2023 Parliament of the World's Religions

The program at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions brings together faith and religious leaders, academics, industry experts, institutions and grassroots organizers committed to interfaith dialogue and action.

GMU will chair a panel presentation on "Interfaith and Multicultural Perspectives on Religion and Science: Global Climate Crisis" on August 14 from 5:30 - 7 PM in Room E253a as part of the Science and Religion track. President Grudzen and Marita Grudzen will be joined by Dr. Reginald Nalugala, of Tangaza University, Kenya, and Fr. Augustine Pamplany, Director of the Institute of Science and Religion in Kerala, India.

GMU will also co-sponsor Booth 306 Level 3 with Harmony Institute of Kenya during the Parliament highlighting the online university's commitment to interfaith dialogue, equality, diversity, and inclusion.

President Grudzen will host a dinner in Chicago on August 13 for GMU board members, faculty, students, and supporters who are attending the PoWR. Please let us know if you are going to the PoWR and would like to join the dinner.

As a lead-up to the Parliament of the World's Religions, President Grudzen offered a second presentation on Hans Küng on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, on Zoom. The focus was on Küng's assertion of the compatibility of religion and science.

Response to the presentation has been exceedingly positive:

I wish to thank you, the presenters and organizers for such a wonderful event. The engagement made the event truly special and meaningful. It was a delight to witness the diverse perspectives and ideas shared during the talk, and your well-researched presentations enriched my experience as well. 

Shalom!

Lawrence Godfrey Kamanga, Zambia 

Religion and Science Program

Online Master’s Degree in Religion and Science offered by Global Ministries University in collaboration with

The Institute of Science and Religion, Aluva, India

Indian Institute of Science and Religion, New Delhi, India

 IRDIS, Tangaza University College, Nairobi, Kenya

The cohort of 40+ international students started on June 15. Lee McCoy, GMU's Registrar, states, "We have students from three continents, men and women, ranging in age from 20s to 60s! A very diverse group!" Half of the students in the new cohort of the Religion and Science program are receiving financial support from GMU Board of Trustees members. These new students are located in Africa and India and have important pastoral roles In their countries. The GMU Kenyan Fund is also providing scholarships for students.

The Harmony Foundation in Kenya is funding scholarships for several Muslim students in the Religion and Science program and is also supporting the participation of Professor Reginald Nalugala of Tangaza University as a member of the GMU delegation at the Parliament of the World's Religions.

Father Augustine Pamplany of the Science and Religion Institute in India will also join GMU at the Parliament of Religions.

Religion and Science Program is Open to US Students until September 1, 2023

Tuition:

• $3000 for a 2-year M.Th. Program for students from North America, Australia and Europe.

• $500 for a 1-year Certificate Program for students from North America, Europe, and Australia.

Engage in the inspiring convergence of science, technology, and sacred traditions!

President Grudzen will give a presentation on "Religion and Science" at the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) conference in Costa Rica in November 2023.

Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, Professor Emeritus of Social Work Education & Peace Studies at CSU Fresno, CA, will conduct a 4-week series on "Mahatma Gandhi and Building a Just Peace" on Zoom beginning Monday, October 2, 2023, to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday and the International Day of Non-Violence. The cost is $100 for the entire series plus $25 application fee. You can also join individual Zoom sessions for $25 each. Learn more.

"Life is not a contest or a conquest. It is a struggle and a quest to find the best in each and every one of us."

~ Sudarshan Kapoor

President Gerald Grudzen will interview Dr. Kapoor in September 2023. Stay tuned for updates.

Finding Visual Images 

Finding images (pictures of things) online not only is a lot of fun, but it can also aid in your research process. Depending on the topic you’re investigating, images can give important insights. Photographs or works of art depicting events, places, people, or objects enhance our understanding of the subject matter under consideration. Even if you don’t plan to include images in your research paper, getting an actual picture in your mind is helpful. And images, when appropriate, can enhance and enliven even a formal piece of academic writing. 

