Emory University’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion has announced an upcoming conference, titled “From Silver to Gold: The Next 25 Years of Law and Religion.” To be held on October 24-26, the time will be used by hosts to attempt to discern what questions of religion will be faced in the coming 25 years. Check out their agenda for a list of topics.

It seems tolerance is on the list. While I, myself, have always been a proponent of understanding, it feels like “tolerance” is perhaps already dated in 2007. Are we really looking to just “tolerate” various religions across the globe these days? Does it look like the United States is just “allowing” whatever is going on in the Middle East and letting it go? I would think we’re way beyond tolerance. We’re on much more of a quest for Truth, for the right path, for understanding one another and determining who’s right and who’s wrong (or perhaps whether we’re all right or all wrong). I don’t think we, as a people, would be satisfied with just mere tolerance anymore. We want to know whether we should override the other or whether it’s ok for their beliefs to override our own. I would certainly argue that a session on “peace and understanding” or “religious pluralism” would be much more helpful with regard to the future than a look at the possibilities of tolerance.

That being said, I do feel that the sessions on legalism, ethics/morality in public society, and religious freedoms in the developing world are relevant and enticing. And while I may have just spent an entire paragraph knocking one person’s topic of choice…I must say I am pleased to see that three full days will be spent hashing out important issues in world religions. Biased or not, these are discussions the world should be paying attention to.

Maybe they could broadcast it on CSPAN Book TV (biggest fan alert!). Speaking of, if you’re in the Champaign-Urbana area today, stop by the U of I where the Book TV bus will be stopping.

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