Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 345

PROGRAM DESCRI
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A Listening Place Each Day
Kristen Hobby Lynette Dungan
Bernie Miles
Kava Schaefer
Jill Manton
Nola Vanderfeen
Room 217
Interactive Workshop
We welcome you to a safe place where you can simply be. This is a quiet place where you can sit and meditate or reflect on what has touched or challenged you throughout the day of the Parliament of the World's Religions. Spiritual directors will be available in this room; you may talk to them if there is anything you would like to share. Spiritual directors are trained to listen in a non-judgmental and respectful way and are available for people of all faith traditions.
The Holy Scriptures and Questions of Intended Use
Harbans Lal
Dr Avtar Singh Dhaliwal
Mike Ghouse
KL Seshagiri Rao
Glenda Gill
Ann Garner
Dr Balwant Singh Hansra
Room 218
Panel Discussion
In every religion, there are scriptures that are intended to guide human societies according to universal laws. These scriptures, which are transcribed by prophets, are usually considered to be inspired by the Source of All Truth. However, when these prophets depart, their followers sometimes begin to misinterpret scriptures to their ethnic or group advantage. Whereas proper interpretation of scriptures may create harmony, unity and peace, improper interpretations create divisions and conflicts between and among people of different faiths. Today, serious followers of any world faith are haunted by feelings of uncertainty about the biased interpretations presented by many clergy. Although every Holy Scripture fundamentally promulgates peace, love and living in harmony, sometimes for the sake of dominance, supremacy and exploitation, religious leaders use scriptures to cultivate wars, commit murders, and cause social destruction in the name of God. In this session, representatives of a variety of faith traditions will come together to discuss these important issues. These scholars from various faiths will peruse their own scriptures and offer their interpretations to illustrate both proper and improper use of the scriptures and warn the coming generation about the silent killers in society today.
4:30-6:00pm OPEN SPACE
Dr Harbans Lal is President of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies; Fmeritus Professor/Chairman, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center; and Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at the Guru Nanak Dev University. He is a member of the Interfaith Council of the Center for World Thanksgiving and The Interfaith Center at Fort Worth and advisor to the American Project on Religion and the News Media, The Sikh Times, and the Sikh Foundation. Dr Avtar Singh Dhaliwal is on the editorial board of the research journal 'Understanding Sikhism' and is a member of the Institute for Understanding Sikhism.
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and writer on topics related to pluralism, terrorism, peace, interfaith, Islam, multiculturism and India. Over 750 of his articles and essays have been published in newspapers, magazines, blogs, and websites. Ghouse is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television networks, offering a pluralistic perspective on issues of the day.
Dr K L Seshagiri Rao is Professor Emeritus of Religion at the University of Virginia, Chief Editor of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism and Indic Religions, and Co-Editor of the journal Interreligious Insight and its predecessor World Faiths Insight. A Trustee of the World Congress of Faiths. he has been active with interfaith organisations for many years. He is the author of many books and articles and has participated in consultations of UNESCO and the World Economic Forum.
Glenda Gill is the leader of a North Texas Buddhist Discussion Group. Mrs Ann Garner is an ordained minister of Interfaith Church.
Dr Balwant Singh Hansra has been an At-Large Executive Committee Member of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions and Chair and Professor of the Natural Science Department at Daley College in Chicago. He has also been Chair of the Sikh Host Committee and Appointed Chair of the Administration & Finance Committee.
Educating Religious Leaders for a Multi-Religious World: What We've Learned... What Next Steps We Hope to Take
North American Theological School Students Room 219
Panel Discussion
In this session, we will be working with and trying to draw insights and conclusions from the experience of students and faculty both in the preceding sessions of our Symposium as well as in the broader experience of the Parliament, including the official sessions and the many interpersonal encounters. We will seek to formulate concrete, practical next steps to carry on this interreligious and international collaboration among institutions that train religious leaders as well as further actions for promoting a greater awareness of and engagement with other religions in our individual schools and institutions. This is part of a symposium entitled 'Educating Religious Leaders for a Multi-Religious World'. The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, with the support of The Henry Luce Foundation, has coordinated with fifteen theological institutions to explore ways to increase education for interfaith leadership in North American theological schools. Institutions strongly acknowledged the urgency of interfaith engagement and the preparation of a religious leadership equipped with knowledge and understanding of the plurality of faith traditions in the contemporary world.
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