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Past CFA-Sponsored Events
"Why did Jewish-Christian Dialogue Start the Trend Toward Better Interfaith Relations?"
The Keynote Speakers were Edward Kessler, Director of the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths, Cambridge, England, and Martin Forward, Executive Director of the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action. Moderated by Joe Dunham, Senior Fellow of the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, and Professor of Philosophy. The lecture was given on March 3, 2009.
“How Will Global Christianity Transform American Churches?”
and
“What Will the Church Look Like in 2050?”
Presented by author and the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Humanities at Pennsylvania State University, Philip Jenkins. Dr. Jenkins spoke twice at Aurora University, both times in Perry Theatre in January 2009.
“Towards Conversation — Difference and Disaffection in a Worldwide Church."
Presented by David Craig, Assistant Lambeth Conference Manager for the 2008 meeting of worldwide Anglican bishops presented this Lecture in the Alumni Banquet Hall on November 12, 2008.
Iftar Meal at New England Congregational Church, September 4, 2008.
Iftar Meal at New England Congregational Church, 2007.
“The Current State of Jewish-Christian Relations”
An open lecture on this theme was given by Rev. John Pawlikowski, O.S.M., Ph.D. of Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, on April 23, 2007.
Day of Interfaith Youth Service
The Center for Faith and Action organized a service project for religiously diverse young people, who came together to construct blankets for Aurora’s homeless community and dialogue about the shared value of service in the world’s religions. The event was held at Chestnut House on Sunday, April 22, 2007.
“Pope Benedict XVI’s View of Judaism”
Dr. Harold Kasimow of Grinnell College, Iowa, gave a lecture on this theme on Monday, April 16, 2007.
“Building Bridges: The importance of interfaith dialogue”
An open seminar on this theme was given by Dr. Martin Forward and Mr. Timothy Brauhn on Saturday, April 14, 2007.
“The Sunni-Shia divide and its impact today”
An open seminar on this theme was given by Dr. Martin Forward and Mr. Timothy Brauhn on Saturday, February 14, 2007
"American Sport as Folk Religion: The American Way of life, Sport's Halls of Fame, and the annual Superbowl"
A lecture on this theme was given by Dr. Jim Mathisen, Professor of Sociology at Wheaton College on Monday, January 29, 2007.
"Jesus: faith, fact and fiction"
Dr. Morna Hooker of Cambridge University, England, gave a lecture on this theme on Thursday, October 26, 2006.
Ramadan Meal
An iftar meal (which breaks the fast each evening during the Muslim month of Ramadan), sponsored by the Niagara Foundation of Chicago and the CFA, was held at New England Congregational Church on 11th October 2006, attended by university and community members, and Turkish guests.
"The Clash of Civilizations "
An open seminar on this theme was given by Dr. Martin Forward and Mr. Timothy Brauhn on Saturday, September 9, 2006.
"12 Years On: The New South Africa"
Professor Jocelyn Hellig of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, gave a lecture on this theme on Thursday, September 7, 2006.
"Islam Between Peace and Violence"
An open lecture on this theme was given by Imam Dr. Rashied Omar of Notre Dame University on Thursday, April 6, 2006, at Fox Valley Muslim Community, Aurora .
"The Inter-religious Dynamics Underlying Antisemitism"
An open lecture on this theme was given by Professor Jocelyn Hellig on Tuesday, April 5, 2005.
"What Can Women Do for Religion?: Faith, Feminism and Human Flourishing"
This one day conference was held on November 16, 2004. Our speaker was: Professor Ursula King.
"Praying in the Spaces In-between: Women, Worship, and Spiritual Power"
An open lecture on this theme was given by Dr. Susan White, Alberta H. and Harold L. Lunger Professor of Spiritual Resources and Disciplines, Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, on September 30, 2004.
"The Future of Our Religious Past"
An open lecture on the theme of religious tradition was given by Jonathan Dean of the Federation of Cambridge (UK) Theological Colleges, on April 21, 2004.
"The Middle East Today"
Open Lectures on "The Middle East Today" were given by Dr. Martin Forward and Mr. Gregory Swedberg, Spartan Fellow, on Saturdays, January 31, February 7, and February 14, 2004.
"Wine in the Wilderness: Trial and Triumph in the Black Catholic Church"
An open lecture on this theme was given by AU Spartan Fellow Gregory Swedberg on Tuesday, February 10, 2004.
"Paul the Jew"
An open lecture was given on this theme by Professor Morna Hooker of Cambridge University, England, on September 29, 2003.
"Religion and Violence Texts and Contexts"
This one day conference was held on September 16th 2003. Our speakers were:
- Scott Alexander, Associate Professor of Islam; Director, Catholic-Muslim Studies; Chair, Department of Cross-Cultural Ministries; Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
- Edward Kessler, Executive Director, centre for Jewish-Christian Realtions, Cambridge, UK; and Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge.
"A Future For Religion and Spirituality?" (Teape Lectures)
Dr. Forward's two lectures discussed 'Religion: friend or foe of spirituality?' and 'An Equal Music: spirituality for a world of many religions' and were delivered on November 7 and 14, 2002, respectively. An obligation of the Teape lecturer is to work the lectures into a book, so he is currently writing a book on interfaith spirituality which will include the ideas he discussed in his lectures.
"Nearest In Love: Dialogue Between Christians and Muslims After 9/11"
This one-day conference was held on September 24, 2002, on the theme of '"Nearest in Love": Dialogue between Christians and Muslims after 9/11. Our keynote speakers were:
- Kenneth Cracknell, Professor of Global Mission at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX.
- Rashied Omar, Imam of the Claremont Mosque in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Jane Smith, Co-director of the Duncan Black MacDonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford, CT.
There was a final plenary with contributions by:
- Dr. Scott Alexander, Associate Professor of Islam; Director, Catholic-Muslim Studies; Chair, Department of Cross-Cultural Ministries; Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
- Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Chair of the Nawawi Foundation.
- Regina Schwartz, Jewish scholar, Professor of English at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
"Justice, Peace and Faith: Recent South African Experiences and Reflections"
This conference was held from October 12-14, 2001, on the theme of 'Justice, Peace and Faith: Recent South African Experiences and Reflections'. Our speakers were:
- Franz Auerbach, a distinguished Jewish educationalist.
- Ela Gandhi, a granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Gerrie Lubbe, Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of South Africa.
- Kenosi Mofokeng, a bishop in the African Progressive Baptist Church in South Africa.
- Rashied Omar, Imam of the Claremont Mosque in Cape Town, South Africa.
