38th World Religions Conference
Event Day: Sunday, September 16, 2018 (10:00 am)
Speaker Nomination Deadline: May, 11, 2018
Location: Humanities Theatre, Hagey Hall, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Canada's Largest Multi Faith Event
The 38th World Religions Conference will be held on September 16, 2018 at the University of Waterloo. The conference has been organized in Canada since 1981. It has a long tradition for bringing together renowned scholars for a deep and thought-provoking exchange of ideas. The event aims to explore the teachings and practices of different religious and philosophical traditions, with the hope that such mutual exploration will encourage better understanding and promote harmonious co-existence among the members of the society. The theme selected for this year’s conference is:
Experiencing God in Today's World
It is a question from time immemorial on how can one experience God? In a diverse modern world this question is ever so relevant and takes on new meanings in a technologically advanced planet. We are inviting organizations from various faiths and philosophical traditions to recommend speakers for this year’s conference. Our aim is to find speakers who are best suited to the spirit of the conference and are knowledgeable in their religious or philosophical perspective on this year’s topic. In order to make the event appealing to the widest audience possible, the proposed speakers should be known in their respective organizations and the community at large.
Participating Religions and Philosophical Traditions
Indigineous Spirituality, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Bahai Faith, and Humanism (Atheism and Agnostics)
Theme & Call for Speakers
The theme selected for this year’s conference is:
Experiencing God in Today's World
It is a question from time immemorial on how can one experience God? In a diverse modern world this question is ever so relevant and takes on new meanings in a technologically advanced planet. We are inviting organizations from various faiths and philosophical traditions to recommend speakers for this year’s conference. Our aim is to find speakers who are best suited to the spirit of the conference and are knowledgeable in their religious or philosophical perspective on this year’s topic. In order to make the event appealing to the widest audience possible, the proposed speakers should be known in their respective organizations and the community at large.
Goals and Objectives
The event aims to explore the teachings and practices of different religious and philosophical traditions, with the hope that such mutual exploration will encourage better understanding and promote harmonious co-existence among the members of Canada's cultural mosaic.
The Conference continues to strive to shorten the gap between diverse communities, and to demonstrate that we can live together in the spirit of acceptance, harmony and compassion.
The entire process of the organization of this event includes inter-faith interaction and therefore promotes interfaith respect, harmony and inclusiveness. It inculcates mutual understanding, respect and cohesion among all people of different faith traditions and philosophies of the world.
Format of Event
The tentative conference schedule will run from 10:30am to 3:30pm and will
consist of the following agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction to this year's theme
- Greetings from dignitaries.
- Presentations by speakers and recitations from Holy Scriptures. Typically, eight groups are represented.
- An interactive session to allow the audience to engage the speakers.
Breaks for lunch and social will be provided. A more-detailed program will soon
be shared with partners.
Brunch, a hot lunch and refreshments served at the conference venue. A more-detailed program will soon be shared.
Guidelines for the Speakers and Participants
1. In the best interest of inter-religious harmony and understanding and in keeping with the traditions of the World Religions Conference, the speeches and presentations may please be focused on the theme of the conference, presenting only the beauties and magnificence of one's own faith and philosophical traditions without casting aspirations on others' faiths and beliefs.
2. Any comparison with the teachings of a specific religion or a group of religions from a geographical region, may only be made in an objective manner aimed at promoting better understanding and respect between the followers of various religions and/or philosophical traditions.
3. The discourses and presentations may please be based and drawn entirely on the holy scriptures (with specific references from the respective holy scriptures) and religious traditions of the respective faiths; and philosophical traditions of those who not subscribe to any religion.
4. In order to best manage the various logistics involved at the conference and to have adequate time available for a purposeful discussion at the end, the speakers and presenters are requested to strictly observe the time allocated.
5. In order to ensure a meaningful discourse, the speakers and participating organizations are requested to remain present during the three sessions of the conference and be available to respond to any questions and informal discussions.
The organizers of the conference thank you for your cooperation.
Speaker Nominations:
Speaker nominations are accepted by any Faith Organizations, Church groups or Religious Institutions. We do not accept self nominations or nominations from individuals.
Submit nominations to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Speaker Nomination Deadline: Friday May 11, 2018
Each proposal should contain details on the proposed speaker including a brief biography, affiliation, and current involvement in the community and a recent high resolution digital photograph.
In the spirit of sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas, promoted by the conference, all speakers are required to be present throughout the conference.
For more info call: 519-722-0841 / 1-877-INFO-WRC