September 25, 2016, CA — Pacifica Institute co-organized and co-sponsored a conference titled “Not in God’s Name from Just War to Just Peace” took place in Cathedral Center of St Paul.
Grace Dyrness from Interfaith Communities United for Peace and Justice in her speech exemplified Indonesia where there is a huge mosque, cathedral and a government institute all standing side by side and for each other at dire times.
The panel featured Jack Miles from University of California Irvine- Distinguished Professor of English and Religious Studies, Najeeba Syeed- Professor of Interreligious Education at Claremont School of Theology, Reuven Firestone-Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College and Senior Fellow at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC, Daniel Smith- Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Rita Sherma- Director of the Center for Dharma Studies and Professor at Graduate Theological Union Berkeley, Joseph Prabhu- Professor of Philosophy and Religion at California State University, Los Angeles as the moderator.
Dr. Prabhu introduced the speakers and highlighted the terror attacks on Paris, San Bernardino, Brussels and how religion played a part in these gruesome attacks. Other topics of discussion included institution problems of power, the anxiety towards islam in western culture, the myth of religious violence and the contribution of religion to art, language, music and poetry.
The panel continued with interfaith coffee of small group discusions and ended with George Regas Reception Award where Edina Lekovic, Rev Francisco Garcia and Rabbi Ken Chasen was awarded for this year.
