Announcement

          Foundation for Interreligious Diplomacy

Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard College

International Association of University Presidents

are pleased to announce:

Second Annual Conference on Conflict Resolution

Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City, March 29-30, 2003 

RELIGION, DIPLOMACY, AND PEACE

A Dialogue Among Diplomats, University Presidents, Clergy, and Scholars

Respectful, Diplomatic Engagement of Different World Views

 Transnational and Comparative Religious and Ideological Perspectives

DATE: March 29, 2003: 9:00a.m. - 8:00p.m.; March 30, 2003: 1:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.

LOCATION: Cathedral of St. John the Divine: Synod Hall. Entrance 111^th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025

AIM: To provide the only forum for a dialogue among the four disciplines in question.

SPONSORS: International Association of University Presidents, Foundation for Interreligious Diplomacy, Institute of Advanced Theology (Bard College),

CO-SPONSORS: Over 40 academic and religious associations from all parts of the globe. (Partial List)

Association of Chinese Philosophers in America

Mansura University, Egypt

Fatih University, Turkey

Philosophy Department, SUNY Oneonta

Philosophy Department, William Paterson U., N.J.

Philosophy Department, New Jersey City U.

Sikh Society of New York

Islamic Institute of New York

World Family Policy Center

State Institute for Islamic Studies, Bandung, Indonesia

Asian and Asian-American Studies Program, Binghamton U.

Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts, Brigham Young U.

Pontificia Universitas Lateranensis, Rome, Italy

Program Committee:

Parviz Morewedge (Conference Coordinator), Global Scholarly Publications: 220 Madison Ave., Suite 11G, New York, NY 10016. 1-917-658-3430; 1-212-679-6410.

E-mails: pmorewed@gsp-online.org, pmorewed@rci.rutgers.edu; Website: www.gsp-online.org

Charles Randall Paul (President: Foundation for Interreligious Diplomacy). Bruce Chilton (Director: Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard College), Mehdi Faridzadeh (Consortium of Organizations for Cultural Relations), Ali Paya (Westminster University, U.K.), Yong Huang (Association of Chinese Philosophers in America), and Li He (Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Harvard-Yenching Institute), James Roach (International Association of University Presidents), Yong Huang (Editor: Journal of Dao, Association of Chinese Philosophers in America). James R. Roach (North American Officer: International Association of University Presidents; President: Western Connecticut State University)

Local GSP Staff Arrangement Committee: Margaret Adam-Yilmaz, Kelly Takacs, Ersin Yilmaz, and Sumayya Ayoub

Lodging:

The following hotel is recommended for participants: Grand Union Hotel, 34 E.32^nd Street, New York, NY 10016 (between Madison and Park Avenues), (212) 683-5890. Conference rates per night: $90(up to two persons and a child); $110 two beds; $125 three beds (up to four persons and a child).  In addition, a number of local “host families” from the LDS Church have volunteered to accommodate conference participants in their homes; please contact Renee Green for specifics at the following e-mail: greenr@lawgate.byu.edu

Transnational Panel Discussions Related to Conflict Resolution

By providing fora for the interaction of scholars from various cultures on similar topics, these panels clarify the differences and similarities of world cultures’ perceptions of the objects of knowledge. Prior to attending to its technical research, each scholar presents a brief summary of the salient methodological dimensions of his/her paper.  Papers include topics from many traditions: Africana, Indic, Ancient Greek, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Chinese, Tibetan, Central Asian, and other traditions.

SATURDAY MARCH 29, 2003

SNOYD HALL

SATURDAY 9a.m. - 12:00

1SAT9A(continued 4A): GLOBAL STUDIES PANEL

Chair: Achim Kodderman (SUNY,Oneonta)

Horst Seidl (Pontificia Universitas Lateranensis, Rome, Italy), “Distinguishing Philosophy 

from Religion, and Natural Religion from Confessional Religions: Towards 

Conflict Resolution”

Ali Errishi (Fitchburg State U.), TBA

Fr. Frank Gelli (London, U.K.), “The Approach to Al-Mu’tasim: Religious Pluralism as an 

Expression of the Quest for ‘Deus Absconditus’ ”

Juhaya S. Praja, (State Institute for Islamic Studies, Bandung, Indonesia), “Global Peace in Contexts

According to Islamic Theories on International Law and Diplomacy”

Ali Paya (U. of Westminster, U.K. and Tehran U.), “Forces of Globalization on Democratization of

Islamic Institutions”

Achim Kodderman (SUNY, Oneonta), “Hermeneutics of Globalization of Persons and Conflict

                  Resolution”

George Irani (Institute of World Affairs, Washington D.C., and Royal Roads U., Canada),

                  “Reflections on Different Perspectives on Regional Conflicts”

2SAT9B(continued SAT 4B): THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN CONFLICT

RESOLUTION

Partial list of Participants:

Chair: Michael Riccards (Senior Scholar in Residence: College Board, Washington, D.C.)

