Religion and Tolerance, fall 2007

Much of the violence in the world has arisen in the name of religion. Why do religious conviction and intolerance so often occur in tandem? Is dialogue between those of differing faiths and cultures possible? These questions and many others were raised by Diana Eck, Anne Fadiman, religious leaders from the Worcester community, Clark faculty and others.

Jesus Camp
film screening and conversation cafe

Wednesday, September 12 @ 7 pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

In our society, there are widely diverse and divergent religious experiences among young Americans. Jesus Camp, the Academy Award nominated documentary directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, follows a group of young children to Pastor Becky Fisher’s “Kids on Fire Summer Camp” – an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America’s political future.

Faith and Tolerance in a Muli-Cultural World
an interfaith dialogue

Thursday, September 20 @ 7:30 pm
Tilton Hall, Higgins University Center

How should different religious faiths relate to one another in today’s shrinking world? Professor Paul Ropp moderated a panel discussion with four religious leaders representing the Christian, Buddhist, Islamic and Judaic traditions. Panel participants included Tom McKibbens, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church; Melissa Blacker, teacher (sensei) at Boundless Way Zen, a multi-lineage Zen Buddhist community; Mohamed Lazzouni, Visiting Scholar of Islamic Studies at the department of Arts and Humanities at Boston College; and David Coyne, Director of Hillel at Clark. The audience was invited to contribute to the dialogue. Cosponsored by the Andrea B. and Peter D. Klein Professorship

Day of Listening

Wednesday, Spetember 26
one-hour sessions at 12, 1, 3 & 4:00
Dana Commons, second floor lounge

The Day of Listening highlights listening as an essential element of effective dialogue. Each hour-long session is about taking a moment to pause, to really listen to each other and to explore the relationship of listening to dialogue – and to give us a break during our busy day. This semester's Day of Listening event addressed the role that dialogue can play in Religion and Tolerance. It gave us a chance to reflect on issues that had been raised in our symposium events thus far. Each session was hosted and facilitated by trained faculty, staff and students. The entire Clark community was invited to attend.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Monday, October 1 @ 7:30pm
Atwood Hall

Author Anne Fadiman spoke about the experience of writing her first book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997), which chronicles the trials of an epileptic Hmong child and her family living in Merced, California. Fadiman’s sensitive, incisive treatment of the gulf between the Hmong and American cultures and medical systems won her a 1997 National Book Critics Circle Award. Her talk dealt with the cross cultural challenge she faced and the lessons she learned as to how American health care providers can provide more sensitive and effective care for patients from other cultures.

Questions of Faith
a spoken word-chorus

Wednesday, October 10 @ 7pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

The words of Clark students on issues of faith on campus were woven into a spoken-word chorus, performed by other Clark students, and based on interviews with current students. Getting beyond the basics of simple denominational differences, the program investigated the hard questions, surprising discoveries, new perspectives, and lasting challenges that our encounters with both organized religion and personal faith have brought while at Clark. A conversation cafe followed the performance.

Students interested in participating, by being interviewed or performing, should contact the organizer, Professor Meredith Neuman at meneuman@clarku.edu

Can Religions be Tolerant? Is Pluralism Possible?
Voices and Perspectives from South Asia

Tuesday, October 16 @ 7:30pm
Dana Commons, second floor

The strength and certainty of religious voices in our time and the turbulence generated by religious movements makes us wonder if, perhaps, religion is one place where tolerance and dialogue are in short supply. Diana Eck raised these questions: Can religious people really be tolerant of differing religious views? Can religious people engage deeply with those of other faiths? Does the notion of pluralism threaten religious certainties? South Asia has long experience in living with religious differences, so perhaps we can learn more about the difficulties and promise of dialogue from that experience. And now South Asians have brought their Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Jain traditions to the U.S. How do South Asian Americans weigh in on the religious controversies of the U.S.? Diana Eck of Harvard University is Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies, Fredric Wertham Professor of Law and Psychiatry in Society, Master of Lowell House, and Director of The Pluralism Project. Cosponsored by the South Asian Studies Forum.

LEARN MORE
VIEW video of this event

Sound and Spirit

Wednesday, October 24 @ 7pm
Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts

An improvisational dialogue and listening journey with the Sacred Singing Group, BoneSong, which included Clark V&PA professor, Valerie Claff. Inspired by a variety of indigenous musical traditions, early polyphonic sacred song, sounds of nature and their Earth-based spiritual paths, BoneSong weaves improvisational soundscapes with voice, drum and simple instruments. Hear a recording of Bonesong

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