American And Jewish Studies To Host Panel Discussion Nov. 5

Baylor University's Center for American and Jewish Studies will host a panel discussion that presents the Egyptian, West African, Moroccan-American, African-American and Jewish perspectives of living in a multi-religious, multi-cultural world after the events of Sept. 11.
"Breaking Down the Barriers, Facing the Difficult Questions, Celebrating Diversity" will begin at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, in the seminar room on the fifth floor of the Cashion Academic Building. Featured speakers are Dr. Magi Abdul-Masih, Dr. Allen Callahan, Jordan Elgrably, Rabbi Paula Reimers and Dr. Lamin Sanneh. The event is free and open to the public.
Abdul-Masih is an Egyptian Coptic Catholic who teaches religious studies at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Canada. Her forthcoming book is titled "Edward Schillebeeckx and Hans Frei: A Conversation on Method and Christology."
Callahan, who teaches religious studies at Macalester College, has focused his research on the problem of slavery and freedom in the New Testament and its meaning for contemporary Christians. He is presently finishing a volume on the Bible in African-American life.
Elgrably, a Moroccan-American Jew, is a founding member of the Center for Middle Eastern Cultures, and co-director of Open Tent, a gathering place for Middle Easterners of diverse backgrounds and religions. His writings have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and Le Monde.
Reimers is a graduate of Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, and is rabbi of Temple Emanu El in Burbank, Calif. She is a member of the executive board of the Southern California Board of Rabbis.
Sanneh, originally from the Gambia, West Africa, is the D. Willis James Professor of Missions and World Christianity at Yale University. He is the author of several books, including "The Crown and the Turban: Muslims and West African Pluralism" and "Religion and the Variety of Culture: A Study in Origin and Practice."
The event is co-sponsored by the African Students Association, Association of Black Students, Gender Studies, J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies and the Magellan Society. For more information, contact the center at 710-3609.