Conferences

Nonviolence in World Religions Symposium

October 3, 2013

This one-day interfaith symposium on Nonviolence in World Religions will explore peacemaking, nonviolence, forgiveness, and justice in seven major religious traditions (Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism/Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Native North American).

Each of the seven sessions will feature feature a presentation from a scholar/practitioner of the featured religious tradition and a response from two other traditions. Topics to be discussed include foundational teachings and/or scriptures, seminal figures in the development of the traditions, and historical and contemporary communities of faith-based peacemakers.

This symposium will give prominence to the transformative teachings and practices within each of the major world religions while helping us grow in our knowledge of how all faith traditions have the capacity to transform human consciousness and promote peace throughout the world.

This event is co-sponsored by the Marquette University Center for Peacemaking, the Office of the Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, the Edward D. Simmons Religious Commitment Fund, and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Please RSVP so we can ensure adequate seating for the sessions. You do not need to print or bring your ticket to the event.

Negotiating in a Polarized Society

Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies 26th Annual Student Conference
March 30, 2012

Students from various disciplines submitted papers for the student conference on the theme of "Negotiating in a Polarized Society." Topics included: haves and have nots, left and right, religious and secular, restorative and retributive justice, state and non-state terrorism, absolute nonviolence vs. just war, wealth and poverty, analysis of seemingly intractable conflicts, self and structural transformation, peace and war, gender, ethnic, racial, and religious conflict, and international legal and political institutions.

Sara Terry, Filmmaker and former correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor & Libby Hoffman, International peacemaker and founder of Peace Discovery Initiative and Catalyst for Peace delivered the keynote address.

The Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (WIPCS) is a unique and vital consortium of private and public colleges and universities dedicated to enriching academic and public discourse on issues of peace and conflict. The Institute is non-partisan and encourages debate and discussion of multiple perspectives, not only of foreign policy issues and global areas of conflict, but also of intercultural communication, gender relations, and environmental sustainability.

2009 Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference

October 2009

More than 350 peacemakers convened for the 2009 Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA) annual conference at Marquette University. The conference consisted of 100 concurrent sessions with 150 presenters.

Sr. Helen Prejean, C.S.J. delivered the conference's keynote presentation and was awarded an honorary degree in Theological Studies from Marquette University upon the recommendation of the Center for Peacemaking. She spoke to the audience about her journey from the seminary to being a spiritual advisor for death row inmates to becoming one of the leading advocates to abolish the death penalty. Watch the highlights from Prejean's speech.

The conference also included a live concert with Emma's Revolution, the duo of award-winning, activist-musicians, Pat Humphries & Sandy O.