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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in downtown Chicago recently hosted an interfaith symposium, gathering over 100 leaders from various religious traditions. The event, held on September 25, 2024, focused on the theme "Peacemakers Needed!" and aimed to explore ways to promote peace amidst global conflicts.
Steven T. Collis, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, was among the featured speakers. He highlighted traits common among peacemakers and suggested methods for improving dialogue. Collis emphasized that effective communication requires openness to change and assuming good intentions in others.
Other speakers addressed themes such as spiritual unity across religions and the importance of listening. Devesh Pandit, a Hindu community leader from suburban Chicago, stressed the need for action beyond words. “I could feel the same feeling that everyone has, that we need to put words into action,” he remarked.
Imam Hassan Mostafa Aly of MedGlobal’s Humanitarian Faith Initiative referenced Quranic teachings on peacemaking. “Being a peacemaker means reaching out to those who are different from us," Aly stated. He advocated for active efforts in restoring justice and promoting understanding.
Rabbi Shoshanah Conover from Temple Sholom urged attendees to pursue peace proactively even when wronged by others. Father Larry Dowling spoke about vulnerability as a strength in peaceful engagements, citing Jesus Christ as an example.
Collis also underscored intellectual humility as crucial for peacemakers: recognizing one's limited knowledge encourages learning from others.
Elder Corbin Coombs expressed gratitude towards participants: “You are all included in our prayers,” he said during his closing remarks.
The symposium provided opportunities for dialogue among Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, Baptist, Zoroastrian communities and more during lunch sessions where new friendships were formed.
Wilford Wagner noted that bringing spiritual leaders together was a key objective: “Each participant brought a special spirit to the event,” he commented on its success in highlighting shared values over differences.
