The Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Project At the Center for Heritage Resource Studies, The University of Maryland
ANNUAL REPORT 2007
Prepared by the Staff of the Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Project
Annual Report 2007
Note on this Report This summary briefly describes the major activities undertaken by the Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Project in 2007. Professor Bushrui is the Director of the Gibran Project, which operates under the auspices of the Center for Heritage Resource Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park.
IMPORTANT FORTHCOMING PUBLICATION .................................................................... 3 HONORS PROGRAM COURSE............................................................................................ 5 THE AMEEN RIHANI ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES ............................................................. 6 DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS .......................................... 8 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES ............................................................... 9 PUBLICATIONS ................................................................................................................. 12 THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK ....................................................... 13
IMPORTANT FORTHCOMING PUBLICATION The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race (Oxford: Oneworld, 2008) by
Suheil Bushrui and Mehrdad Massoudi in collaboration with
Michael Dravis, James Madaio, and Michael Russo In this global age, an understanding of humanity’s religious and spiritual traditions is essential for all students who aspire to be citizens of the world. Religious pluralism, misunderstandings about and between the religions, as well as religious extremism are all central to the challenge of establishing a lasting peace in the twenty-first century. Unfortunately, the issue of religion and spirituality has been the “missing dimension” of conflict resolution. Increasingly, however, it is recognized that only a holistic approach to peace-building—one which fully acknowledges the important role of religion—will be successful. In 1933, Mahatma Gandhi recognized that “there will be no lasting peace on earth unless we learn not merely to tolerate but even to respect the other faiths as our own.” This perspective was reiterated by the Swiss thinker Hans Küng when he affirmed shortly after the tragedy of September 11th that “peace among the religions is a precondition for peace among the nations.” Though insularity and prejudice may be observed in every field, in religious education the extent of these limitations is unmatched. Indeed, for most believers, the Truth of one’s own religion implies the falsity of others. Alternatively, for the non-believing social scientist all such beliefs are false, except for his or her own belief in non-belief. From the pens of such authors there is usually as much distortion as fact regarding much of religious tradition and spiritual experience. Where can one go for a straightforward, nonsectarian, non-judging introduction to how each religion looks from the inside, from the perspective of believers instead of from the outside point of view of either the social scientist or competing theologian? The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race is a clear and effective response to this question. In the space of 400 pages, the book exposes the reader to the basic teachings, spiritual practices, and liturgical calendars of both the major world religions and major regional spiritual traditions. A consistent effort is made to present each chapter of this heritage with respect and dignity. It emphasizes the intrinsic values of each religion and provides stimulating evidence for a common ground shared by all. The material is written so as to be easily followed by the general reader as well as university students in a general education course in which the aim is understanding, not criticism. In addition to the chapters devoted to the specific “faiths,” there is also an ample bibliography, a glossary, and selected quotations from each of the traditions on the subjects of God, Humanity, Society, Nature, and the Golden Rule. Thus, students are equipped to carry out research on topics of both particular and comparative interest. No comprehensive account of the religions of the world is intended by this volume, but it does open many new vistas for the reader who cannot fail to marvel at the rich diversity of spiritual expression which has grown out of the nourishing and challenging environments of the world. The book has already received praise and enthusiastic responses from a wide range of scholars, and is the first recipient of the Temple of Understanding Interfaith Education Award for outstanding work in the field of interfaith education. Requests have been made for its translation into Russian and Chinese. The publication of the Arabic translation, which met with the
approval of the Universal House of Justice, is expected in 2009. The following is an excerpt from a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to Professor Bushrui: The Universal House of Justice has received your email letter of 14 July 2004 and the enclosed copy of your manuscript “The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race.” We have been asked to convey to you the warm commendation of the House of Justice for this work, which will undoubtedly prove to be both an important resource for the Bahá’í community and a welcome addition to Arabic literature. Another important feature of this publication (in English) is that it serves as the main textbook for the University of Maryland Honors course, “The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race.” The text, therefore, draws on Professor Suheil Bushrui’s work over the last two decades in interfaith reconciliation and is the result of the material presented in the course over the last twelve years. *
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FROM THE PREFACEOF THE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF THE HUMAN RACE The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race is a work developed out of a lifetime of scholarship and teaching about the great religions of humanity. Using the history of the evolution of civilization as a framework, the authors seek to follow a parallel evolution, that of man’s “universal yearning for transcendence.” We are given a profound view of humankind’s search for ultimate reality, both through the diversity of form and the unity of aspiration for the divine. One of the implications that can be drawn from this epic approach is that religions have evolved one out of the other throughout history. Out of the ancient Hindu religion, for instance, grew Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism. Out of the Jewish religion grew Christianity and Islam. Out of Ancient Chinese religious thought grew the teachings of Lao Tzu and Confucius. This perspective creates a flow and movement that can be likened to one great eternal river of religious thought. The reader is both conscious of the uniqueness of each religion but also of the vast heritage of religious thought from the earliest “First Peoples” to the great traditions of today. The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race creates for us a passage of initiation into the heart of each of the great world’s religions from both the standpoints of their relationship to each other as well as their independence from one another. In this way, this book creates a unique contribution to interfaith understanding. This book will, I believe, transform the way the study of religions is taught in universities. In setting the history of religions against the background of the evolution of humanity’s spiritual heritage, Dr. Suheil Bushrui and Dr. Mehrdad Massoudi have given us a masterful and unique window into both the essence of each religion and its relationship to the whole of humankind’s search for transcendence.
