The Pluralism Project at Harvard UniversityWomen, Religion, & Social Change II: Transcripts
April 30, 2003
Opening remarks and introductions
5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. at the Barker Center for the Humanities
Diana L. Eck welcomed the group and offered opening remarks. The session continued with brief introductions by participants from the 1983 Women, Religion & Social Change meeting, as well as members of the U.S.-based Women’s Networks.
May 1, 2003
Roundtable discussions
8:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. at the Barker Center for the Humanities
Introductory conversation continued, and we began to discuss some of the following questions: What is our own experience now in dialogue across religious traditions? Dialogue and disputation within religious traditions? Dialogue between those of us who feel deeply connected to religious traditions and communities and those of us whose connection is more with secular communities? Where are the most lively connections? The hardest conversations? The deepest silences?
Panel: The U.S. Religious Context Today
3:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. at the Barker Center for the Humanities
This panel provided an overview of the increasing religious diversity of the U.S. and discussed the current climate of interreligious relations from the perspectives of women, with a special emphasis on the impact of 9/11. The panel presentations included a brief demonstration of the CD-ROM “On Common Ground: World Religions in America.” Read the transcript
- Diana Eck, The Pluralism Project, Panel Chair
- Sharifa Alkhateeb, North American Council of Muslim Women
- Shamita Das Dasgupta, Manavi
- Sheila Decter, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
- Beverly Harrison, Union Theological Seminary Emerita
- Terry Kay Rockefeller, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
Panel: Student Interfaith Networks
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. at the Harvard Faculty Club
Student panelists from Baha’i, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Native American, and Sikh faith traditions responded to the following questions: What forms of interfaith networks, formal and informal, exist on the campus level in the U.S.? Are there new challenges and opportunities? What roles do young women play within their own religious communities? What might we learn about the goals, challenges, and visions of the next generation? Read the transcript
- Claudia Highbaugh, Harvard Divinity School, Panel Chair
- Heather Gregg, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Bahiyyih Khelghati, Wellesley College
- Deshmeet Kaur Malik, Wellesley College
- Marilyn Notah Verney, University of California Santa Barbara
- Gabriella Rosen, Harvard University
- Neelima Shukla-Bhatt, Harvard University
- Jessica Zaman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
May 2, 2003
Panel: Perspectives on the Global and the Local
9:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. at the Harvard Divinity School
Panelists addressed how the energies of globalization, the technologies of communications, and the realities of interdependence have altered our religious communities, our lives, our issues, our understandings, and our strategies for social change. Read the transcript
- Mary Hunt, Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics & Ritual, Panel Chair
- Brigalia Bam, South Africa Independent Electoral Commission
- Devaki Jain, United Nations Intellectual History Project
- Azza Karam, World Conference on Religion and Peace
Panel: Religious Networks and Women's Leadership
10:45 A.M. – 12:15 P.M. at the Harvard Divinity School
This panel assessed new forms of women's leadership in a range of religious traditions. What have been the gains? The backlash? The prospects for the future? In what ways should women take leadership in relation to the future of religious traditions? Read the transcript
- Dorothy Austin, The Memorial Church, Harvard University, Panel Chair
- Elizabeth Amoah, University of Ghana
- Dhammananda bhikkhuni (C. Kabilsingh), Buddhasavika Foundation
- Daphne Hampson, School of Divinity, University of St. Andrews
- Judith Plaskow, Manhattan College
- Inés Talamantez, University of California, Santa Barbara
Panel: Dialogue in the Midst of Conflict (Harvard Gazette article)
2:00 P.M. – 3:45 P.M. at the Harvard Divinity School
In this panel, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim participants addressed whether interfaith dialogue is possible -- or even relevant -- given the current polarization around issues of peace and justice in Israel and Palestine. Read the transcript
- Alma Abdul-Hadi Jadallah, Institute for Conflict Analysis, Panel Chair
- Laila Al-Marayati, Muslim Women's League
- Blu Greenberg, Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
- Jean Zaru, Religious Society of Friends, Ramallah
Panel: Religious Violence, Extremism and Fundamentalisms
4:00 P.M. – 5:45 P.M. at the Harvard Divinity School
Panelists addressed the increase in the power and visibility of exclusivist, extremist, and chauvinist religious movements. Panelists aimed to describe and analyze these movements, and began to assess how they impact women in diverse locales, including India, Egypt, Thailand, and the United States. Read the transcript
- Leila Ahmed, Harvard Divinity School, Panel Chair
- Veena Das, Johns Hopkins University
- Nawal El Saadawi and Sherif Hetata, Arab Women's Solidarity Association
- Melanie May, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
- Yifa, Hsi Lai University
May 3, 2003
Roundtable discussion
9:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. at the Barker Center for the Humanities
Panel: Common Values, Human Rights, Civil Rights
10:45 AM – 12:30 PM at the Barker Center for the Humanities
Panelists offered a range of responses to the following questions: What are the alliances of religious and secular women? What movements are there to envision common ethics and values across traditions and cultures? What are the issues and energies of human rights, civil rights, and indigenous rights movements? Read the transcript
- Ann Braude, Harvard Divinity School, Panel Chair
- Sissela Bok, Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies
- Dorothy Eck, Montana State Senate
- Grove Harris, The Pluralism Project
- Shulamith Koenig, People's Movement for Human Rights Education
- Sylvia Marcos, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos
Small group discussions
4:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. at the Barker Center for the Humanities
Participants selected one of three small group discussions in which to participate: Women’s Organizations and Networks; Religion and Feminism; and Third Party Roles in Conflict Resolution.
May 4, 2003
Closing Session
9:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. at the Barker Center for the Humanities
Roundtable discussion included closing comments from participants, including ideas for ongoing networking.
Conference papers available online:
“Globalization of Justice”
Mary Hunt
Remarks for “Campus Interfaith Networks” panel
Gabriella Rosen
“Dialogue in Conflict”
Jean Zaru