3rd Sacred Languages Symposium: 'Human Dignity'

This symposium, sponsored by the Duncan Black Macdonald Center at HIU, invites select scholars and practitioners in the field of scriptural studies of the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, the Qur’an, or other sacred texts to examine and explore various facets of how the sacred languages are understood, used, and interpreted in various cultural and historical contexts.

This year the symposium focuses on how the “Human Dignity” has been understood and conveyed from sacred texts into various religious and cultural traditions. Attendees do not need to have any background in specific languages, but only an interest and curiosity to learn.

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR HERE

Director:
The Rev. Dr. David D. Grafton, Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations

Moderator:
Dr. Lucinda Mosher, Professor of Interreligious Studies

Presenters:
Imam Arqum Rashid, Resident Scholar and Imam at the Islamic Society of Central Delaware in Dover, Delaware, and PhD student at HIU.

“Inherent Human Dignity in the Quran and Islamic Law”
This presentation will assess the basis for inherent human dignity in Islam through the Quran. It will provide several examples of how the Quran's concept was applied in Islam's legal tradition. 

The Rev. Dr. Ed Duffy, Affiliate Faculty of Greek and Early Christian Studies, HIU

A 'Take' on Human Dignity in John Chrysostom's Commentary on the Beatitudes:
The fourth century (CE) Christian commentator and exegete, John Chrysostom of Antioch, Roman Syria (now Antikya, Turkiye), famously addressed both "the rich" and "the poor" in his outspoken sermons.  In the Greek text of his commentary on the beatitudes ("blessed are you") he seems to cast a light on what we might call the ontological claim of human beings to compassion.  By this we may say that he seems to have in mind not only every person's claim (in the essence of who they are, as created by God) to receive compassion, but also every person's accountability to show it.

Dicky Sofjian, Associate Professor, Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS)
Vice President, Globethics, Geneva, Switzerland

Pancasila and the Question of Human Dignity in Indonesia:
Indonesia is perhaps one of the most diverse and plural societies in the world. It is also one of the biggest Muslim-populated countries, which is known for its unique variety of “Indonesian Islam.” The talk will delve into the state ideology and philosophy of Pancasila (the five principles) and how human dignity is incorporated into the discourse and praxis in realpolitik and the management of religious diversity.

Anthon Jason, Ph.D. candidate, Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS)
Center for Education and Training, Sukhavati Maitreya

More Than Human, More Than Buddhism: Human Dignity Discourse in Indonesian Buddhist Spectacles:
The intersection of being a Buddhist and being an Indonesian can offer significant insight into the concept of human dignity. Particularly, the concept of Buddha nature in Mahayana Buddhism has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the development of the human dignity discourse which is also closely related to the second principle of Pancasila (Indonesia's state ideology), namely, "just and civilized humanity.