In a world threatened by interreligious tensions and ecological catastrophe, one of the most important challenges for Buddhist and Christian practitioners today is to shape a culture of encounter that fosters respect for all humans and all forms of life on this planet. This lecture will explore five areas where Buddhists and Christians can collaborate to shape a constructive culture of encounter: Aesthetics, Academic Sharing, Spiritual Encounter, Concern for the World, and Friendship.
About the lecturer and the respondent
Leo D. Lefebure is the inaugural holder of the Matteo Ricci, S.J., Chair of Theology at Georgetown University. He is the author of the award-winning Transforming Interreligious Relations: Catholic Responses to Religious Pluralism in the United States. His other award-winning books include Revelation, the Religions, and Violence; True and Holy: Christian Scripture and Other Religions; and The Path of Wisdom: A Christian Commentary on the Dhammapada, coauthored with Peter Feldmeier. Lefebure is the vice president and president-elect of the American Theological Society, a former president of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies, a research fellow of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a trustee emeritus of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Rev. Unapane Pemananda Thero is a resident monk at the Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara in Norway. Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Hong Kong, his research focuses on Buddhist-Christian dialogue in Sri Lanka. His research interests include interreligious studies, and the role of religion in peace and reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka. He is REDI alumni from the Faculty of Theology, UiO.
Registration
The event is free and open to all. If you wish to attend the lecture digitally, you need to register in advance.