Selected
Lectures:
There were 6 different lecture topics offered during the Congress.
Participants were encouraged to attend a series of workshops
on a chosen topic and to consider practical programmes that
could be implemented in local communities. The following options
were offered as both main lectures and workshops:
Teaching
Tolerance
Religious education varies widely throughout the world from
the promotion of a single predominant faith to a secular avoidance
of all religious instruction. These issues will be covered
along with a discussion of ways in which values and beliefs
are passed down and how children can learn about tolerance
and other virtues. Dr. Dan Popov and Linda Kavelin-Popov addressed
the work they do globally on teaching virtues. Professor Ai
spoke about his work on pupils' spiritual development at Ittoen
School in Japan.
Promoting
Voluntary Codes
Governments throughout the world have been increasingly concerned
about the practices of religious groups. The potential parts
of a Voluntary Code of Conduct for Religious and Belief communities,
which is being pioneered by IARF, were covered in a lecture
given by Dr. Eileen Barker from the London School of Economics.
While this lecture is not available, an article in the March
2002 edition of IARF World provides more background on this
initiative. Small groups debated the pros and cons of such
a code while at the Congress. Based on this feedback, the
process for the Code's futher development is under review.
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Using
Information Technology for Religious Freedom
Using non-technical language, this lecture reviewed how
information technology can be used to promote the cause
of religious freedom and how to take advantage of modern
methods of communication. Rev Yoshinobu Miyake, the Executive
Director of the Konko Church of Izuo, gave the main session |
Encountering
Interfaith
This lecture focused on the practical aspects and challenges
of setting up interfaith encounter and reviewed a variety
of models at the local, national, regional and international
levels. Experts in interfaith work were available to help
participants to develop or improve their own interfaith initiatives
locally and to connect them with existing groups. Dr. Harriet
Crabtree, Deputy Director of the InterFaith Network for the
U.K., led this session.
Designing
Programmes That Work
This lecture examined the principles of how programmes can
be designed. It looked at the elements and reasoning which
are necessary before committing resources to action. Potential
projects for a broad range of religious freedom programmes
were discussed. Mark Bitel from Partners in Evaluation in
London led participants through the process of designing effective
programmes
Building
Strategic Plans
Principles of Strategic Planning were covered in this lecture
and drew on illustrations from the IARF's newly-adopted Strategic
Plan for 2001-2007. This session helped participants to develop
goals for their own work and taught them how to think in more
strategic ways! Remarks were given by Rabbi Mordechai Liebling
from the association's International Council.
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