Temple Beth El Presents its 18th Annual Comparative Religion Series “Religion and Science: Can They Coexist?” Tuesday Evenings January 20 – February 24, 2015 7:00 – 9:00 pm CHARLOTTE, NC – How does your religion respond to scientific advances? Temple Beth El‘s 18th Annual Comparative Religion Series will explore whether religious belief does or should have anything to do with scientific reasoning. Temple Beth El‘s Comparative Religion Committee invites the entire community to attend this Series that seeks to understand the religious perspectives on the question: “Religion and Science: Can They Coexist?” This January and February, educators and religious leaders representing five Charlotte area faiths will discuss their faith‘s perspectives on the topic of Religion and Science. Our guest lecturers will provide compelling answers to such questions as: How do your sacred texts align and conflict with scientific developments? How do scientific developments impact your day to day congregational lives? What are some of the current scientific developments or discoveries with which you are grappling, and what teachings or texts in your tradition will you employ to deal with those challenges? The final program of the Series will culminate with a panel discussion with Rabbi Jonathan Freirich, Temple Beth El, and Dr. Derek Raghavan, a cancer researcher and medical oncologist, who will address such questions as: Is God involved in science? Does science impact our views of God? The public is invited to join us at Temple Beth El (5101 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28226). Sessions will run from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on six consecutive Tuesday evenings, beginning January 20, 2015. Educators and religious leaders representing Judaism, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Islam and the Baptist faith will offer their perspectives and respond to your questions on the topic “Religion and Science: Can They Coexist?” Schedule of Speakers: “¢January 20:Rabbi Judy Schindler, Temple Beth El, Reform Jewish perspective and Introduction and Rabbi Chanoch Oppenheim, Charlotte Torah Center, Orthodox Jewish perspective “¢January 27:Ryusho Jeffus, Shonin, Myosho-Ji, Wonderful Voice Buddhist Temple, Buddhist perspective “¢February 3:Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ (Society of Jesus), Vatican Observatory, Roman Catholic perspective “¢February 10:Dr. Syed Rizwan Zamir, Asst Professor of Religion, Davidson College, Islamic perspective “¢February 17: Cancelled due to inclement weather
“¢February 24: Reverend Russ Dean, Co-Pastor , Park Road Baptist Church – Baptist perspective “¢March 3: Rabbi Jonathan Freirich, Temple Beth El, and Dr. Derek Raghavan, President of the Levine Cancer Institute, internationally-renowned cancer researcher and medical oncologist – panel discussion in culmination of the Comparative Religion Series. This year‘s program has been planned by the Temple Beth El Comparative Religion Committee. The series is offered at no cost to the public and refreshments are provided by the Sandra Gold Weinstein Hospitality Fund. Judy Schindler, Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth El, and Chanoch Oppenheim, Rabbi and Director of the Charlotte Torah Center, will provide an introduction to the Series on January 20th, which will deepen our understanding of the course of study, and will encourage us to engage in thought-provoking discussions with our guest lecturers throughout the Series. The annual Comparative Religion Series was established 18 years ago with the intent to educate our community, promote understanding and respect for all faiths, and reveal the commonalities in our differences. For more information, please visit www.beth-el.com or call Temple Beth El at 704-366-1948. Temple Beth El is a welcoming and spiritual Reform congregation, providing opportunities for all those who wish to engage in Jewish life through prayer, study and social action, while supporting each other in times of joy and sorrow. With 1,000 member families, Temple Beth El is the largest Reform Jewish congregation in the Carolinas. www.beth-el.com
