UNCA Interfaith Dialogue: “Is Religion Relevant?”

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.

Symbols of many religions encircle the EarthPlease 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! 😉

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