The CORE and CAST Center present Panel on the Afterlife
Friday, October 29, 2021
Core and CAST Center present Inter-Religious Panel on the Afterlife
On November 2nd, the University Core and the Catholic Studies Center are pleased to co-sponsor an exciting event – an Inter-Religious Panel on the Afterlife. This is the second inter-religious event hosted by the Core and the CAST Center, and we hope to have more in the future.
The panel will consist of distinguished faculty from different departments, presenting on the afterlife as understood by four faith traditions: the Hindu, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faith, the four religions textually represented in the University Core.
We are honored that the Introduction of our panelists will be given by Msgr. Robert Sheeran, President Emeritus of Seton Hall.
The Panelists are the following:
- Dr. Amar Dev Amar, Stillman School of Business (on the Hindu faith)
- Dr. Angela Weisl, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences (on the Jewish faith)
- Dr. Eric Johnston, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (on the Christian faith)
- Dr. Axel Takacs, Department of Religion, College of Arts and Sciences (on the Muslim faith).
There will be time for Questions and Answers after the presentations.
The panelists are enthusiastic about this event. Dr. Amar says, regarding the Hindu perspective on the afterlife: "The purpose of visit(s) of atma (soul) to Bhu Loka (physical world) is its eventual consummation with paramatma (God)– to attain freedom from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) – moksha." He goes on to say, "Hindus don’t look at death as calamity, especially a death that is timely by the ashrams doctrine, after having attained the purpose of the soul's visit to Bhu Loka (physical world), and especially the death that results in moksha." Dr. Amar has been crucial in the vision and planning for these inter-religious events.
Dr. Takacs, who is speaking on the Islamic faith, though he is not a Muslim but a scholar on Islam, says, "I am delighted to take part in this interfaith panel on the afterlife…. I am a comparative theologian who learns from the Islamic traditions and from my conversations and friendships with Muslims throughout my academic career." He has presented on Islam to the Core faculty, and faculty were enthusiastic about his presentation.
Regarding the Jewish perspective on the afterlife, Dr. Weisl says, "Judaism is famously ambiguous about what happens when we die." She has consulted with her rabbi and borrowed a book on the subject in order to enhance her presentation.
Finally, Dr. Eric Johnston, of ICSST, who is speaking on the Christian faith, says, "Christianity asks the question, what would an eternity of love mean?" In fact, he goes on to say that Christianity's take on the afterlife, "poses a dramatic choice, to love or not to love?" Recently, the Core, CAST and others have held several events on Dante and his Divine Comedy, and the questions Dr. Johnston raises could be seen as central to Dante's entire poem.
It is very fitting that Msgr. Robert Sheeran, President Emeritus of Seton Hall, has graciously agreed to give the introduction to our panel. As one of our panelists put it, "We would not have a Core if it were not for Msgr. Sheeran." He has also been deeply interested in inter-religious discussion for many years, even traveling to India and learning more about the Hindu faith, for example. His presence is a special gift to us.
Please join us for a discussion that will prove to be both interesting and thought-provoking.
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 2nd, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Stafford 110 or on TEAMS
Please click here to join on Teams!
Sponsored by The University Core and the Center for Catholic Studies
Categories: Arts and Culture, Faith and Service