James R. Roach (President: Western Continuity State U.)

Carlos Hernandez (President: New Jersey City U.)

Cheng Chung-ying (U. of Hawaii, President: International East-West U.)

Fu Youde (Dean: School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shendong University, Jinan, China)

Samuel Natale (Aldephi U., USA and Oxford U., UK)

Alparslan Acikgenc (Dean: Fatih U., Istanbul, Turkey)

Affandi Mochtar (Ministry of Religious Affairs, Jakarta, Indonesia)

H. E. Lebohang K. Moleko (The Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the United

                                                      Nations)

Amir Jabini (Islamic College for Advanced Studies, U. of Tehran)

3SAT9: ISLAMIC, GREEK AND INDIC PHILOSOPHY PANEL: Part I (con’t. SAT4C)

Chair: Nasrin Rouzati (International Society for Muslim Women and Education, NY)

Deepa Majumdar (Purdue U.), “The One as the Many in the Bhagavadgita: Brahman,

   Incarnations, Trinity, Gods, Maya, and the Created World”

Neal DelMonico (SSIPS, NYC), “Dharma as a Mechanism of Conflict Resolution in

                             Hinduism”

Marilyn Walker (Columbia U.), TBA

Shalahudin Kafrawi (Binghamton U.), “F. Razi’s Perspectives on Conflict Resolution”

James Pavlin (Rutgers U.), “Conflict Resolution: Sunni Theological Perspectives”

Mark Moes (Grand Rapid Valley State U.), “The Soul-State Analogy in the Republic:  The

                   Dialectical Refutation of Bad Politics’’

Magid Shihade (U. of Washington), TBA

Kaveh Afrasiabi (Binghamton U.), “Comparison of Jurgen Moltmann’s and Suhravardi’s

                      Theologies of Divine Light”

Algis Uzdavinys (Lithuanian Institute of Culture, Philosophy, and Art, Vilnius, Lithuania), “From

Homer to Qur’an: Hermeneutical Strategies in Helllenic and Islamic Traditions”

Eli Alon (Tel Aviv U.), “Maimonides on Alfarabi”

Zohera Nemati (Simorogh Society, NY)

John A. Moyne (Graduate Center, CUNY), TBA

Deepa Majumdar (Purdue U.), “Philosophy of Time: Was Plotinus Merely an Exegete of

                        Plato?”

Geoff Bowe (Bilkent U., Ankara, Turkey)

David Martin (Washington Academy), “Muslim and Hindu Mysticism: Last Phase of Self

                                        Realization”

4SAT: ROUND TABLE SYMPOSIUM REPORTS ON CONFLICTS AND THEIR

             POSSIBLE RESOLUTIONS WORLD WIDE

Chair: C. Randall Paul (President: FID)

Comments: Andrea Bartoli (Director: Center for International Conflict Resolution, Columbia U.),

       A. William Bodine (Investment Advisory Group, USA and China), William Atkins

       (Associate General Council, LDS)

AFGHANISTAN: H.E. Ravan Farhadi, (The Ambassador from Afghanistan to the UN)

KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: H.E. Baktybek Abdrisaev, (The Ambassador of the Kyrgyz

            Republic to the United States and Canada)

                             H.E. Marat Rysmendiev, (The Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United

                            Nations)

INDONESIA: Dr. Mappa Nasrun, (Cultural Ambassador of Indonesia to the United States,

                                       Washington, D.C.)

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: H.E Ambassador Shofry Abdul Ghafor, (The Ambassador of

                                     Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations)

LESTHEO: H. E. Lebohang K. Moleko (The Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the

                                   United Nations)

MALAWI: H. E. Dr. Isaac C. Lamba (The Permanent Representative of the Republic of

                               Malawi to the United Nations)

TANZANIA: H.E. Daudi N. Mwakawago (The Ambassador and Permanent

                                     Representative of Tanzania to the U.N.)

GUYANA: H. E. Odeen Ishmael, (The Ambassador of the Republic of Guyana to the

                                United States, Washington D.C.)

*MACEDONIA: (in Process)

 5SAT3: STRONG, STABLE FAMILIES—THE KEY INGREDIENT FOR REAL PEACE Sponsor: World Family Policy Center, New York and Utah.

