organized by Rumi Forum, CNU Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Our distinguished panelists will discuss how the major faith traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) differ in their approaches to social justice; how these traditions promote social justice; what movements they support; and how they are making a difference in their respective communities and in the community of the “Other.”

Speakers:
Dr. Dawn Hutchinson
Dr. Stephen Strehle
Dr. Hussam Timani
Dr. John Thompson
Dr. Lori Underwood
Moderator: Dr. Roberta Rosenberg

January 23, 2012 at 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Gaines Theatre at CNU campus.

inthemedia/norfolk-interfaith/gallery

"The aftermath of 9/11 was even worse than the attack itself"

FBI agents, scholars, academicians, and an Uyghur Turk who lost a son in the 9/11 attack, were also in attendance.

His focus was the distrust and contention that has developed betweem many Americans.

"It's time for us to heal that and get beyond the distrust and become friends again and that's part of these meetings and we're proud to be part of it", said James McJunkin,FBI Assistant Director in Washington.

The director added that one of the most overlooked issues is holding all Muslims accountable for the attacks:

"There were a lot of suspicions and false allegations brought against members of the Muslim community particularly as having been responsible for something like that."

He continued to emphasize the importance of equity and mutual respect.

"So, for us, the real important piece of opportunities like this to get to know, not only to get to know the Turkish community, by example, but the Pakistani community, the Somalian community, and any other community that has a shared interest in making sure the United States government is fair and equitable", he said.

The Director went on to thank the communities hosting the memorial and added that he looks forward to stronger relations in the future.

SOURCE: http://news.ebru.tv/us-news/fbi-assistant-director

Panelists will also discuss which issues are challenging for certain faiths, and what practices each uses to promote social justice, whether it's charity, political action or education.

The three-part spring series is sponsored by CNU's department of philosophy and religious studies along with a local chapter of the Rumi Forum, a Washington D.C.-based organization that fosters interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Information provided by CNU professor Roberta Rosenberg, who will moderate Monday's discussion, lists objectives of the series as learning about others' core beliefs, building relationships across religious and cultural divides, and decreasing suspicion and fear of one another.

The dialogue is also meant to "eliminate acts of discrimination and hate against recent immigrants and persons of color."

The next panel discussions are scheduled for Feb. 29 and March 26. They will focus on the role of faith in conflict resolution and establishing peace, and on religion and science, respectively.

Each event is at 7 p.m. in the Gaines Theatre at CNU's Freeman Center.

Want to go?

What: CNU/Rumi Forum interfaith dialogue

Topic: "Religion and Social Justice"

When: Jan. 23, 7 p.m.

Where: Gaines Theatre, Freeman Center at CNU

SOURCE :http://articles.dailypress.com/2012-01-19/news/dp-nws-cnu-interfaith-series-20120119_1_interfaith-dialogue-philosophy-and-religious-studies-cnu-s-freeman-center

Hannah Rosenthal, special envoy and head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism for the U.S. Department of State, spoke on Nov. 22, 2011 at the Rumi Forum in Washington, D.C.

(CNSNews.com/Penny Starr).

(CNSNews.com) – Two State Department officials are promoting a Facebook page, “2011 Hours Against Hate,” as a tool to help young people around the world “push back against hatred.”
Speaking at an event in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Farah Pardith, a special representative to Muslim communities, said getting young people involved requires “using tools that are going to work for this generation.”
Hannah Rosenthal, special envoy and head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, said young people are “a little more action oriented” and want guidance for fighting hate.
“So we wanted to do something that wasn’t brought to you by the U.S. State Department; we didn’t want to do anything that said, ‘This is what you must do,’” Pardith said, “but really give you a – just sort of catalyze a vision.”
“And that is, to push back against hatred, to amplify the importance of mutual respect,” Pardith said.
“We didn’t ask for permission,” Rosenthal said of the “2011 Hours Against Hate” Facebook page that was launched in February. “We just did it.”
The information portion of the Facebook page states: “2011 Hours Against Hate is a campaign to stop bigotry and promote pluralism and respect across lines of culture, religion, tradition, class, and gender. We are asking people around the world to pledge their time to stop hate—to do something for someone who doesn’t look like you, pray like you, or live like you.”

The Facebook page asks visitors to sign a pledge to document how many hours they will volunteer “to stop hate” and to describe their volunteer activity.
A separate pledge is available for the media, where publishers can sign (by e-mail) a pledge that states: "Because of the influence of the media I publish, I will choose my words to facilitate an inclusive world where differences are respected."
In a video on the Facebook page, Pardith and Rosenthal explain the campaign by saying “anti-Semitism, prejudice, racism, Muslim hatred, sexism” are “all words for hate.” “Hate is hate, no matter who the target is,” Pardith says in the video. A video of Secretary Hillary Clinton speaking about the campaign is also on the Facebook page and links to the State Department Web site are included.
The page also features videos promoting the acceptance of homosexuality, such as “An Honest Conversation,” which is about Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. “We hope to open minds and educate the community to break the taboo!” reads the video description.
The women spoke at a discussion at the Rumi Forum, described on its Web site as an organization with a mission “to promote peace in the world and contribute to a peaceful coexistence of the adherents of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities and races.”