Alison Van Dyk Chair of the Board Temple of Understanding Leaders in Cross-Cultural and Interfaith Education
HONORS PROGRAM COURSE The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race (HONR238U) “The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race” is offered at the University of Maryland under the auspices of the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management and the University Honors Program. The course was developed in congruence with the forward-looking diversity and cultural initiative of the University of Maryland and was designated by the University as fulfilling its “CORE Human Cultural Diversity” requirement. Significantly, this course has been adopted by the University of Southern Maine (USM) as part of its undergraduate general education curriculum. Since 1993 the course has been a pioneering academic endeavor that proposes a new paradigm for religious studies in the global age. Drawing from the overlap in peace studies and interfaith studies, the course postulates that a thorough understanding of humanity’s common religious heritage is required in order to realize the universal goals of unity, cooperation, and peace. With an emphasis on dialogue, the course aims at transforming the “tolerant” approach many religious believers have toward religions other than their own (or spiritual-religious principles in general) to an attitude of acceptance and respect for “the other.” The course offers students an opportunity to study the world’s religions and spiritual traditions from a multi-cultural and global perspective by attempting to identify common themes and expressions in humanity’s religious and spiritual development. Additionally, the course addresses topics such as religious intolerance, anti-Semitism, the recent growth of anti-Islamic attitudes, religious extremism, the interpretation of Holy Scripture, and the establishment of lasting peace among the religions. An attempt is also made to examine the cultural, literary, and artistic contributions of religion as well as the spiritual dimensions of major global issues, including disarmament, the environment, overpopulation, the economic gap between the rich and the poor, restructuring education, and the decline in private and public morality. Student Evaluations This course surpassed by my expectations. This class stressed acceptance and equality…[of] people of all religious backgrounds, and helped show what we all have in common, as well as our diversity. This class really exceeded my expectations. Professor…opened up a whole new area of my undergraduate experience. This class really [had an] impact [on] my way of thinking in a very positive way…he truly earns the title of “teacher”…. The class has taught me to be open-minded about different religions, traditions, and ideas, because we all belong to the human race. I’ve learned a lot about other people and their religions in this course and now have a greater respect and appreciation for others’…beliefs and religions.
THE AMEEN RIHANI ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES The Ameen Rihani Annual Lecture Series is designed to address the thought and achievement of Ameen Rihani (1876-1940), as reflected in his English and Arabic writings. It will concentrate on his published and unpublished works in both languages, and explore other relevant and important material in international archives. An attempt will be made to trace the evolution of Rihani’s ideas and the maturation of his literary style both in English and in Arabic. This developmental analysis will be juxtaposed at each stage with the subject’s biography and details of his involvement with the major issues of his day. Particular attention will be paid to the influence upon Rihani of his Lebanese and Arab heritage on the one hand, and of his American experience on the other. *
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Ameen Rihani is generally recognized as the most prominent member of the “LebaneseAmerican” school of modern literature and thought, which included such authors as Kahlil Gibran and Mikhail Naimy. Essayist, novelist, philosopher and poet, Rihani wrote with equal facility in both Arabic and English. His early attempt at a novel in English, The Book of Khalid, was the forerunner of Gibran’s famous work, The Prophet. But Rihani’s eminence is not solely owed to his remarkable interdisciplinary talents. He was also a man who believed passionately in the brotherhood of all nations, and devoted his entire life to promoting the cause of East/West understanding. In virtually being able to claim dual nationality, he assimilated two widely differing cultures to an extent perhaps never achieved before him. But profound though his grasp of the meaning of the modern West was, he never lost sight of the priceless cultural heritage bequeathed to the world of Arab civilization. In the literary field Rihani was a unique figure in the early 20th century. He enriched English with translations of such Arab poets as Imru’ul-Qays and Abu’l-Ala’ al-Ma’arri, and enriched his own culture by transmitting the ideas of Carlyle and the American Transcendentalists through his Arabic writings. The subjects he covered were not merely literary, but ranged from modern American painting to Russian