Symposium on
Religious Pluralism
and Democracy
jointly sponsored by the UVU Center for the Study of Ethics, J. Bonner Ritchie Dialogue on Peace & Justice (Peace & Justice Studies Program),
The UVU Appomattox Project, Center for Constitutional Studies, Religious Studies Program, and the Rocky Mountain Seminar for Early American History
Religious diversity is at the heart of ethical debates surrounding democratic culture, peace, and civil
society. We live in a world in which religious pluralism is deeply contested. The escalation of violence
against religious minorities threatens to undermine core democratic values of tolerance, respect for
difference, and interfaith dialogue. This interdisciplinary conference will engage the intersection of
religious diversity and democracy from historical, legal, ethical, and peacebuilding perspectives.
10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
“Religious Toleration & Diversity: Framing a History”
Evan Haefeli, Associate Professor of History, Texas
A&M University
11:30 - 12:45 p.m.
“Joseph Smith’s Religious Liberty, and Ours”
Benjamin Park, Assistant Professor of History, Sam
Houston State University
2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
“Towards an Empathetic Politics: Structural Injustice,
Democratic Practices, and the Development of the
Egalitarian Personality”
Carol Gould, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy,
Hunter College & the Graduate Center Director, Center
for Global Ethics & Politics, City University of New York
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion
Thursday, March 29th
10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
“American Civil Religion and Structural Violence”
Richard Rubenstein, Professor of Conflict Resolution and
Public Affairs, George Mason University
11:00 - 11:50 a.m.
“Was the Constitution the Problem? The Politics of Religious
Intolerance in Nineteenth-Century America”
Spencer W. McBride, Historian, Joseph Smith Papers Project
12:00 - 12:50 p.m.
“Religion with Walls: Persecution Narratives as a
Challenge to Pluralism”
Julie Ingersoll, Professor of Religious Studies, University
of North Florida
1:00 - 1:50 p.m.
Brownbag Panel Discussion
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Student Workshop
for more information, contact Courtney Burns at courtney.burns@uvu.edu
2018
Schedule of Events
Classroom Building, Room 510-11
Friday, March 30th