Organizer: Renee Green (Brigham Young U.)

Partial List of Participants:

Richard G. Wilkins (Brigham Young U.)

Scott Loveless (World Family Policy Center)

Valecia L. Green (J. Reuben Clark Law School)

Ernesto Guancia (U. Philippines), “Where Poverty Causes Family Conflict”

Ed Diansuy (Philippines Government)

Luncheon: Synod Hall (12:00-1:15)

Introduction: Plenary Panel

Saturday: 1:15 - 1:30p.m. Synod Hall

Chair: Parviz Morewedge (Global Scholarly Publications, Conference Coordinator)

Welcoming Remarks:

Charles Randall Paul (President: Foundation for Interreligious Diplomacy)

James Roach (International Association of University Presidents)

Introducing Her Highness, Prof. Mairam D. Akaeva, The First Lady of the Kyrgyz Republic

Linda Stamato (Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Rutgers U., New Brunswick)

Richard G. Wilkins (Brigham Young U.)

Panels on Conflict Resolutions

PLENARY PANEL: ISLAM, DIPLOMACY AND PEACE

Saturday: 1:30 – 4:00p.m. Synod Hall

Organizer: The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Observer to the UN

Round Table Discussion with Muslim Diplomats and Scholars

Presiding: H.E. Ambassador Mokhtar Lamani, The Distinguished Permanent Observer

    of the OIC to the United Nations

Diplomats (partial list):

H.E. Javad Zarif, The Ambassador from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United

Nations

H.E. Abdullah M. Al-Saaidi, The Ambassador from the Republic of Yemen the United

       Nations

H.E. Ravan Farhadi, The Ambassador from Afghanistan to the United Nations

H.E. Baktybek Abdrisaev, The Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to The United States

 and Canada

H. E. Hynek Kmonicek, The Ambassador from Czech Republic to the United Nations

H.E. Madina B. Jarbussynova, The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United Nations

H.E Ambassador Shofry Abdul Ghafor, The Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the

                   United Nations

Comments:

Mahnmoud Ayoub (Temple U.)

A. William Bodine (Investment Advisory Group, China, Kazakhstan, and USA)

PANELS: SATURDAY MARCH 29, 2003, SNOYD HALL: 4:00 - 6:30p.m.

1SAT4(continued from SAT9A): GLOBAL STUDIES PANEL (Part II)

2SAT4:THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION (Part II)

3SAT4: A ROUND TABLE ON BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF LIBERATION BUDDHISM AND LIBERATION

Chair: Raziel Abelson (NYU)

Hyun Hochsmann (Jersey City U.), TBA

Toy Tung (Columbia U), “Liberation through Poetry in the Tibetan Tradition”

Lars Cederholme (CTT), “Liberation Through Buddhism in Politics and Business”

Douglas Morris (Loyola U.), TBA

Marie Friquegnon (William Paterson U.), “Liberation and Free Will in Indo-Tibetan

                                         Buddhist Philosophy”

Thomas Doctor (Kathmandu University - Centre for Buddhist Studies), “Beyond the Ocean

                                      of Philosophy: Santaraksita and Mipham on the Value of Views”

4SAT3: ISLAMIC STUDIES (Part II)

5SAT4: LESSONS IN SELF-SUFFICENCY FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRY BUSINESS SUCCESS

Chair and Organizer: A. William Bodine (Investment Advisory Group)

William F. Atkins (Associate Council General, LDS)

Michael A. Gates (ARYX Capital Partners)

Khaldoun M. Hejazi (Waddell and Reed)

Dan Jorgensen (Jorgensen and Associates)

Alexander V. Kollontal (Lexington Investment Group)

6SAT4: WORKSHOPS ON NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Sponsor: Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Bloustein School of Planning

                                             and Public Policy, Rutgers University

Chair and Organizer: Linda Stamato (Rutgers U.) and Sanford M. Jaffe (Rutgers U.)

7SAT4: RELIGION AND PEACE ACTIVISM

Organizer: Jack Gilroy (Council of Churches, Binghamton)

SUNDAY MARCH 30, 2003, SYNOD HALL

1SUN: RELIGION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

PART I (1:00 - 2:30p.m.): CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN WORLD RELIGIONS

Chair and Organizer: Khaleel Mohammed (Brandies U.)

Horst Seidl (Pontificia Universitas Lateranensis, Rome, Italy), “World Religions

                       and  the Roman-Catholic Claim of Absolute Truth”

Comments: Charles Randall Paul (President: Foundations for Religious Diplomacy)

       Daniel C. Peterson (Bingham Young U.)