ballet. Rihani also demonstrated great foresight in his choice of political and social issues upon which to concentrate. He corresponded with King Abdu’l-Aziz ibn Sa‘ud about the implications of the discovery of oil in Arabia, the politics of the region, and the chief obstacles to Arab unity. He also wrote a penetrating study of Iraq in which he discussed the unresolved Kurdish problem. He thus dealt with issues of crucial political and cultural importance, both in the West and in the Middle East, issues which were destined to have a continuing impact on world affairs right up to the present day. But although Rihani was a dedicated liberal, his idealistic approach was tempered with a very down-to-earth realization of the need for an ordered, disciplined society. His opposition to blind fanaticism, coupled with a profound respect for tradition, gave him a common-sense stance
which remains an important legacy for Lebanon and the Arab world. It was no accident that Rihani was the man called upon to represent Arab interests at several international conferences. The significance of Rihani’s work can scarcely be lost on modern day scholars and politicians alike. Some of the answers to the problems of today were provided by him over half a century ago, only his voice was heard but not listened to. There is surely no more crucial contemporary issue than the importance of East/West relationships, something Rihani not only realized but did his utmost to promote. His work, therefore, deserves consideration on two levels: in the context of the prevailing atmosphere of the times in which he lived, and in the light of present-day issues on which his influence still has an enduring bearing. It may be in the interest of all of us to heed his warnings and listen to his advice. * Date of inaugural lecture to be announced in due course*
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FROM THE WORDS OF AMEEN RIHANI I am a believer in the unity of religion, for in its mirror, I see reflected the images of all Prophets and Messengers—Confucius, Buddha, Zoroaster, Socrates, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and Bahá’u’lláh…They have all come from one source, and their faces merge and unite and become reflected in one unified face, a most holy symbol, representing the face of God Himself. I counsel you to adhere to unity. In theoretical terms, religion is that luminous living link between man and his one and only God. In spiritual terms, religion is the joy derived from discovering, without mediation, the mysteries that lie behind this unique link. In practical terms, religions is, above al, the recognition of the Divine Truth spoken by whoever has taught a single letter taken from the book of love, of piety and of charitable deeds. It is also in following the example of these teachers and emulating them in thought, word and deed; each of us attaining this according to his capacity; for God has burdened no soul with more than it can endure.
How wonderful it would be for Westerners and Easterners if they were to learn from each other what is beautiful in their faiths, proper in their traditions, sublime in their arts, just in their rules and laws, and perfect in their manners. The essence of that which is true and perfect in the cultures of the East and the West, unified and synthesised, is the only remedy for the religious, social and political maladies of our time. Western man can then return to God; while Eastern man can reduce much of God’s burden.
DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS
Washington, DC: InterFaith Bridge Builder Award On June 6, 2007 Professor Bushrui was awarded the InterFaith Bridge Builder Award by the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. There were over 300 people representing the diverse religious communities of Washington, DC, and the audience included religious leaders, Ambassadors and members of the House of Representatives. The event took place at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, DC. Prior to the presentation of the awards, a private dialogue was organized with Dr. Robert Edgar, Dr. Tara Brach, and the Most Rev. Donald Wuerl. This dialogue centered on the importance of interfaith solidarity and the question of how faith can be best presented in the public place. The award was made in recognition of Professor Bushrui’s leadership in the interfaith activities locally and nationally, as well as his “passionate engagement in inter-religious dialogue and collaboration.”
College Park, Maryland: Landmark Award for Distinguished International Service Professor Bushrui was selected to receive the 2007 University of Maryland Landmark Award for distinguished international service. The award was presented at a special ceremony on November 15, 2007.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Private Roundtable Discussion with His Excellency, Girma Wolde-Giorgis, President of Ethiopia On March 13, 2007, Professor Bushrui was invited to a private roundtable discussion with His Excellency, Girma Wolde-Giorgis, President of Ethiopia. The event was hosted by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy in coordination with the United States Institute of Peace and the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.