Of course, you can always Google a topic, then click on “images." But that approach often brings up thousands of hits, many of them completely irrelevant.

There are many compilations of images available online, created by scholarly, academic organizations. Searching for images in these sources ensures authenticity and, often, reliable description and historical context.

Here are a few places to look (this list was compiled by Virginia Seymour for the May 4, 2023, JSTOR article “Learning to Look: How to Find and Choose the Best Images for Your Project”

1. The Library of Congress has a vast collection of digitized images—including photographs, maps, and prints—from its own collections as well as other institutions. The images cover a wide range of topics, including American history, world cultures, and science and technology.

2. AP Newsroom offers a vast archive of contemporary and historical news photos, covering a wide range of events and subjects from around the world. With a focus on journalism, this resource provides a window into the major news events of the past and present.

3. Europeana is a digital library of cultural heritage collections from across Europe, including images, videos, and audio recordings.

4. Getty Images is a commercial stock image company that also offers a large selection of historical images, including photographs, illustrations, and artwork. While not all images are free, Getty Images offers a substantial selection of images that can be licensed for use in research and educational settings.

5. Digital Public Library of America provides access to millions of digitized materials from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. It includes a collection of historical images, including photographs, maps, and documents.

6. Asia Art Archive collects and provides access to materials related to contemporary art and visual culture in Asia, including photographs, documents, and artworks.

7. Digital South Asia Library, from the University of Chicago, provides access to digital materials related to South Asia, including historical photographs, manuscripts, and books from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In addition, the South Asia Open Archives (SAOA) is a collaborative, open-access resource for research, teaching, and learning about South Asia.

8. Openverse is a Creative Commons search engine that allows users to find and use openly licensed images and other media for a variety of uses.

Questions? Need assistance? Contact me, anytime!

~Judy Clarence, M.L.I.S., GMU Librarian

GMU's IT Director, Rick Silvestri, has installed "Enhanced Search Engine Optimization" which is increasing website views and engagement.

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OFFERS UNIQUE, PERSONAL GUIDANCE

We don’t simply give our students generic information on how to become a celebrant… they have a one-on-one connection with their instructor, who assists them in being the celebrant they want to be, whether that is to serve a general clientele or to serve a specific ethnic, religious, or non-religious group.

People's Catholic Seminary...a Journey to Spiritual Transformation, Empowerment & Equality

The Sophia Dialogues is an ongoing, monthly subscription course providing Sacred Feminine wisdom from a variety of sources including; saints, mystics, poets, mythological figures, artists, thinkers and visionaries. Each monthly Sophia Dialogue will be sourced from ancient to contemporary wisdom. Each month you'll receive access to a fresh focus and associated materials to provide a hive of spiritual and creative inspiration.

An optional monthly one-hour Zoom Circle will provide the opportunity for dialogue and sharing. 

The intention of The Sophia Dialogues is to provide Sacred Feminine wisdom to pollinate your prayers, spiritual and creative practices, and understanding.

Please take a moment to answer the questions in our survey. It will only take a minute or two and will help GMU respond to your needs and the needs of future students. Thank you so much for your help!

"Paying It Forward"

GMU family members are amazing! There have been donations to the Scholarship Fund and the Fund Drive doesn't even start until October! Thank you so much for paying it forward!

Have you benefited from the excellent education at Global Ministries University? Would you like to help others succeed as well? Now you can! GMU is launching a major Fund Drive this coming October to enable scholarships for those needing financial assistance to pursue their educational goals. Please consider making a contribution to this appeal. Thank you for your generosity.

Why scholarships are important.

"Paying It Backward"

GMU is actively pursuing accreditation, but it is very costly. Therefore, GMU is initiating a capital campaign this October to have funds specifically designated and available to cover the costs associated with accreditation. If you would like to ensure GMU's growth in the 21st Century and contribute to its status as a recognized educational institution, then this is the fund for you! Please consider making a contribution to this cause. Thank you for your generosity!

Accreditation in the United States