February 27, 2013

For Immediate Release

University Marketing & Communications: Mike Rigert (801) 863-6807

Written by: Layton Shumway (801) 863-6863

The Interreligious Engagement Initiative at Utah Valley University will host a conference entitled “Intersecting Convictions: Core Beliefs and Civil Dialogue” on Friday, March 1, in the UVU Library Lakeview Room (fourth floor). The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. and run through 4 p.m.

The conference will bring together four prominent lecturers and dialogists from the world of interreligious engagement, representing Judaism (Joshua Stanton, Hebrew College); Evangelicalism (John Morehead, Foundation for Religious Diplomacy), Atheism (Chris Stedman, Harvard) and Mormonism (Joanna Brooks, San Diego State University).

Each panelist will speak to their particular religious or nonreligious tradition and situate it in contemporary religious and cultural landscapes. Lectures will be followed by sessions of open and unscripted civil religious dialogue between panelists.

Conference organizers maintain that productive engagement across religious lines includes the exploration of foundational principles and points of contact. This conference is designed to both examine and model the highest standards of interreligious engagement free from coercion, disrespect and incivility.

“Religion lies at the heart of the human endeavors,” said Brian Birch, UVU associate vice president for academic affairs. “History has proven that religious and ideological diversity can be a tremendous source of both unity and conflict. It is not the fact that we have differences that matters, but how we engage these differences.”

The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. UVU co-sponsors include the Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding and the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy (Evangelical Chapter).

For more information, contact Brian Birch at 801-863-8361 or brian.birch@uvu.edu or visit uvu.edu/religiousstudies/upcomingevents.html.

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About UVU

Utah Valley University is located in Orem, Utah, and is home to more than 30,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community school, state college and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah’s largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees, with emphasis on undergraduate education.