Heiligendamm, Germany: G-8 Summit Meeting In 2006, Professor Suheil Bushrui was invited with a group of eminent ethical and spiritual leaders to participate in “The Power of Dignity,” a project run by one of Europe’s most distinguished organizations, Germany’s Congress of Protestant Churches. As part of the project, which aims to draw attention to, and initiate discussions on many of the ignored aspects of globalization, each member of the group was invited to contribute a chapter to a special book entitled The Power of Dignity – Redrawing the Global Design, which was submitted to the G-8 Summit Meeting, at Heiligendamm, Germany between June 6 and 8, 2007. Professor Bushrui’s contribution to the book is entitled “The Spiritual Foundation of a Global Ethic: A Bahá’í Perspective.” Some of the other contributors included: HH the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, HRH Prince Hassan, and the Nobel Laureate Professor Mohamed Younes. Some of the other contributors to this very prestigious and important project are the following: H.H. The XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet; Former President Michail Gorbatschow of the USSR, President Earth Charta Foundation; H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, President Club of Rome; Dr. Muhammad Younes of Bangladesh, Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches; Dr. Benito Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the European Commission in charge of external relations; Dr. Erhard Eppler, Former Federal Minister; Dr. Amartya Sen, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics; Dr. Franz Josef Radermacher, Global Marshall Plan Initiative; Dr. Ashok Gangadean, World Commission on Planetary Consciousness; Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Former Director UN Environment Programme; Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; Dr. Riane Eisler, Women’s Rights Activist.
Dayton, Ohio: Lecture at the Dayton International Peace Museum On February 24, 2007, Professor Bushrui delivered a lecture on religious diversity at the Dayton International Peace Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
Limassol, Cyprus: Cyprus Arts and Music Festival 2007 From June 23-29, 2007 Professor Bushrui lectured at the Cyprus Arts and Music Festival which was attended by 450 participants representing 45 different countries. As the main speaker he delivered daily lectures on a number of topics including two special presentations: “An Evening with Rumi,” and “The Enduring Legacy of Kahlil Gibran.” Istanbul, Turkey: Young President’s Organization Family University 2007 From July 7-12, 2007 Professor Bushrui participated in the YPO Family University in Istanbul, Turkey. As a featured speaker, he lectured on the topics of peace and tolerance, conflict resolution, and inter-religious and inter-cultural reconciliation. Professor Bushrui also presented a lecture on “The Enduring Legacy of Kahlil Gibran. The Family University of Istanbul was attended by more then 750 participants representing several generations both old and young. The University Administration paid Professor Bushrui special honor by selecting two of his books The Wisdom of the Arabs and The Essential Gibran to be a special gift from the University Administration to each of the families participating in this event.
Columbus, Ohio: Annual Conference of The Interfaith Association of Central Ohio The keynote address of the conference was delivered by Professor Suheil Bushrui under the title “Our Spiritual Heritage.” More than 300 participants attended the event representing members of Ohio’s religious communities, including Bahá’ís, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Jews, and Sikhs. A special citation of recognition was issued by the Mayor of the city of Columbus, Ohio, which included the following statement: “…whereas, the Association’s Main Even luncheon will be held on August 26, 2007 at the Confluence Park Restaurant with Dr. Suheil Bushrui, Founder and Director of the University of Maryland’s Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Project speaking on the topic of ‘Our Spiritual Heritage;’ and now therefore, I, Michael B. Coleman, Mayor of the City of Columbus, Ohio, do hereby issue this citation of Recognition as: Interfaith Understanding Day and urge all members of our community to join in recognition of this significant occasion and the achievement above mentioned.”
Lecture at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates On November 13, 2007, Dr. Bushrui addressed a very distinguished group at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates on “Ameen Rihani and Arab-American Relations.” This event was widely announced and many guests from the State Department and the Arab Diplomatic Service were in attendance.
College Park, Maryland: Bahá’í Chair for World Peace Annual Dialogue
On November 29, 2007 Dr. Bushrui, along with Charles Doleac, Badi Foster, Joseph Montville, John Grayzel (Moderator), and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, was invited as a panelist for the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace Annual Dialogue – Integrating People & Diplomacy: A Necessity for Peace in the 21st Century?
College Park, Maryland: The Second Arab-American History Conference From December 7-9, 2007 the Second Arab-American History Conference was held at the Inn and Conference Center, University College, University Maryland. The Arab-American Historical Foundation, under whose auspices the conference was held, invited Professor Suheil Bushrui to organize and chair the Conference at Maryland. The Conference program included a variety of panels addressing the importance of collecting, preserving, disseminating and perpetuating Arab-American history, with a specific emphasis on the cultural and literary contribution to that history. The ArabAmerican Historical Foundation was established in 1978 in Los Angeles by Joseph R. Haiek. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to promote conservation and dissemination of ArabAmerican history. It also publishes a quarterly journal under the title The Arab American Historian.
