A Very Special ACross Borders
Welcome to a very special issue of A-Cross Borders celebrating a coming together of people of faith and the humanist community.
From the 8th through the 10th of November, the UK and US Xaverians are holding a conference at the Conforti Institute in Coatbridge, Scotland entitled:
COMMON GROUND: A Conversation Among Religious Believers and Humanist on Values & Ethics
The purpose of the conference is to provide a safe space for discussion without rancor or derision. The goal is to eliminate any barriers that separate us and identify the values we share in working for a better world for all.
We invite you to virtually join us in this important conversation via our blog and Twitter Feed set up just for this occasion. We appreciate your comments. You can watch our video presentations and/or listen to our podcasts.
To find out more about the conference, speakers and participants you can download the brochure here. |
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Fr. Carl Chudy sx Fr. John Convery sx
Xaverian Missionaries USA Xaverian Missionaries UK
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The purpose of our gathering of people of different faiths and humanists is a dialogue, not merely of a mutual tolerance, but rather of a mutual respect and cooperation around the values and ethics we all share, believers and non-believers. It is an opportunity to build bridges of understanding and to break down the barriers of fear, born of ignorance, skepticism and indifference. It is meant to encourage a sense of solidarity and cooperation between believers and non-believers that may be carried back into the communities where the participants live and work.
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 | | John Sivalon teaching at University of Scranton |
(We sent this out last month as well but we thought it would be appropriate to send again so you could learn about Fr. John.)
John Sivalon MM, who will be speaking at our November Conference in Scotland, drawing on his own mission training and experience, believes that "inculturation" is more aptly seen as "incarnation": the living presence of God in culture. Rather than fearing postmodern culture, he believes that God's presence in that culture breathes fresh insight, vision, and life into Vatican II's understanding that mission is centered in the very heart of God. Above all, postmodern culture offers "the gift of uncertainty." This gift calls us to humbly listen through contemplation and imagination to the whispers of God. Discover more.
 | | Chris Stedman: Faitheist |
Chris Stedman is the author of Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious and currently serves as the Assistant Chaplain and Values in Action Coordinator for the Humanist Community at Harvard University. He is the founder of the first blog dedicated to exploring atheist-interfaith engagement, NonProphet Status. In 2011, the Huffington Post listed Chris's work as one of the Top 11 Religion Stories of the year and named him one of the top interfaith activists on Twitter. Religion Dispatches listed him at #5 in the Top 10 Peacemakers in the Science-Religion wars.
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 | | Planning Committe: (from left) Hugh Foy, John Convery SX, Carl Chudy SX, Mary Aktay, Tom Welsh SX |
 | | John Silvalon MM (left), Prerna Abbi and Chris Stedman join Carl Chudy SX and Hugh Foy in discussion preparing for the conference. |
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