Religions for Peace USA will be at the Parliament of the World’s Religions next week!

We will be presenting seven public panels with expert panelists for each session. If you have not registered for the Parliament and would like to do so at a reduced rate, please contact us.

RFPUSA Panels at PWR Chicago

Righteousness and Self-Righteousness: Faith Perspectives
Mon, Aug 14, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM CDT
Hall E – Room 5 (In person only)

While the world-view of many of the religions of the world may be different, each religious tradition calls upon its followers to uphold righteousness and morality. Historically people of faith have taken inspiration primarily from their own faith. This can give rise to not just a sense of righteousness but also possibly a sense of self-righteousness i.e. I am better than others because of my faith. This multi-faith panel will explore this issue from the perspective of a) causes and effects of such behavior, b) how to self-identify such characteristics, and c) if and how to intervene when a fellow person of faith exhibits self-righteousness.
Moderator:                                                      Grace Song
Panelists:        Christian – Catholic                James DeLuzio
Christian – Protestant             Kristen Opalinski
Hindu                                      Sunita Vishwanath
Sikh                                        Tarunjit Singh Butalia

Threats to Religious Pluralism and Freedom in the United States
Tue, Aug 15, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM CDT
E451b (In person only)

Two recent 2022 Supreme Court decisions (reversal of Roe vs. Wade and Kennedy vs. Bremerton School District) that have significantly altered the religious landscape of the pluralism and religious freedom for all in the US. As a multi-religious and multi-racial society, it is important that no religious tradition impose its moral or ethical values on those of other religious beliefs but are free to practice the values of their own faith without mandating it for others. Patriarchal systems of governance, which have no place in modern society, will also be addressed.
Moderator:                                                      Youngsook Charlene Kang
Panelists:        Muslim                                    Zahid Bukhari
Christian                                 Michael Trice
Jewish                                    David Saperstein

Accommodation of Religious Identity in the US Workplace
Wed, Aug 16, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM CDT
Hall E-Room 3 (In person only)

This panel will explore the role of religion and religious identity in the workplace across the United States. It will cover a brief background of how faith has been accommodated at work in the United States (with examples), the current status, and the future outlook.
Moderator:                                                                             Margaret Rose
Panelists:        Sikh                                                                Supreet Singh
Muslim                                                            Arshia Ali-Khan
Christian                                                         Paul Kottke
Religious Freedom & Business Foundation   Brian Grim

Rise of White Christian Nationalism: Threats to US Democracy
Thur, Aug 17, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM CDT
E353a (Hybrid format)
In this panel discussion, we bring together academic experts and faith leaders to address the rise of Christian nationalism in the US and explore how it presents a clear and present threat to democracy in US. This panel will help define Christian nationalism, establish how prevalent it is among American public, and demonstrate its threat to democracy.
Moderator:                                                       Youngsook Charlene Kang
Panelists:                                                         Carmen Celestini – online 
Mark Pettis
Kathryn Lohre

Religious and Cultural Appropriation in Interfaith Engagement: Where do we draw the line?
Thur, Aug 17, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM CDT
E451a (In person only)
As communities of faith engage more closely with each other, it is natural for some adherents to adopt the symbols, artifacts, name, article of faith, etc. of other faiths without fully understanding their significance. This interfaith panel will explore this issue to discuss what is appropriate and what is inappropriate from each faith’s perspective. A robust Q&A with the panel is expected.
Moderator:                                                    Satpal Singh
Panelists:       Christian                                 Laura Osborne
Catholic                                  John Pinter
Native                                     Lewis Cardinal
Buddhist                                 Sak Dhammadipa Sak
Sikh                                        Manmohan Singh
Muslim                                    Arshia Ali-Khan
Jewish                                    Michael Balinsky

Racial Reparations: A Moral and Spiritual Responsibility
Thur, Aug 17, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM CDT
E451b (In person only)
This panel discussion will address the moral and spiritual responsibilities for addressing racial injustice through reparations. Specific examples from the US will be shared where this is currently in place.
Moderator:                                                      Youngsook Charlene Kang
Panelists:                                                        Michael C. R. Nabors
Lewis Cardinal
Zahid Bukhari

Interfaith Engagement: Past, Present, and Future
Fri, Aug 18, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM CDT
E451b (Hybrid format)
This interactive panel will explore the interfaith and interreligious movement. The first part will be a discussion held from the lens of what has been accomplished and why it still remains on the fringes of most major religious traditions. What motivates people of faith to engage with religious others? Why has such engagement not become mainstream? The second part of the discussion will focus on how do we deepen the interfaith commitment of those already engaged in the interfaith circle and how do we expand the circle? And what does the future hold for the movement in terms of opportunities and tensions?
Moderator:                                                      Nicholas Kazarian
Panelists:        RFPUSA                                 Tarunjit Singh Butalia
PWR                                       Stephen Avino
URI                                         Tahil Sharma
TOU                                        Grove Harris
NAIN                                       Bettina Gray – online 
FPL                                         Jeanne Lewis

More programs at the Parliament presented by Religions for Peace family are here.