       Milton Eng (Rutgers U.)

PART II (2:30 – 4:45p.m.): ARTICULATING RELIGIOUS DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM: WHO OWNS THE BIBLE?

Chair: Paul Clayton (Ecumenical Commission)

Jacob Neusner (Bard College)

Truman Madsen (Brigham Young U.)

Bruce D. Chilton (Bard College)

Robert M. Berchman (Dowling College)

PART III (4:45 - 7:00p.m.): Texts in Context: Dealing with Difficult Scripture

Chair and Organizer: Khaleel Muhammad (Brandies U.)

Khaleel Muhammad (Brandies U.): “Reading in a Conflict Resolution Context: Difficult Passages

                                                        in the Torah and Qur’an”

Maria Jose-Falcon y Tella (Complutense U., Madrid, Spain) “Conflict Resolution: Civil

                                Disobedience and War”

Carole Fontaine (Andover-Newton Theological School), “Holy Words and the

                             Ethics of Reading: a Call for Faithful Contextualization”

Rodney Peterson (Executive Director, Boston Theological Institute), “Final

                             Prophets: Judaism, Christianity and Islam”

John Clabeaux (St John’s Seminary College, Boston) “Texts that Harm Others: Solutions that Harm

                          Ourselves: Living in Peace with the Gospel of John."

2SUN (4:45 - 6:15p.m.): A ROUND TABLE ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN SHI’A

PERSPECTIVES

Chair and Comments: Lynda Clarke (Concordia U., Canada)

Mahmoud Ayoub (Temple U.)

Daniel C. Peterson (Brigham Young U.)

Markus Dressler (New York U.)

Hossein Kamaly (Columbia U.)

3SUN1B: CHINA AND THE WEST, CLASHES OR DIALOGUE?

Chair: Hyun Hochsmann (New Jersey City U.)

Fu Youde (Dean: School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shendong U.,

                            Jinan, China.)

Cheng Chung-ying (U. of Hawaii, and President: International East-West U.)

Yang Guorong (East China Normal U., Shanghai, China)

Gu Su (Nanjing U., China)

Li He (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China and Harvard U.)

John Chaffee (Binghamton U.)

Zhang Xiaoming (Research Center For Humanities, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,

                            Beijing, China)

Yong Huang (Kutztown U.)

Lu Xudong (Philosophy Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing)

Jinmei Yuan (U. of Hawaii) 

4SUN 1C: REFLECTING ON CONFLICTS IN AFRICA

Partial List of Participants:

H. E. Dr. Isaac C. Lamba (The Permanent Representative of the Republic of

                               Malawi to the United Nations)

H.E. Daudi N. Mwakawago (The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of

                                                           Tanzania to the U.N.)

H. E. Lebohang K. Moleko (The Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the United

                                                          Nations)

H. E. Odeen Ishmael (The Ambassador of the Republic of Guyana to the United States,

                                                       Washington D.C.)

Daryl C. Thomas (Chair: Africana Department, Binghamton U.)

Seth Azuma (Director: African American Studies Program, SUNY Cortland)

Alamin Mazrui (Ohio State U.)

Don Ohadike (Director: Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell U.)

Seni Hazzan (President: JIL Publishing Company)

Ousseina Alidou (Rutgers U., New Brunswick, NJ)

Ebere Onwudiwe (Central State University, Ohio)

5SUN: WESTERN PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS

Chair: Daryl Tress (Fordham U., Journal of Neoplatonic Society)

Glenn Rawson (Georgia Southern U.), “Reciprocity, Reflexivity, and Piety in Plato's Euthyphro.”

Twyla Gibson (U. of Michigan), “Plato On the Mutual Good: Philosophical Foundations of an

                                   Ethics of Global Peace?” (628 c-d)”

Marjolein Ole (Loyal U. of Chicago), TBA

John Hendrix (Roger Williams U.), “Plato and Anaximander”

Max J. Latona (Saint Anselm College), “Nomos and Physis in Plato’s Critique of Poetry”

Marina McCoy (Boston College), “Love and Conflict in the Protagoras”

Jean-Marc Narbonne (U. of Laval, Canada), TBA

William E. Murnion (Philosophy Works), “Aquinas on Revolution”

Geoff Bowe (Bilkent U., Ankara, Turkey),“Towards a Theory of Structural Prolepsis in

      Republic BookI”

Richard Stichler (Alvernia College), TBA

John Partridge (Wheaton College), “Socrates’ Divine Sign in Plato’s Dialogues”

Gregory Scott (TBA), “Plato, Catharsis, and Aristotle’s Sympathy”

6SUN: ROUND TABLE/ SYMPOSIUM: Identification of Sources of

Conflicts and Reflections on Resolution of Conflicts in South Asia

Organized by: Gurharpal Singh (U. of Birmingham, UK; Chair: Interfaith Studies) and Arvind-Pal

S. Mandair (Hofstra U.)

7SUN: ROUND TABLE/SYMPOSIUM: Family Values and Conflict Resolution

Organized by: Renee Green (Brigham Young U.)

