Interreligious Relations and Studies: Events and Community Involvement
Many Monash Arts staff and students participate in public events exploring interreligious topics.
Past Events
Melbourne Parliament of the World’s Religions 2009
Professor Emeritus Gary D Bouma, UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations — Asia Pacific, was Chairman of the Board of the Melbourne Parliament of the World’s Religion 2009. The UCIIR-AP Team presented in several sessions including:
- UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations - Asia Pacific: An Interregional Perspective on Interreligious Relations
- Interfaith Engagement: Issues, Reflections and Prospects
- Does the media have faith?
- Addressing the Shadow in Our Own Traditions
- Women of Faith Network, Religions for Peace, Australia and New Zealand.
For more information, visit the Parliament of the World's Religions site.
December 2009
Interreligious Relations in the 21st Century: A Post-Parliament Reflection
This symposium provided an opportunity for leading scholars in interreligious relations fresh from the Parliament to reflect on its main themes and to identify emerging issues pertaining to interreligious relations and research. It was hosted by the UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations, in partnership with the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies, the Centre for Islam and the Modern World, the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilization, the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology and the Monash Asia Institute, Monash University.
Keynote speakers included:
- Paul Knitter
- Paul Tillich, Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture at Union Theological Seminary, New York
- Gary D Bouma, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Interreligious Relations – Asia Pacific, Monash University
- Katherine Marshall, Senior Fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs
- Patrice Brodeur, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair on Islam, Pluralism, and Globalization, University of Montreal
- Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, co-directors of the Forum on Religion and Ecology, Yale University
- Rachel Woodlock, a doctoral candidate in the School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University.
A manuscript arising from this symposium will be edited by Gary D Bouma, Anna Halafoff and Melanie Landau.
December 2009
Interfaith YouthCore Training @ Monash
The UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations – Asia Pacific, in partnership with Inter.Action Multifaith Youth Network, sponsored by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, hosted three days of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) training at Monash University.
29 youth leaders and 6 interfaith allies – a term used by IFYC for people who were no longer youth themselves but who were dedicated to supporting the interfaith youth movement – including Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Christians, Muslims and Baha’is participated in the Training.
The success of this initiative was documented by IFYC Trainer Cassie Meyer in The Washington Post, 'Interfaith down under'.
For more information, view Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) Public Talk @ Monash.
November 2009
DFAT 5th Regional Interfaith Dialogue
Gary D Bouma and Anna Halafoff were chosen to represent Australia at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 5th Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Perth, Western Australia.
October 2009
Who am I in My Inner Life? Mysticism Across Religions
A public conversation with Constant Mews, Padmasiri de Silva, Ken and Elizabeth Mellor, Isobel Crombie, Nathan Wolski, Claire Renkin, and Salih Yucel.
This was one of a series of public conversations being held in the lead up to the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Sunday 16 August 2009
Uniting Through Faith @ Monash: Building Relationships between Indonesia and Australia through Interreligious Dialogue
Moderated by Rachel Woodlock, a researcher with the School of Political and Social Inquiry, the Faculty was delighted to host this public conversation as part of the Uniting Church ‘Uniting through Faith Interfaith Engagement Tour’.
Monday 9 March 2009
International Collaboration
Arts Monash and Monash Asia Institute staff in interreligious studies have obtained an internal grant to develop an international collaboration between Monash Sunway campus in Malaysia, the IITB in Mumbai and the University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
2009
Community Education: Spiritual Journeys: Mysticism Across Religions
Over 200 people assembled for a fascinating exploration of mystical traditions in Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The seminar explored the similarities (as well as some of the important differences) in the mystical practices of the Abrahamic faiths. It was jointly sponsored by the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology (CSRT) at Monash, and chaired by Professor Constant Mews.
Further information [PDF]
Sunday 17 August 2008
World Peace Forum
Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation lecturer Melanie Landau was invited to participate in the World Peace Forum, held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Further information [PDF]
June 2008