Public Symposium:
Whose Faith? Which Morals?:
Religion, Politics, and Values
April 13-17
Free and open to the public. No registration required.
Sponsors: University of Texas Humanities Institute, University of Texas Religious Studies Program, LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, Austin Area Inter-Religious Ministries, Religion & Labor Network of Austin, with the endorsement of a number of Austin religious congregations and community service organizations.
Session I: Religion, Politics, and Moral Values
April 13, 2005
7:00-9:30 pm
LBJ Auditorium
A panel discussion that frames the broad symposium topic and explores such questions as: What do we mean by moral values? Who is the we? What is the current religious landscape in the U. S. and how are particular definitions of "moral values" located in it?
Participants:
Betty Sue Flowers, moderator, Director, LBJ Presidential Library
Prof. Mark Silk, director, Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life
Rev. Jim Forbes, Senior Leader, Riverside Church, NYC
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reformed Judaism & Co-Chair of the Commission to Preserve Religious Liberty
Patricia Hayes, Seton Hospital CEO, and former President of St. Edwards University
Session II: Enacting Morality: Personal Values, Social Justice, and Public Policy
April 14, 2005
9:00 am -4:00 pm.
UT Campus
Series of talks, panels, workshops, and conversations (involving visiting panelists from Session 1 as well as Austin academic, religious, and community organization leaders, and members of local faith communities and the general public) around such issues as the following:
1. Thursday Morning: Theological and Secular Bases of American Moral Commitments
a) Roundtable discussion: On what authorities or beliefs, religious or secular, do we base our moral values? Do different theologies (within or across religious traditions) produce different moral commitments? PARTICIPANTS: local and visiting religious and academic leaders. Invitees include: *Dr. Whit Bodman-Austin Presbyterian Seminary; Rev. Cindy Rigby; *Imam Safdar Razi; Prof. Mark Silk; Prof. Richard Markovits. This discussion will be followed by a Q & A and audience dialog.
b) Mark Silk presentation: "how regional religious realities are affecting the moral values and public culture of the country."
2. -Open Space- Lunch:
The "open space" extended lunch discussion will enable symposium participants to come together in small self-selected groups to explore a variety of topics that anyone attending the event will be encouraged to put up on posted sign-up sheets in the morning. People will be able to get their box lunches and join any group discussion that interests them or move among several.
3. Afternoon: Moving Beyond Moral Polarization?
a) Reports on lunch conversations
b) Roundtable discussion: What are the forces (media, economics, tension between individual and communal rights, etc) that create polarization and opposition? How, despite these forces, have people enacted their moral values in the community and/or moved beyond polarization? PARTICIPANTS: Scholars & local religious and community leaders and activists who have been involved in enacting moral values and trying to bridge divisions. Invitees include: Prof. Rod Hart-Dean, UT College of Communication & Director, Annette Strauss Center; * Rev. Tom Vandestadt-Religion & Labor Network of Austin; Fred Butler--Community Action Network; *Rev. Frank Garrett; Josefina Castillo--AFS Committee; Rev. Emilee Whitehurst--new AIM director. This discussion will be followed by a Q & A and audience dialog.
c) Rev. Jim Forbes closing remarks.
Session III: Articulating Core Religious Values
April 16-17, 2005
multiple congregational locations
Reflection and dialogue on the issues raised in the symposium will continue as part of weekend worship services and educational programs at participating congregations. Possible opening of services and educational programs at participating congregations to interdenominational guests.
Session IV: Values at Work
April 17, 2005
AFLCIO Hall
Fellowship meal and celebration of diverse expressions of religious and spiritual values at work and in the world. Sponsored by The Religion and Labor Network of Austin, with invitations to other social service and justice-seeking organizations in the community to attend and share their projects and visions.