            Part I: Panel: Strong, Stable Families—the Key Ingredient for Real Peace

Moderator: Renée C. Green (World Family Policy Center, J. Reuben Clark Law School,

                  Legal Director)

Richard Wilkins (Managing Director World Family Policy Center)

Ernesto Guancia (Family and Education Expert) and Ed Diansuy (Attorney, Philippines

                  Government Human Rights Division), “The Relationship Between Poverty

                  and Family Conflict”

Scott Loveless (Ex. Director: World Family Policy Center), “Family Values and the Law”

Valecia Green (Attorney), “Why Marriage Matters”

            Part II: Panel: Hands-on Skills and Programs for Overcoming Family Conflict

Gary Lundberg (Marriage Counselor, UN Representative) and Joy Lundberg (Author, UN

          Representative), “Relationships: Finding Peace through Effective Communication”

Shirley Cox (Social Work), “Family Enrichment Night: An Immediate Solution

                     for Creating Stronger Families” 

           Part III: Panel: (Poverty and Conflict): The Rural Poor: Sustainable Development

                         that  Works—A Plan of Action

Allen Christensen (Director: The Benson), TBA

APPENDICES

THE FOUNDATION FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIPLOMACY (FID)

Charles Randall Paul, Ph.D., Executive Director

Founding advisors:

Martin Marty (U. of Chicago), David Tracy (U. of Chicago), William Vendley (Secretary General: World Conference on Religion and Peace), Scott Appleby (Notre Dame Institute for International Peace Studies), Ambassador John McDonald (Chairman: Foundation for Multi-track Diplomacy), Mark Gopin (Tufts U.), Charles Haynes (Director: The First Amendment Center), Cole Durham (Co-chairman: OSC Institute for Freedom of Religion or Belief), Chris Seiple (Institute for Global Engagement), David Steele (Center for International and Strategic Studies), Robert Traer (Oxford International Interfaith Center)

MISSION: This foundation has been established to build respect and trust among families, communities, and societies engaged in irresolvable religious or ideological conflicts.

VISION: A world where conflicts over inevitable religious and ideological differences can be sustained peacefully as forthright contests of persuasion between respectful, trustworthy opponents. A peaceful world is not quiet, but a place of lively striving between honest people who, without coercion or violence, promote different views of the highest way, or the purpose for life. Interreligious diplomacy is designed to change disrespectful enemies into trustworthy opponents. The motto for people engaged in sincere interreligious diplomacy is contestare ex bona fide, contest (or testify) in good faith.

SITUATION: Among diverse believers there is no universally acceptable authority to resolve religious conflicts about ultimate reality, the purpose of life, and the correct way to live. Inevitably, intelligent, well-meaning people believe their chosen religion or ideology to be superior to less appealing alternatives. This judgment is not an act of arrogance, but a sincere expression of conscience. Nevertheless, advocating one superior truth offensively calls into question other traditions by which families, communities, and societies establish purpose and order. Thus, religion unavoidably generates trust and solidarity among some while eliciting distrust, ill will, and violence among others. We need new ways to engage irresolvable religious differences in discussions that will build trust and cooperation among those who remain sincerely and adamantly opposed in their convictions.

STRATEGY: The foundation aims to build trust and respect between adversaries who feel ethically bound to promote or defend their religion and criticize others. It does so by bringing opponents together in safe conditions to engage in forthright contestations over serious religious differences. The goal is not to resolve the conflicts but to sustain them through dignified persuasive exchanges.

ORGANIZATION: The Foundation for Interreligious Diplomacy is a private, charitable foundation established in 2000. It is in the process of gathering a religiously diverse board of trustees to oversee its programs. Charles Randall Paul, Ph.D., is the Founder and Executive Director. For further information, contact by email, eriseros@att.net, or telephone, (801) 783-1440.

SUBSIDARIES: FID implements its organized research through various organizations such as Global Scholarly Publications (GSP).