shankarananda is a leading meditation teacher and Director of the Shiva School of Meditation in Mt Eliza. He has taught and written about meditation, self-inquiry and the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism for over forty years. He is author of the best-selling books "Happy for No Good Reason', and 'Consciousness is Everything
Healing the Earth - One Workplace at a Time - Spiritual Paths Through the World of Work Michael Harmer David Carman Sharan Burrow Lisa Heap Ron McCallum Room 101 Panel Discussion Work is central to the lives of many individuals and critical to the livelihood, health and welfare of families throughout the world. The world of work is a fertile ground for the application of universal spiritual principles derived from the world's religions. The introduction of improved workplace culture via the application of the values found at the core of all the major religions of the world can be a source of tremendous spiritual, mental and physical healing for the people of the earth and its environment. This session will be introduced by Michael Harmer and will include the following presentations. Firstly Sharan Burrow will speak on "The quest to achieve Decent Work' an international trade union perspective; secondly David Carman will present on 'What individuals can do to achieve spiritual fulfilment, balance and harmony at work, and thirdly Michael Harmer will address "The employer's role in achieving good faith, dignity and spiritual fulfilment at the workplace. The second part of the session will include interactive panel and audience discussion facilitated by Lisa Heap followed by closing observations and report of the discussion by Professor Ron McCallum AO.
324 PWR - Parliament of the World's Religions
Jain Education Interational