SEPTEMBER 10, 1998-vol30n3:UB among first to initiate day of dialogue on religion, academia

VOLUME 30, NUMBER 3 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1998

UB among first to initiate day of dialogue on religion, academia

By MARA McGINNIS
News Services Editorial Assistant

On Soul Solidarity Day, a day-long spiritual exchange to be held Wednesday, UB will take the lead as one of the first public universities to initiate a campus-wide dialogue on religious issues and their relationship to academia.

Soul Solidarity Day will mark the beginning of a two-year initiative headed by the Rev. David Moore, a Presbyterian minister with the Campus Church ConneXtion, to help the UB community recognize the religious diversity of its population by providing an opportunity for inter-religious dialogue and activity. It will be a collaboration of the Campus Ministries Association, Office of the Vice-President for Student Affairs, Campus Church ConneXtion, Newman Center, Student Health Center and Living Well Center, all at UB, and the Presbytery of Western New York.

Moore encourages students, faculty, staff and members of the community to participate in this special event and is asking faculty members to try to incorporate it into their course curriculums.

"UB must be a place where religious issues are acknowledged," said Moore. "We want people to move from an attitude of indifference toward religious issues to at least tolerance, if not affirmation. Indifference is the greatest form of hostility."

It is not just religious issues but cultural traditions that need to be addressed, explained Moore. "Everyone needs to realize that many people in this world still identify with spiritual tradition and ritual as part of their culture. Public universities may overlook the degree to which students' lives often are shaped by religious faith and spirituality."

Donna Rice, associate vice president for student affairs, heads the universitywide Committee for the Promotion of Tolerance and Diversity that is involved in the planning and support for Soul Solidarity Day.

"Our campus is fortunate to have so many people of different religious backgrounds because it creates a natural learning environment for cultural and religious diversity," said Rice. "It is important for students to explore the spiritual aspect of their lives, especially how it relates to academic progress." She added that Soul Solidarity Day is in accordance with the broad definition of diversity embraced by the university, which acknowledges racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and intellectual differences.

The initiative evolved out of a 1995 proposal, "The Areopagus Project," by Moore and members of Presbytery of Western New York, which addressed concerns that many faculty members in higher education had adopted a secular world view that did not take into consideration the minority of scholars who practiced religious faith traditions.

Moore and his colleagues felt that all religious faiths were being deprived of a generation of bright young leaders since they were not developing strong religious identity as adults. He said Soul Solidarity Day will provide an opportunity to begin the exploration of such issues as interfaith marriages, the separation between church and state, the role of women in religion, science and religion, sexual practices, rituals of different faith traditions and their meanings, religious issues surrounding gays and lesbians, religious conflicts on an international scale and how to achieve universal peace.

Soul Solidarity Day will feature a performance by Buffalo's Theatre for Change, a group of professional actors, writers and directors who perform innovative interactive plays, improvisations and workshops dealing with current life issues. The day will conclude with a multicultural dance session of The Dances of Universal Peace. All events associated with Soul Solidarity Day are free and open to the public. For more information, call Moore at 639-0277.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

11 a.m.-noon-"Soulful drumming" by Clint Burke and friends, Student Union Atrium, First Floor

Noon-12:30 p.m.-Performance by Buffalo's Theatre for Change directed by Darleen Pickering Hummert, Student Union Theatre

12:30-1 p.m.-Post-performance discussion, Student Union Theatre

1-2 p.m.-Clark Pinnock, professor of theology at McMaster Divinity College and author of the book, "The Wideness of God's Mercy," will discuss "Christian Faith in a Multi-Religious Context," followed by a question-and-answer session, Student Union Theatre

2-3 p.m.-Group sessions will reflect on issues and offer proposals for action, Student Union, rooms 145 A-E

3-4 p.m.-The Dances of Universal Peace performed by Susan Slack, Student Union Social Hall, Second Floor