Speakers from Iran and Nigeria Kick Off West End Lecture Peace Series

Two members of Hartford Seminary's International Peacemaker Program (IPP) kicked off the 2010 series of Intersections' West End Lectures on peace. Sharareh Esfandiari, a Shiite Muslim from Iran, and Ezekiel Abdullahi Babagario, a Baptist Christian living in Nigeria, participated in the Feb. 11 installment of this year's series, "The Heart of Conflict: Becoming Students of Peace."

Sponsored by Intersections in collaboration with the Collegiate School and West End Collegiate Church, the 2010 Peace Series focuses on individuals whose experiences living in conflict areas around the world have led them to become students of peace.

The discussion focused on the role of Christian-Muslim relations throughout the world in general, and in Iran and Nigeria primarily. Esfandiari shared her experiences being a young person in Shiraz and the importance of de-stigmatizing Iranians and Islam. Babagario focused on Christian-Muslim relations in Nigeria and how to promote interreligious tolerance.

The lecture was moderated by Rev. Michael S. Bos, pastor of West End Collegiate Church. “It was a perfectly moderated conversation complete with a brilliant musical component. It was an intimate New York experience to be remembered,” said Scott Thompson, program coordinator. “[The Peacemakers] have come through [their] experiences on the side of peace, justice and reconciliation.”

Becoming students of peace is a disciplined and courageous response that reflects an intention to live in peace and harmony, within ourselves and society, said Thompson. In the Zen tradition, he said, “we come into our experiences with a clean slate, free of judgments and limitations. This freshness of mind allows us to see things more clearly as they are in their entirety.”

Begun in 2004, the International Peacemakers Program works to promote inter-religious conflict transformation around the world. Intersections began working with Hartford Seminar in September 2008 in order to increase the opportunities available to program participants.

Prior to the lecture, IPP panelists spoke at The Collegiate School—a K-12 all -boys school in New York City—where they introduced students to the concepts of conflict transformation. “I was deeply impressed with the quality of interaction and questions posed by these young [students],” said Thompson.

The next discussion in the West End Lecture Peace Series takes place April 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All lectures are held at West End Collegiate Church, 368 West End Avenue, New York City. For more information about upcoming lectures, visit us online.