USU Conference Offers Methods for Interacting With Those of Other Faiths
Bonnie Glass-Coffin, founder of USU's Interfaith Initiative and an anthropology professor at USU.
The Interfaith Initiative at Utah State University will host a public, two-day conference targeted at bridging religious differences and encouraging dialogue between all faiths on April 21-22.
The two-day conference is created by the Intermountain West Interfaith Leadership Lab, sponsored by USU, Idaho State University, Utah Valley University and the Utah Campus Compact. The conference will teach the skills necessary to function positively within a community surrounded by those of different faiths.
More than 150 students from throughout the Intermountain West are expected to attend the conference, to be held at the University Inn at USU. The event is also open to community members.
The conference’s sessions will help attendees view relationships and communication through “an interfaith lens,” said Bonnie Glass-Coffin, founder of USU’s Interfaith Initiative and an anthropology professor at USU.
Students will increasingly face religious diversity as they graduate and move into careers. The challenge, said Glass-Coffin, is “to provide students—as tomorrow’s leaders in a multi-religious world—with the vision, knowledge and skills to navigate religious diversity in ways that build cooperative relationships across potential ‘faith-divides’ in service to a common good.”
This regional leadership lab is one of several being held on college campuses nationwide with support from the Interfaith Youth Core, a national organization that promotes positive religious diversity on campuses.
Presenters from IFYC as well as faculty and student-services partners from university sponsors and USU’s own Interfaith Student Association will offer round-table discussions and such workshops as “Speed-Faithing,” “Talk-Better-Together” and “Navigating Religious Conflict on Campus.”
The early bird registration cost of $20 includes admittance to all workshops and activities, a t-shirt and several meals. Pre-register before March 24 at interfaith.usu.edu. For more information contact Glass-Coffin at bonnie.glasscoffin@usu.edu.
Contact: Bonnie Glass-Coffin, 435-797-4064, bonnie.glasscoffin@usu.edu
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