UPDATE: The event was lively and interesting, and the audience was SRO! Watch a video of it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewN2Pi8Xkgw&feature=share.
Please join us at a free Interfaith Dialogue panel at UNC-Asheville Thursday Nov. 17, 2011, from 7:00-8:30 PM at the Highsmith Student Union, downstairs in the Grotto. The Dialogue will have two main parts to it, the discussion from 7:00-8:00, and then the question and answer from the audience from 8:00-8:30 PM.
Here is the list of religions and representative panelists as sent us by the student organizers:
- Catholicism: Father John P. Cahill
- Wicca: Lady Passion and *Diuvei
- Zen Buddhism: Sunya Kjolhede
- Conservative Judaism: Rabbi Robert Cabelli
- Reform Judaism: Rabbi Batsheva Meiri
- Humanist: Ms. Jackie Simms
- Sikhism: Hari Mandar Singh Khalsa
- Bahai: Dr. David Gillette
- Sokka Gakkai Buddhism: Laura Petritz
- Christian Pastor (Paradigm Church): Terry Hollifield
- Muslim: Imam Kamal and Dr. Abdel Mayyas
UNCA students derived the topics and questions. They are:
Major Topic: Is religion relevant to the individual?
Sub-topics:
- Does a religious view of the Afterlife shape the individual? If so, how so?
- Does religion give us the answers to the meaning of life?
- Does religion help individuals navigate the ups and downs of life?
- How does religion affect the individual’s understanding of morality?
Major Topic: Is religion relevant to society? Is religion relevant to politics?
Sub-topics:
- Pledge of Allegiance — “under God” — should we remove this, or keep it?
- Do you believe that Asheville is a “cesspool of sin”?
- Why are places of religious worship important to have in terms of community?
- Does evil exist? How does your religion address evil?
- What is your perspective on war?
- How does religion address secular influences?
- Is religion an opiate of the masses?
SHOULD BE A LIVELY DEBATE, and we hope to see you there! 😉