MONTREAL/October 15, 2004—
ñ As the next event in the Peace and Conflict Resolution lecture series, Concordia University presents a symposium titled Forgiveness and Reconciliation: the Theological and Human Quest for Peace. These public lectures will be given on two occasions: the first being given by Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 21 in the atrium of Samuel Bronfman House (1560 Docteur Penfield); the second will be given by Dr. Trudy Govier from 3 - 5 p.m. on Friday, October 22 in the J.A. de SËve Cinema, J.W. McConnell Library Building (1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West). There will also be a panel discussion titled Is Forgiveness Realistic? held on October 22 from 9 a.m. until noon in room H-763-767 of the Henry F. Hall Building (1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West). All three events are free and open to the public.
Co-sponsored by Concordia's Department of Theological Studies and by the Loyola Peace Institute of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) of Lower Canada, the symposium will focus on forgiveness as a way to build peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, exploring the importance of the transcendent, religious reasons for peacemaking. The objective of this symposium is to examine the ways religion promotes rather than inhibits dialogue. The positive, constructive role played by Christian theology and also the beliefs of Judaism and Islam will be analysed in their historical and conceptual complexity as fostering peace in the Middle East through forgiveness.
This symposium will also seek to construct a richer notion of forgiveness that ties theology to political commitments, psychological wisdom and historical truthfulness. The symposium will bring together a number of Montreal-based academics, activists, and religious and non-religious peacemakers to better understand the role of forgiveness in peacemaking, with particular emphasis on Israel/Palestine.
The first keynote speaker, Rev. Canon Dr. Naim Ateek, is president of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem. He is the author of several books and articles including Justice and Only Justice, A Palestinian Theology of Liberation (New York: Orbis Books, 1989).
The second speaker, Dr. Trudy Govier, is the Paul and Esther Esau Distinguished Visiting Professor at Menno Simons College, Winnipeg, for 2004-2005. She is the author of numerous books and articles, including Forgiveness and Revenge (London: Routledge 2002) and A Delicate Balance: What Philosophy Can Tell Us About Terrorism (Boulder, CO: Westview Press 2002).
For more information about this symposium, contact Dr. Paul Allen, Department of Theological Studies, at (514) 848-2424 ext. 2492 or paulalle@alcor.concordia.ca.
For updates about the series, please contact Laurie Lamoureux-Scholes at peace@alcor.concordia.ca.
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