The Boniuk Center Newsletter August 2009
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Greetings!
A Note From Founding Director, Dr. Carol Quillen
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Shira Lander to the Boniuk Center.
Shira
has joined the Boniuk Center as Interim Director. Dr. Lander has a
Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a
Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion and a B.A. from Yale University. She has taught religion at
both the high school and university level and has served in a variety
of roles with the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies in
Baltimore, Maryland. She has also served on the board of the National
Council of Synagogues, whose purpose is to broadly represent the Jewish
community in interfaith dialogue. Shira has moved from Baltimore with
her husband Dr. David Portnoy, the new Head of the Emery/Weiner
School. They also have two college-age sons Maury and Zachary.
Dr.
Lander's primary focus will be to lead the Boniuk Center through a
strategic planning process over the next year. The goal of this
initiative is to develop an action plan that will guide the Boniuk
Center in best achieving its mission over the next five years. Shira
and I look forward to your participation in the strategic planning
process.
Sincerely,
Carol Quillen
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A Note from the Interim Director
Dr. Shira Lander
This year brings an exciting menu of speakers, dialogue, and classes. Inaugurating our exploration of religion will be a talk by world-renowned observer Karen Armstrong. Our Amazing Faiths Project, under the direction of Dr. B. Jill Carroll, will sponsor Dinner Dialogues around the U.S. and co-sponsor the Greater Houston Dinners with Interfaith Ministries. Community members will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of religion in our World Religions Series. Our Bridge Builders Series features three scholars who have reshaped how Americans think about religion and tolerance. On the Rice campus, we will be working closely with the staff of the Dean of Undergraduates and the Office of International Students and Scholars to promote religious tolerance and interfaith understanding in the University. We are also building a Speakers Bureau of graduate students in Rice's Religious Studies Department to provide the community with access to up-and-coming scholars in the field of religion. In addition, the Center is engaged in a strategic planning process to envision its direction for the next five years. We hope you join us at this sumptuous buffet!
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An Evening with Karen Armstrong
October 8, 2009 7:30 PM at Wortham Theater, Houston, TX
Karen Armstrong, the British author of numerous works on comparative religion will stop in Houston as a part of her book tour to promote her latest book, The Case for God. The Boniuk Center is partnering with The Progressive Forum Houston to host Ms. Armstrong at the Wortham Center at 7:30 PM on October 8th. There will be a book signing following the talk. Tickets can be purchased at The Progressive Forum website. |
Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues
November 12, 2009
In collaboration with Interfaith Ministries, the
Greater Houston AFP Dinner Dialogues will be taking place at homes around the city again
this year on November 12, 2009. If you do not reside in the Houston area, you can check out the AFP website for participating cities nationwide. Find out how to sign up to be a host,
moderator or participant at: Amazing Faiths Project.
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World Religions Series
Amazing Faiths Project
There will be a total of ten World Religions courses taught by The Boniuk Center scholars and members of our Speakers Bureau.
Dates and topics are as follows:
Nov. 17-Islam
Dec. 1-Hinduism
Jan. 14-Catholicism
Jan 19-Baha'i
Jan. 26-Sikhism
Feb. 9-Judaism
Feb. 16-African American Religions
Feb. 23-Zoroastrianism
March 9-Orthodox Christianity
March 23-Buddhism
Check our website soon for location and registration information.
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Bridge Builders Lecture Series
Sponsored by The Herzstein Foundation
The Boniuk Center will present three Bridge Builder Lecturers this year. January 12 Professor Mike McMullen of The University of Houston-Clear Lake will speak on "Trends in American Religion: Reflections on Teaching American Religion in the Egyptian Context." On March 24, Hind Makki, past Fellow of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute and training associate of The Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago will speak about her work promoting religious pluralism, interfaith service-learning, and interfaith dialogue with college students and faith congregations around the country. Our Series concludes on April 13 when Colonel Edward Westermann of Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio addresses "A Perspective on the Holocaust: The role of Ethics and Morality for the Military Professional."
More information will be available on our website.
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Tolerance Lapel Pins
 Hundreds of these stylish pins go out every month from the Center's offices to people all over the world. They are a free and easy way to keep the goals of tolerance, respect and compassion front and center in daily life.
The tolerance lapel
pins are a great gift to share with friends or family members and are
still absolutely free. Send in your request for one today!
To get your free lapel pin, simply give us your full name and postal mail address by filling out the request form here.
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