October 16 — “Hoosiers and Interfaith Dialogue in Turkey”
The Holy Dove Foundation in Indianapoolis takes Hoosier civic and religious leaders for tours of Turkey. Hear a panel of Holy Dove alumni discuss what they experienced, what it shows about Turkey, and what it says aboiut interfaith dialogue in Indianapolis.
When: Thursday October 16 7:00 pm
Where: Bishop Chartrand Memorial Chapel, Marian College
Part of the The Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center for Global Studies Global Studies Speaker Series for 2008-2009. Free and open to the public
This panel will include:
- Dr. Pierre M. Atlas, director, LFCGS, Marian College: Pierre Atlas is an assistant professor of political science and director of The Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center for Global Studies at Marian College. Atlas’s areas of specialization are Middle East politics, civil wars and ethnic conflicts, and U.S. foreign policy. He is a monthly opinion columnist for The Indianapolis Star and for the web site RealClearPolitics.com. Atlas received his Ph.D. in political science from Rutgers University in 2000, and he also holds an master of arts and a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Arizona and the University of Toronto, respectively.
- Dr. George LaMaster, ordained Presbyterian Minister and asst. prof of communications, Marian College: George LaMaster is an assistant professor of communication. His teaching includes a course entitled “The Art of Dialogue,” and his research concerns the role of dialogue in religious rhetoric. He directs the program in communication and coaches the speech team at Marian College. Also an ordained Presbyterian minister, LaMaster serves as a parish associate at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. LaMaster holds a bachelor of arts degree from Bradley University and a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned a master of arts in speech communication and his Ph.D. in communication and culture from Indiana University.
- Rabbi Dennis Sasso, Congregation Beth El Zedeck and adjunct prof of theology, Marian College: Rabbi Dennis Sasso is an affiliate professor of Judaic studies at the Christian Theological Seminary and adjunct professor in the Department of Philosophy and Theology at Marian College. He was ordained as rabbi by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia and has been senior rabbi of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis for the past 30 years. Sasso writes a monthly opinion column for The Indianapolis Star. He holds a bachelor of arts from the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies of Brandeis University and a master of arts in religion from Temple University. Sasso is a native of Panama and a descendant of Spanish Jews who settled in the Caribbean in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, began his doctoral studies at Temple University, and completed his doctor of ministry degree at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.
- Bilal Eksili, executive director, The Holy Dove Foundation, Indianapolis: Bilal Eksili was born in Antalya, Turkey, and moved to Russia to study at Dagestan State University. There he studied Russian, German, and English. After graduation, he moved to Chicago in 2000. Since April 2007, he has been working in Indianapolis as executive director for The Holy Dove Foundation, an Indianapolis-based organization inspired by the writings and ideas of the Turkish Islamic scholar Fathullah Gulen, who was voted “The World’s Top Public Intellectual” in the 2008 Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines readers’ poll. The mission of The Holy Dove Foundation is to bring forth the common values of humanity such as tolerance, respect, and compassion that exists across all faith traditions.
Panelists will each show 4-5 photos and will discuss their experiences and interfaith dialogue in general.
Why does Provocate think you should attend this event?
The Turkey perspective could create an opportunity for multi-faith audience (including many clergy who are Holy Dove alumni) to talk about Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
If you think this sounds interesting, be sure to check out …
Other interfaith discussions such as the interfaith storytelling event November 20. You should attend the Peace Institute’s workshop on understanding Islam in Indiana on October 18.
Know before you go:
You can read impressions of their Holy Dove trips to Turkey by Pierre Atlas and Dennis Sasso.
And for your listening pleasure …
