The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
Calendar of Events - 2009
Interfaith Youth Core’s 6th Conference, October 25-27 2009, Chicago, Illinois
"Interfaith Youth Core’s (IFYC) 6th Conference, Leadership for a Religiously Diverse World, will engage participants in the question of how young people can be the architects of a global movement of interfaith service. This Conference will offer: plenary sessions with dynamic speakers, including religious leaders, young people, activists, policy makers, academics and more, the debut of IFYC’s premiere interfaith leadership training, interactive workshops and trainings from best-in-class organizations and practitioners from around the world, and networking opportunities with leaders in the emerging interfaith youth movement."
For more information, visit https://secure.lenos.com/lenos/conferencedirect/ifyc2009/home.htm
2009 National Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) Convention, November 6-8, 2009, Seattle, Washington
"The Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., is an educational group working for the separation of state and church. Its purposes, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism….The Foundation acts on countless violations of separation of state and church on behalf of members and the public."
For more information, visit http://ffrf.org/events/
United Jewish Communities General Assembly, November 8-11, 2009, Washington, D.C.
“The General Assembly (GA) is the premier annual North American Jewish conference, attracting Federation lay leaders and professionals as well as the leadership of UJC’s partner organizations and other important national Jewish organizations. It’s an event that inspires and engages current and emerging Jewish leaders, tackles the most critical issues of the day, and showcases the best of the Federation movement. The GA plenaries, forums and workshops feature top speakers from the political, business and non-profit realms.” President Obama will address the 2009 GA.
For more information, visit http://www.ujc.org/section.aspx?id=42
Parliament of the World's Religions, December 3-9, 2009, Melbourne, Australia
"The 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions will be an international interreligious gathering, bringing together over 8,000 people. The theme of the 2009 Parliament, 'Make a World of Difference: Hearing each other, Healing the earth,' underscores the opportunity for religious and spiritual communities and all people of good will to act on environmental concerns and take responsibility for cultivating awareness of our global interconnectedness."
For more information, visit http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/index.cfm?n=8&sn=1
The 9th World Zoroastrian Congress: "Unity Through the Sands of Time," December 28-31, 2009, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
"It is said from tiny acorns grow mighty oaks. So too, from the seeds sown in 1960, the World Zoroastrian Congress has evolved over the years to become a physical meeting ground for Zoroastrians from far corners of the world."
For more information, visit http://www.wzcongress.org/
The Gulen Institute Dialog of Civilizations Platform, January 22-23 2010, Houston, Texas
Conference on “Social Challenges of the 21st Century: The roles of government, civil society, media and educators.”
For more information, visit http://www.guleninstitute.org/index.php/Conferences/
The Rise Of Atheism: 2010 Global Atheist Convention, March 12-15, 2010, Melbourne, Australia
“The 2010 Global Atheist Convention will be the biggest ever atheist event in Australia’s history.
This is your chance to hear world-class atheist speakers, and meet Australian and internationally acclaimed atheists, skeptics, humanists, rationalists and academics in one of Australia’s most vibrant and exciting cities. Presenters will include: Richard Dawkins, Catherine Deveny, Phillip Adams, Taslima Nasrin, Peter Singer, PZ Myers, Dan Barker, Stuart Bechman, Sue-Ann Post, Kylie Sturgess, John Perkins, Tamas Pataki, Max Wallace, Russell Blackford, Ian Robinson, AC Grayling, Robyn Williams, Jamie Kilstein, Simon Taylor and NonStampCollector. In addition, a panel of women chaired by Maggie Millar will feature Lyn Allison, Tanya Levin, Leslie Cannold and Jane Caro.”
For more information, visit http://www.atheistconvention.org.au/
Buddhism without Borders: Contemporary Developments in Buddhism in the West, March 18-20, 2010, Berkeley, California
“This conference seeks to explore contemporary and historical developments of Buddhist thought and practice in American Buddhisms, Buddhisms in the West, or Buddhisms outside Asia. How has the Buddhist tradition been shaped by the transnational movement of peoples, diasporas, or immigration? How has the rise of global communication, tourism, and capitalism affected the way Buddhism is understood, taught, and practiced? How do we define ‘modern’ Buddhism? The West? Or even ‘Buddhism’ itself in an increasingly globalized world?”
For more information, visit http://www.shin-ibs.edu/eventreg/Berkeley2010.php
Pagan Spirit Gathering, June 20-27 2010, Salem, Missouri
“The Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG) is one of America's oldest and largest Nature Spirituality festivals. Since its inception in 1980, PSG has been bringing together hundreds of people from throughout the United States, plus other countries, to create community, celebrate Summer Solstice, and commune with Nature in a sacred environment. Sponsored by Circle Sanctuary, PSG is open to long-time practitioners as well as newcomers to paths of Wicca, Paganism, Shamanism, Celtic traditions, Native American ways, Ecofeminism, Animism, Nature Mysticism, Pantheism, and related forms of Ecospirituality. PSG is an opportunity for personal renewal, networking, education, and cultural enrichment.”
For more information, visit http://www.circlesanctuary.org/psg/
47th Annual Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Convention, July, 2010
For more information, visit http://www.isna.net/Conferences/pages/Annual-Convention.aspx
Ongoing Events
The InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Events
The InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington brings together people of many religious traditions to "increase understanding, dialogue and a sense of community among peoples of diverse faiths from different races and cultures" and to "address issues of social and economic justice in defense of human dignity." For a list of events, visit http://www.ifcmw.org/events/upcoming.html.