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DAY 1 | DAY 2

DAY 2 9:00 – 10:30

Religion and Public Policy in a Pluralistic Society

Abstract: Religious pluralism in Canada is rooted in the story of migration and settlement of peoples from around the globe. The story began with the arrival of aboriginal peoples. It continued through the imperial public policy of France and Great Britain and into the settlement policies of Post-Confederation Canada.
What was once a religious pluralism of Christian churches has become, in the most recent episodes, the exponential growth of religions from South and East Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Religious pluralism has shifted into the policy limelight.
Multiculturalism, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Human Rights Commissions, the courts, the media, metropolitan urban planning, interfaith organizations, classrooms on world religions are some of the fora in which we now shape public policy.

Dr. Paul Bowlby has been Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Saint Mary’s University for over 20 years. His book Religious Studies in Atlantic Canada: A State-of-the-Art Review published in 2001 was one of five volumes, published by the Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion. In 2005 he joined authors John L. Esposito, Todd Lewis and Darrell Fasching by writing a new chapter, Sikhism: Becoming a World Religion, and added all of the Canadian content for the new Canadian Edition of World Religions Today (Oxford University Press) His current research is on the new religious diversity in Canada.

Hatred, Bigotry and Xenophobia: How can religion become a catalyst in peace?

Abstract: Human ignorance and desire manifested in false imaginations which ignore the transitory nature of life is the source of suffering: False imagination gives way to impure desires that are unobtainable and causes man to imagine discriminations where there are none.
In the acts of human behavior, inherently, there are no discriminations of right and wrong. But ignorance causes the action of seeing distinctions and discriminating them as right and wrong which produces the wrong thoughts. Thus one loses the right viewpoint while assuming a non existent ‘ego- personality’ to synthesize the mind’s sensual desires which are that of anger, delusion and hate.
This is negative Karma. Here lies the seed of hatred, bigotry and xenophobia. There is a remedy. It is the understanding of the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to the cessation of suffering and the Harmony of Life

Bhante Saranapala, Ph. D., a young Buddhist monk, moved to Canada to accept an assignment as a resident monk at the fledgling West End Buddhist Monastery in Mississauga. Principal of the Dhamma School and Rector, College of Buddhist Studies, West End Buddhist Cultural Centre, Saranapala is also the Buddhist Chaplain of the University of Toronto. He did his early monastic training in Sri Lanka, post graduate studies at the University of Toronto and at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. An erudite Scholar, Preacher, Meditation Teacher and much sought after Canadian public speaker, he is a Monk in Residence at the Mississauga Buddhist Temple, Ontario. In 2004, he was invited to address parliamentarians in Ottawa.

COFFEE BREAK

11:00 – 12 noon

Can a pluralism model that accommodates religious diversity be shaped for Canada?

Abstract: Canada’s official multiculturalism policy promotes the idea that Canada is not only defined by its acceptance of new immigrants, but also that these immigrants should maintain their differences so that they can contribute to and transform Canada’s cultural mosaic. As immigration trends continue to make Canada an increasingly religiously diverse country, Canada’s own multiculturalism policy has become questionable.
This policy has also come under inquiry as to whether it is in fact genuine, whether it is effective and whether it is advisable to pursue, given the international realities of the impact of immigration and integration (or lack thereof). This also raises the question of reasonable accommodation in maintaining religious pluralism.
In order to better understand the creation of religious identity within the Canadian context,
it is necessary to examine the integration and acculturation experiences of the second generation, those who have grown up in Canada. Greater examination of the second generation is essential in understanding policy implications of multiculturalism and its effectiveness in Canadian culture.

Dr. Rubina Ramji is a professor of Religious Studies at Cape Breton University (Nova Scotia, Canada). Her publications focus on understanding the images of Islam in North American mass media and its effects on Muslim identity. Her current research focuses on the emerging religious identities of second generation youth growing up in Canada. She is a co-investigator on The Religion and Diversity Project, a part of the Major Collaborative Research Initiative Program of SSHRC.

LUNCH

CONCURRENT PANELS : 1:00 – 3:00

PANEL 1: Gender and Religion:

Panelists: Ruby Ramji (Prof. of Religious Studies at CBU) Dr. Rita Deverell (Nancy’s Chair in Women Studies at the Mount) Anna Weinstein (Shambala Centre)
Facilitator: Clement Mehlman

Panel 2: How do ethnic and racial communities identify with their faith traditions in Canada

Panelists: Rabbi David Ellis, (Regional Chaplain: Atlantic Jewish Council) Will Naylor (Baha’i Community of Halifax), Sr. Dorothy Moore (Membertou), Martin Singh (Maritime Sikh Association)
Facilitator: (TBA)

Concluding Keynote Talk: 3:15 – 4:00

The Oneness of Humanity : Gordon Naylor

Gordon A. Naylor is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada.  He is Executive Director of his social services agency for residential treatment which now employs more than two hundred employees.  Naylor  has been instrumental in creating and developing  programs for the empowerment of youth in North and South America.  He has completed graduate studies in International Education, Clinical Psychology and Educational Administration. Naylor is also the founder and Executive Director of the Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute in Stratford, Ontario.  He is president and CEO of several other companies and has lectured extensively throughout the world on education and moral leadership. 

4:00 – 4:30

Roundtable: What do I take home from the conference?

(Discussions by delegates at their tables. Table leader reports conclusions on Conference Assessment Sheet)

CONFERENCE ENDS

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