Essays on the Alliance of Civilizations General Editors Suheil Bushrui and David Cadman In July 2005, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced a new initiative called the “Alliance of Civilizations.” Initially co-sponsored by the prime ministers of Spain and Turkey, the Alliance of Civilizations has a mandate “to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization which potentially threaten world peace.” The founders of the Alliance have expressed particular concern about the apparently widening breach between Western and Islamic societies. They have, therefore, emphasized the need for a countervailing movement based on respect for all religions and recognition of humanity’s fundamental interdependence. On a practical level, the Alliance of Civilizations has formed a secretariat and has empanelled a High-Level Group to provide guidance on a series of intercivilizational and intercultural initiatives. The secretariat of the Alliance of Civilizations has a mandate to establish partnerships with educational and civil society programs that are working to advance the cause of inter-cultural dialogue. In support of the Alliance of Civilizations, Professor Suheil Bushrui (University of Maryland) and Professor David Cadman (The Temenos Academy) will serve as general editors of a series of papers to be published under the auspices of the Center for Heritage Resource Studies at the University of Maryland. The editors have inaugurated the series—Essays on the Alliance of Civilizations—with a paper by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales entitled “Religion: The Ties That Bind,” which has been published with his gracious permission.
PUBLICATIONS This list does not include the long list of publications of books and articles in Arabic and English. What follows are selected items of the most recent publications to date. Selected Speeches and Articles of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Edited by Suheil Bushrui and David Cadman. The University of Maryland: Center for Heritage Resource Studies, 2006. An Arabic translation of this book will be published in 2008 by al-Saqi Books (Beirut, Lebanon). Gibran’s Little Book of Love. Compiled and Edited by Suheil Bushrui. Oxford: Oneworld, 2007. The Essential Gibran. Compiled and Edited by Suheil Bushrui. Oxford: Oneworld, 2007. The World’s Favorite Love Poems. Compiled and Edited by Suheil Bushrui. Oxford: Oneworld, 2008.
Encyclopedia Entries: Article by Suheil Bushrui entitled “The Bahá’í Faith” in The Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics 2nd Edition (2007) edited Keith Brown. Article by Suheil Bushrui entitled “Kahlil Gibran, 1883 – 1931” in The Dictionary of Arab Literary Biography Volume IV (1850 – 1950) edited by Roger Allen and to be published in 2008.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK The University of Maryland at College Park is one of America’s leading academic centers for scholarship, education and public service. Ranked in the top tier of the nation’s public research universities, the University of Maryland’s faculty is known nationally and internationally for their myriad contributions to the fields of science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, economics, government, politics, international relations, sociology and the humanities. Located adjacent to the nation’s capital, the University of Maryland at College Park draws to its campus a truly international student body, and contributes its faculty’s expertise to the development of national and international policy and public opinion through the major departments of national government and global institutions like the IMF and World Bank. THE COLLEGE OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is the University of Maryland’s academic center for teaching and research in psychology, sociology, economics, government and politics, archeology, anthropology, geography, criminal justice, and African American studies. The College plays a significant role within the University in preparing the next generation of outstanding graduates by serving as the academic home for over 25% of the young men and women who receive their baccalaureate degrees each year. Through their scholarship, their teaching, and their off-campus collaborations with major national and international institutions, the College’s faculty contribute their knowledge and expertise to the most pressing social, economic, political and cultural questions of our time. Central among these most pressing issues are the concerns for international relations, crosscultural understanding, global development, conflict management, peace, terrorism, ethnic identity, social justice and the preservation of the great cultural traditions of the world. The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences supports its faculty in their disciplined work on these issues through a network of interdisciplinary research centers that include: the Center for International Development and Conflict Management, the Program on Global Security and Disarmament, the Harrison Program on the Future Global Agenda, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism, the Cultural Systems Analysis Group, and the Center for Heritage Resource Studies. THE CENTER FOR HERITAGE RESOURCE STUDIES The Center for Heritage Resource Studies in the Department of Anthropology was established in 2000 to bring scholars and practitioners together to support a comprehensive approach to the study of heritage. The Center’s research and educational efforts are formulated in a way that can be readily applied by those who are responsible for the management of our historic, cultural, and environmental resources. In this manner, the activities of the Center will contribute substantially to an increased awareness of the need for responsible heritage development. Investigation of these issues crosses many disciplines, including cultural anthropology, archaeology, historic preservation, community development, environmental sciences, and others.