Conference on religious tolerance marks 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

Calvin professor of philosophy Kelly James Clark will join with Christian,
Jewish and Muslim scholars and practitioners at a conference on "Liberty and
Tolerance in an Age of Religious Conflict." The conference will take place
Thursday, September 8 through Sunday, September 11, 2011, at Georgetown
University, marking the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11. The
conference is funded by a grant that Calvin's Nagel Institute for the Study of
World Christianity received from the John Templeton Foundation. The $189,000
grant is, in part, being used to write a book: "Abraham's Children: Liberty and
Tolerance in an Age of Religious Conflict," which includes essays from five
Muslim, five Christian and five Jewish scholars.

"Many religious believers are skeptical of liberal defenses of religious
tolerance that ignore or dismiss their religious convictions," said Clark,
editor of 'Abraham's Children.' "Religious believers must, then, find within
their own traditions the essential ingredients of tolerance and liberty."

This week's conference will bring many of the contributors to "Abraham’s
Children" together to take a hard look at different approaches to freedom and
coexistence within traditions.

Calvin and Yale philosophy professor emeritus Nicholas Wolterstorff '53 will
provide the opening keynote address. And subsequent panels will provide Muslim,
Jewish and Christian perspectives on religious tolerance.

"We are looking forward to this important conference," said Berkley Center
Director Thomas Banchoff, "Any effort to deepen appreciation for religious
liberty and tolerance while excluding religious voices is bound to fail."

For more information and a complete conference schedule, visit Georgetown
University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs' website:
http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/events/liberty-and-tolerance-in-an-age-of-religious-conflict

For media inquiries, contact Kelly James Clark at kclark@calvin.edu or at
616-204-0719.

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Received on Tue Sep 6 08:47:50 2011