First discussion will focus on “Religion and Social Justice”
NEWPORT NEWS — An interfaith dialogue series co-sponsored by Christopher Newport University begins on campus Monday evening. It is free and open to the public. The first panel discussion, “Religion and Social Justice,” will explore how faiths including Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism approach issues such as poverty, women’s rights and racial equality.
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