Panel to Discuss Abrahamic Religions and Conflict in the Middle East

For its 2016 Symposium on Inter-religious Dialogue, Duquesne’s Consortium for Christian-Muslim Dialogue will present a panel discussion that will address the current religious conflict in the Middle East that is partly ignited by ISIS.

The panel discussion, Abrahamic Religions and the Middle East, will be held on Wednesday, March 9, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the Power Center Ballroom. Dr. Luke Peterson, visiting professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, will serve as moderator.

Panelists will include the following scholars from the various Abrahamic religious traditions who have researched and written about the Middle Eastern religious conflicts:

• David Harris-Gershon, author of What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?
• Dr. Mark Haas, professor of political science, McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts
• Dr. Haider Ala Hamoudi, associate professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

According to Dr. Marinus Iwuchukwu, associate professor of theology and chair of the Consortium for Christian-Muslim Dialogue, the Symposium on Inter-religious Dialogue will shed light on the conflicts in hopes that a solution can be found.

“The CCMD is hoping that the panelists can add their voices to those of many calling for peace and the end of conflict in that region,” Iwuchukwu said. “We are hoping they will further educate attendees about the state of the crisis and ways of working out solutions to the conflict.”

Abrahamic Religions and the Middle East is free and open to the public. For more information, including where to view the event online, visit the Consortium for Christian-Muslim Dialogue website or email ccmd@duq.edu.