Doing Interfaith Dialogue After the Covid-19 Outbreak: Decolonial Reflections

SYNOPSIS:

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world. Many people endured trauma, suffered and died around the globe. Despite claims that the global pandemie affects both the rich and poor, social scientists and activists have argued that the impact of COVID-19 has disproportionately affected those of different socioeconomic classes. They contend that the poorest of the poor, women and children from the margins are the most affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic, the number of people living in poverty remains 14 million higher compared to 2019. Food insecurity and inequality have been exacerbated during this period.

Responses to these challenges have included both bilateral and multilateral interstate cooperation as well as civil society contributions to enhance global resilience to the impact of COVID-19. Yet, many critics remain unsatisfied with the extent of these actions.

Against this backdrop, questions arise on the role of interfaith dialogue and its contributions to the post-COVID world. Can dialogues lead to interfaith actions between people of different religions/faiths to address pressing social issues? This talk will explore and rethink interfaith dialogue approaches and practices using insights from decolonial thought.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Hadie Cresencio Sadje obtained his MA in Crosscultural Theology at the Protestant Theological University, the Netherlands, and a Master of Arts in Ecumenical Studies (specialising in Sociology of Religion) at the University of Bonn. He is a student ambassador at the Paris Institute of Critical Thinking, and a visiting fellow at the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre Canada, Centre for Studies in Religion and Society – University of Victoria, and research associate at Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide. Currently, he is Ph.D. candidate at the University of Vienna, Austria.

In the world of practice, he has taken up roles in association with the Christian Peacemaker Team Greece, Caritas Brussel, EAPPI-World Council of Churches (WCC), Peace Builders Community Philippines, Bangsamoro Research and Legal Services. While in academia. he has taught at the Barcelona Applied Social Sciences Spain, the Foundation Academy in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Event Details:

“Doing Interfaith Dialogue After the Covid-19 Outbreak: Decolonial Perspectives”
Lecture by: Hadje Cresencio Sadje
PhD Candidate, University of Vienna, Austria
Moderated by: Dr Victor Gan
Centre for Interfaith Understanding
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
8.00PM – 9.30PM (Singapore Time)
Facebook Live – www.facebook.com/cifu.sg