Prior Events

from left: Solomon Katz, Geoff Tansey, Elizabeth Dowler, Antje Jackelén, Antje Lorch
Photo credit: Heinz Jackelén

At the request of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, the Zygon Center was asked to organize three religion and science symposia at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona, Spain. While the Parliament covered a week with all its activities, the Center's Religion and Science Symposia spent three days educating the participants on Science and Spirituality, Food Justice and Food Safety, and HIV/AIDS.

Philip Hefner coordinated the first day (July 10), which centered on "Science and Spirituality," Speakers for the day were Solomon Katz, anthropology, University of Pennsylvania and principle investigator for Spiritual Transformation Scientific Research Project (STSRP); Joan Koss-Chioino, anthropology, Arizona State University and George Washington University; Robert Kraus, psychiatry and anthropology, University of Kentucky; Pauline Rudd, biochemistry, Oxford University; and Philip Hefner, professor emeritus, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and editor, Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science.

"Food Justice and Food Safety" was the topic for the second day (July 11) of the symposium. Antje Jackelén coordinated the day. The speakers lending a voice to this discussion were Solomon Katz, see above; Geoff Tansey, West Yorkshire, UK, is a specialist in food, agriculture, development and related intellectual property issues. He has been a consultant to international agencies, governments and non-government organizations, and has worked on agricultural development projects in, e.g., Turkey, Albania and Mongolia; Elizabeth Dowler, sociology, Warwick University (UK); Antje Lorch, biologist living in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She works as a consultant focusing on the scientific and political discussion about genetic engineering in agriculture related to various cultures and societies; and Antje Jackelén, systematic theology and religion and science, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Gayle Woloschak and Joan Koss-Chioino Photo credit: Heinz Jackelén

On July 12, James Moore coordinated the Symposium on HIV/AIDS. The speakers for the day were Gayle Woloschak, radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University; Solomon Katz, see above; Barbara Strassberg, sociology, Aurora University; Ghulam-Haider Aasi, Islamic studies, American Islamic College; Joseph Edelheit, religion and director of Jewish studies, St. Cloud State University; Christoffer Grundmann, religion and healing arts, Valparaiso University; Pinit Ratanakul, Buddhist studies, Mahidol University (Thailand); Scott Norling, director, Gospel Ministries of India; and James Moore, theology, Valparaiso University.

For a more detailed look into the Symposia, please see the articles in the October 2004 issue of the ZCRS Newsletter, "News and Views," under our publications.