Boniuk Institute Fall 2015 Events August 27 September 24 Enter Faith Workshop Series The Boniuk Institute offered the third cycle of the Enter Faith Workshop Series. EnterFaith uses story circles, dialogue, and artsinspired techniques as tools for deepening interfaith conversations and relationships, and developing religious and interfaith literacy. September 12 Islamic Art Revival Series Experience The Islamic Art Revival Series Experience offers North Texans a unique opportunity for people of all ages, faiths, and cultures to experience the rich and varied visual and performing arts of the Islamic world. Location: Dallas, Texas September 13 Shi'i Islam: History, Doctrines, and Practices In partnership with His Highness the Aga Khan Council for the Southwestern United States, the Boniuk Institute will be co-hosting one of the 2015 Shi'i Heritage Book Series discussions between the authors, Dr. Farhad Daftary, Dr. Gurdofarid Miskinzoda and guest moderator, Dr. Zahra N. Jamal. Location: Ismaili Center and Jamatkhana, Sugar Land, Texas September 13 15 Sacred Geometry Workshop and Lecture Series An interactive workshop and lecture series exploring sacred geometry as a universal language across world culture. It will explore patterns and principles shared between a range of world traditions, including Christian, Islamic, Vedic, and Native American. Themes explored geometric symbolism within architecture, the order of nature and harmony and proportion.
September 15 November 10 World Religions - Perspectives on Health When it comes to health and healing, many are guided by a religious framework. This series of seminars will explore what it means to heal, and expectations of medical care, through the teachings and traditions of Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas September 20, September 27, October 4 Wrestling Brothers Science and religion remain two of the most powerful forces in Western culture, but the boundaries between them are often confusing. This series of three separate classes will pinpoint often overlooked challenges science poses to Christian theology and spirituality today. Location: St. Philip Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas September 24 December 6 Intersections Exhibition at the Rice University Art Gallery Rice University Art Gallery will present Intersections, the 2014 ArtPrize award-winning installation by Pakistani-American artist Anila Quayyum Agha. Agha uses light and cast shadow to transform the gallery into a place that alludes to Islamic sacred spaces dense with geometric ornamentation and pattern.
September 26 October 31 4 th Annual Juried International Exhibition of Contemporary Islamic Art Islamic Art Revival Series in partnership with LuminArté Gallery presents a series of workshops and lectures by world renowned artists and art experts. Location: Dallas, Texas October 11 Henry, Edward, Jane - Dynastic Politics and The Reformation When, at age 15, Edward VI died childless and unmarried, his will named his cousin (once-removed), Jane Grey Dudley as heir to the throne. This class will have a look at what we know about Jane Grey, her Humanist education, her Reformed beliefs, and the conspiracy that made her Queen for a brief nine days. Location: Houston, Texas October 18 Rose Ensemble Titled the "Land of Three Faiths, this religious concert tour and educational outreach program uses music to teach religious tolerance, respect, and history via Convivencia (Sephardic laments, Arab- Andalusian dances, Spanish court songs, cantigas, Hebrew cantillation, Gregorian chant, Sufi poetry). Location: Bellaire High School, Bellaire, Texas November 1 Is the US a Christian Nation? Presented by Mary Sinderson Location: Houston, Texas
November 5 Toleration & Democracy Religious and racial intolerance are severe social vices but does that mean that tolerance is a virtue? For some, toleration is essential for a flourishing pluralistic democracy, for others, it is a pre-democratic attitude and practice, in Goethe s famous words, an insult. In this lecture, Rainer Forst, Germany s foremost political philosopher, will explain this ambivalence and argue for a particular democratic notion of toleration. December 2 Intra-religious Tolerance in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina Robert Loewy, former Associate Rabbi at Emanu El, will share how 2005 s Hurricane Katrina was both a horrific and a shining moment that enabled two Jewish congregations- reform and orthodox- to cooperate through joint education and social action programs. Location: Emanu El, Houston, Texas December 13 Advent in the Fine Arts Presented by Professor Linda Neagley, Dept. Chair and Associate Professor of Art History Rice University Location: St. Phillip s Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas December 20 Christmas at the Movies What do the movies we love tell us about ourselves -- and about what was going on in the life of our nation when they were in the theaters? Go a little deeper into Christmas movies through the years in this survey of the life and times of holiday favorites! Location: St. Phillip s Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas