The Aspen Institute

Recording Links:

Morning Sessions (9:00am ET – 12:15pm ET)

Afternoon Sessions (1:00pm ET – 4:00pm ET)

If societies are to thrive, not just survive, there must be a set of common values that undergird social and governmental interactions. Values are often derived from religion, yet there is deep misunderstanding among and between people of different faith (and no faith) backgrounds, which can threaten the social cohesion of communities. Our times suggest that values may not be common—within or across groups—and that religions are being manipulated (sometimes by governments) for the benefit of majority groups. This has led towards increased segmentation and polarization in societies, which has been exploited by those seeking to foment division.

Join us for an all-day symposium consisting of a set of panel discussions based around case studies. Panels will explore the characteristics and skill sets of successful engagement with pluralism to protect and promote both conscience and community in the name of citizenship. Points of intersection between the ideals of religious freedom and religious pluralism will be a central theme.

Confirmed speakers include:

Abigail Pogrebin, Author and Past-President of Central Synagogue, NYC

Dr. Anand Yang, Chair of History Department and Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

Rev. Dr. Iva Carruthers, General Secretary of Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

Dr. Jim Wellman, Professor of American Religion, Culture, and Politics at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

Rev. Kristen Looney, Director of the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum

Maggie Siddiqi, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives at the El-Hibri Foundation

Mark Charles, Author of Reflections of the Hogan

Rabbi Michael Holzman of the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation

Professor Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, Chair for the Global Politics and Security Concentration in Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service

Dr. Reşat Kasaba, Director and Stanley D. Golub Chair of International Studies at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

Dr. Robert Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute

Saleema Snow, Professor at the University of the District of Columbia and President of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights

Simran Jeet Singh, Senior Religion Fellow at the Sikh Coalition

Susie Hayward, Senior Advisor for Religion & Inclusive Societies at the United States Institute of Peace

Tyler Deaton, LGTBQIA rights advocate in the Evangelical community

Dr. Christopher Stewart, Vice President of Grant Programs at the Templeton Religion Trust

Dr. Chris Seiple, Advisor to Templeton Religion Trust and Senior Fellow at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

Meryl Chertoff, Executive Director, Justice and Society Program

Zeenat Rahman, Project Director, Inclusive America Project

Registration will begin at 8:30am. Program will begin promptly at 9:00am.

Recommended Pre-Reading:

• Religious Inclusion: Never More Threatened, Never More Important
• Faith can overcome religious nationalism. Here’s how.
• Creating a National Strategy on Pluralism
• Principled Pluralism Requires the Courage for Difficult Conversations
• 2018 Ministerial Philanthropy Panel Remarks
• Case Study: The House on 6th Street

This program is generously supported by the Templeton Religion Trust and the Democracy Fund.