Inside Iowa State
Oct. 27, 1995


RELIGION'S ROLE EXAMINED

by Curt M. Pratt, News Service intern

The role of religion in a world filled with ethnic and 
religious conflicts, and social and economic disparities will 
be the focus of Iowa State's 1995 Institute on World Affairs, 
Nov. 6-9.

The speakers this year will examine the impact of religion on 
people and politics around the world, said Gary Tartakov, 
faculty chair of the institute and associate professor of art 
and design.

The keynote speaker will be Harvey Cox, professor of divinity 
at the Divinity School, Harvard University, who will discuss 
the impacts of global religious resurgence.

Cox's interests focus on the interaction of religion, 
politics and culture; Christianity in the Third World 
(especially Latin America); and new religious movements. He 
has been a visiting professor at the Ecumenical Theological 
Faculty in Mexico City, the University of Michigan and the 
Naropa Institute (a Tibetan Buddhist school).

Religion, human rights and U.S. foreign policy will be 
discussed by George Weigel, president of the Ethics and 
Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Weigel is a Roman 
Catholic theologian and a lead commentator on issues of 
religion and public life.

Also speaking on a panel, from Des Moines, will be Rabbi 
Steven Fink of the Temple B'Nai Jeshurun, Imam Mohamad Khan 
of the Islamic Center and Rev. David Ruhe of the Plymouth 
Congregational United Church of Christ. They will discuss 
religion and politics from an Iowa perspective with an 
emphasis on methods for achieving greater understanding and 
cooperation.

For a complete schedule of events, check the Calendar on 
ISU's homepage.

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University Relations
Iowa State University