Congress of Religions, Charleston, SC

The conference in Charleston went well. I spoke on conflict resolution, Tim Pye spoke on a business plan for the support of interfaith activity, and W.D. Mohammad also spoke on the relationship between upliftment through business in conjunction with spiritual devotion. W.D. Mohammad also spoke on the Qu'ran's guidance on the ideal of interfaith harmony and cooperation.

Here are a couple of pictures from the event:

A number of people requested my slide show. So I post it here. (It can be downloaded from the Scribd site):

Read this doc on Scribd: Charleston Congres of Religions

Conflict Resolution - Speaking engagement at College of Charleston Religious Studies

This weekend I will be on a program together with long time colleague, W. Dean Mohammad, in Charleston, South Carolina.

I will write up my experience after my return.

Modest success at the AAR

As reported just below, and here, New World Encyclopedia was presented during the reception of the Inter Religious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP) at the annual conference of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) . Frank Kaufmann, moderated the session in which Arts and Literature editor, David Burgess, and History and Biography Editor, Clinton Bennett offered presentations (accompanied by power point) to explain issues surrounding fact and value as pertains to their respective areas of editorial responsibility.

We wished for a better turn out in the "voluntary" environment of convention receptions, but we are grateful indeed for the strong and sincere interest plainly shown by those in attendance. Professors and students included those from Yale, Calvin, Fuller, and others. For this we are grateful.

The catering and banquet services from the Manchester Grand Hyatt, for the reception following the panel presentation, were exceptional. We extend our thanks and happily make mention here of their fine support for our event.

On the morning following our reception, editors present taped interviews for films that are now in production to accompany the forthcoming release of the New World Encyclopedia. Hard Rock Hotel, whom we also wish sincerely to thank, generously provided free space for filming.

Here are a few images of our time together.

IRFWP reception at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, 2007

The Inter Religious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP) and its predecessors hold a reception at the annual conference of the American Academy of Religion (AAR), and have done so every year since 1981.

Below is the announcement and information for our reception this year. If you are in San Diego, please be sure to visit. We would love to see you.

clipped from www.aarweb.org

Follow this link to see the list of program units from this year's conference

Here is the announcement for the IRFWP meeting this year.

M16-119 - Annual Reception: Interreligious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP) and New World Encyclopedia

Friday (November 16), 7:00 PM-8:30 PM
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

This year the Interreligious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP) and the Religion Office of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) continues with the second in the series of receptions introducing to the Academy the pending launch and ongoing progress of the New World Encyclopedia (a full, general knowledge encyclopedia based in universal values).

SURV Meeting at SUNY Purchase

On Wednesday evening, November 7, 2007, I had the pleasure to work with Theo Wilson, Kimiyake Miyahira, and the leadership of Students United in Realizing the Vision (SURV) at SUNY Purchase to speak at their meeting devoted to Family and Identity. My presentation was on The Relationship between family and the pursuit of peace.

Ms. Sophia Kirkley presented on two youth movements, namely Service for Peace (SFP), and College Association for the Research of Principles (CARP). Also included in the program were informal and personal meeting activities as well as small group discussion sessions.

These are an inspired and inspiring young people who hold promise for positive leadership now and in the future.

Here are a few pictures from the event:

Conference on the Convergence of Science and Spirituality

My day at the Conference on the Convergence of Science and Spirituality proved edifying and delightful at every turn.

The conference transpired in honor of Professor T.D. Singh, International Director of the Bhaktivedanta Institute

Larry Goldberg assembled a sterling line up of speakers and presenters, every one worthy of mention, including creation theologian Matthew Fox and Iliff president David Trickett to name just two.

I personally found every talk genuinely educational and transformative, and learned a great deal from each one. The morning tended to have the papers with spirit as the starting point, and the afternoon tended to have papers with science as the starting point.

An unexpected and enriching addition to the conference was Errol and Rochelle Strider founders of Innertainment

Here is a little slide show with some images from the conference and related gatherings and events:



Many thanks and much praise for the organizers, presenters, participants, and generous patrons of this lovely and important occasion.

Guru Nanak Award

Please note in the article that I am nominated for this award.

Jew, Christian, Sikh scholars vie for Guru Nanak award Prabhjot Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 19 An award of $ 50,000, to be given every other year to an individual or an organisation in recognition of propagating Guru Nanak’s philosophy of discovering oneness of humanity by exploring the differences that separate people, has attracted nominations from top Jew, Christian, Muslim and Sikh scholars besides academics and inter-faith organisations. Instituted by the New York-based HOFSTRA University and supported by the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Foundation, the first Guru Nanak Interfaith Award will be presented in September, 2008. Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a former Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, US Senators Charles Schumer and Norm Coleman, academics Rabbi David Rosen, Dr Martin Marty besides celebrated writer and author Khushwant Singh and a member of the Rajya Sabha (MP) Tarlochan Singh are members of the selection committee constituted for the inaugural award. HOFSTRA University had invited nominations by inserting advertisements in major US newspapers. Interestingly, the list of nominees is who’s who of individuals and organisations involved in spreading the message of universal brotherhood as preached by the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev. One of the nominees, Debora Batcha, for example, is designer of a talisman symbolising the fundamental unity of three Abrahamic religions. Abode of the Message (a community of Lebanon), Rabbi Arthur Schneier (spiritual leader of Park East Synagogue, and a member of the first interfaith delegation to visit the Soviet Union and China), medicos Alan Astrow and Daniel Sulmasy, the Bo Yin Ra Foundation and the Center for Religious Inquiry. Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, the Compassionate Listening Project, the Esalen Institute for Theory and Research and Track Two’s Abrahamic Family Reunion, Sacha Stone and the Humanitad Foundation, Hands of Peace, Hartford Seminary, the Interfaith Encounter Association, Interfaith Peace Building Initiative, Interfaith Works of Central New York, Joseph Interfaith Foundation, Interfaith Mission Service for Greater Tennessee Valley, International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, International Summer School on Religion and Public Life, Molloy College Institute for Christian/ Jewish Dialogue and the Liberian Council for Churches are among some of the organizations whose nominations have been received. Interestingly, nomination of Modernage Public School and College of Abbottabad in Pakistan for the award has also been acknowledged. Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, is also on the nominee list for the award list. Among individuals of Indian origin Jagdish Gandhi of Lucknow, Dr Eboo Patel, an eminent speaker and broadcaster on interfaith, Sukhbir Singh Kapoor, an author of 40 books on Sikh religion, Bhai Harbans Lal, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology and Neurosciences and Baba Virsa Singh of Delhi and Trilochan Singh, Professor of Mechanical engineering at Wayne University in Detroit. Others individuals nominated for the award include Steve D. Martin, president of Vital Visions, Ruth Broyde-Sharone, a film maker, Dr Sayyed Hussain Nasr, University Professor of Islamic Studies, Dr Paul F. Knitter, Gary Krupp, Dr Frank Kaufmann and Dr Harold Kasimow, a pioneer in introducing the study of non-Christian traditions in the curriculum.