Stevens inter-religious forum: In the Footsteps of Abraham
Forum panelists will discuss religious commonalities and differences
HOBOKEN , N.J. — The Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology proudly announces an upcoming inter-religious forum, Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. in room 122 of the Babbio Center . The forum, “In the Footsteps of Abraham: Commonality and Difference” will discuss the patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim) from the perspectives of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The distinguished panelists include Rabbi Stephanie Dickstein, Fr. Jean-Pierre Ruiz, Pastor Mona Fitch and noted Muslim theologian, Bekir Aksoy. The discussion will be moderated by Professor Susan Schept of the Department of Social Sciences. Light refreshments will served in the atrium of the Babbio Center .
Rabbi Stephanie Dickstein is the Spiritual Care Coordinator of the Shira Ruskay Center of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in New York City . She is the author of the recently published Jewish healing resource, With Sweetness from the Rock:A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Caregivers. Rabbi Dickstein has served as a rabbi in a number of different settings, including United Synagogue of Hoboken. She also served as Assistant Dean of the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary as well as teaching there. Rabbi Dickstein was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1989. She holds a Master of Social Work from Columbia University .
Reverend Mona Fitch attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia . She was ordained in 1992 and has served as pastor at New Life Lutheran Church in Camden , New Jersey , and is now currently serving at Saint Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoboken . Pastor Mona is the Campus Minister at Stevens and teaches high school English at the Hoboken Charter School .
Jean-Pierre Ruiz is Director of the Master of Art s in Liberal Studies at St. John’s University , where he also serves as Associate Professor of Biblical Studies in the Department of Theology & Religious Studies, and as a Senior Fellow of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society. A Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, he earned his doctorate from the Pontifical Gregor ian University in Rome . Ruiz is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology. He serves as a faculty mentor on behalf of the Hispanic Theological Initiative, a program founded with the support of the Pew Charitable Trusts and now funded by the Lilly Endowment which seeks to support Latinas and Latinos in doctoral studies in biblical studies, theology and religion.
Bedir Aksoy is a Muslim theologian with an MA in Religious Studies from Temple University , and a MS in Education from the University of Wisconsin , Milwaukee . He is Director of the Golden Generation Foundation, A nonprofit institution that promotes interfaith dialogue.
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.
Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.
For the latest news about Stevens, please visit StevensNewsService.com.
