Women, Religion, and Social Change II

"Women, Religion and Social Change II" is an international, interreligious conference to be held at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA from April 30 - May 4, 2003. This meeting will reunite a group of women who came together in 1983 for a groundbreaking interreligious conference on "Women, Religion and Social Change." This group, and their concerns, included the global and the local: participants came from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and Europe. The meeting drew together a diverse group of scholars and grass-roots activists for a week of intensive discussion. The broad working question of the conference was, "What is the relation of religion to the kinds of social change projects and struggles in which women are engaged around the world?" The book Speaking of Faith: Global Perspectives on Women, Religion, and Social Change, edited by Diana Eck and Devaki Jain, was a product of that meeting. Even more, new relationships and networks were formed.

In the past two decades, religion has continued to be a strong social and political force, for better and for worse. The changing demography of the world, through the migration of peoples as immigrants and refugees, has also created new, complex, multireligious societies, including the United States. Today, the dialogue of women across cultures and religious traditions is a local and national issue as well as a global concern. The Pluralism Project at Harvard University has focused on the changing religious landscape of the United States and has convened women's networks and organizations in the American context.

Those who participated in the 1983 conference on "Women, Religion and Social Change" were pioneers. Two decades later, they return as seasoned veterans with a world of insight and experience. In reuniting members of this group, and introducing new participants from the Pluralism Project's "Women's Networks," we hope to cultivate lively discussion and exchange across nations, traditions, and generations. As our global linkages become stronger, we all need to be able to see ourselves in the mirror and vision of each other.

Conference Objectives

The aims of "Women, Religion and Social Change II" include:

To explore the relation of religion to the kinds of social change projects and struggles in which women are engaged around the world
To gather together some of the participants of the "Women, Religion and Social Change" conference and learn from the experience and wisdom of each other
To introduce new participants and perspectives into this conversation by including U.S. representatives from "Women's Networks" meetings
To cultivate lively discussions and exchanges across nations, traditions, and generations
To better understand the energies of religious communities in the turbulence of today's world
To foster dialogue and discussion among women of diverse perspectives, including those with religious commitments and those with secular orientations; women working at a grassroots level as well as those in academic circles
To cultivate and advance communication and networks among women who are working on issues of common concern
To build bridges across difference and division through mutually respectful discussion
To foster dialogue about women's participation in diverse religious communities
To encourage greater understanding of women's roles in peacebuilding and social change

Public Events: WOMEN, RELIGION AND SOCIAL CHANGE II
Thursday, May 1: Barker Center for the Humanities [Space limited: by RSVP only]
3:30 P.M.	The U.S. Religious Context Today Diana Eck, The Pluralism Project 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, Peaceful Tomorrows
Friday, May 2: Harvard Divinity School, Sperry Room
9:00 A.M.	Perspectives on the Global and the Local 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
10:45 A.M.	Religious Networks and Women's Leadership 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 Ines Talamantez, University of California, Santa Barbara
12:15 P.M.	Lunch (on own)
2:00 P.M.	Dialogue in the Midst of Conflict 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
4:00 P.M.	Religious Violence, Extremism, and Fundamentalisms Leila Ahmed, Harvard Divinity School, Panel Chair Veena Das, Johns Hopkins University Nawal El Saadawi, Arab Women's Solidarity Association & Sherif Hetata Melanie May, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Yifa, Hsi Lai University
Saturday, May 3, Barker Center for the Humanities [Space limited: by RSVP only]
10:45 A.M.	Common Values, Human Rights, Civil Rights 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
Please note: The panels on Friday, May 2 are open to the public. The panels on Thursday, May 1 and Saturday, May 3 at the Barker Center have limited space: please RSVP to Ellie Pierce (ellie@pluralism.org) if you'd like to attend.

Information for Panelists:

To contact the Pluralism Project, email staff@pluralism.org. Please write to us with suggestions about new books, articles, or sites to include, with announcements of conferences or special events, or with corrections.