Keston Center Presents First Symposium

November 12, 2013
Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society

Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society courtesy photo

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Nov. 11, 2013) - The Baylor Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society will present its first-ever symposium titled "Religion and Political Culture in Communist Countries: Past, Present and Future," Thursday, Nov. 14 and Friday, Nov. 15, in the Armstrong Browning Library.
The schedule of the symposium is as follows:
- Thursday, November 14, 2013 - 3:30 p.m.
Keynote Address: Rev. Canon Michael Bourdeaux, Keston Institute Founder

- Friday, November 15, 2013 - 9:00 a.m.
Panel Presentations and Discussions:
- Religion, Political Culture and Human Rights
- Church-State Relations and National Identity
- Religion and Foreign Policy in Contemporary Russia

12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon and Keynote Address: Dr. Wallace Daniel, Distinguished University Professor of History, Mercer University

(If you wish to attend the luncheon, please RSVP before Nov. 11 due to limited seating.)

2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Panel Presentation
- Religion and Political Culture in Communist Countries: The Future

The Keston Center was founded in 2007 when it became home to the Keston Institute of Oxford's archive and library. Both organizations "seek to promote research and encourage the study of religion in communist, post-communist and other totalitarian societies and the relationship between religion and Marxism." You can read more about the Baylor Keston Center https://www.baylor.edu/kestoncenter/.
Kathy Hillman, director of the Keston Center, said the objective of the symposium is to promote religious conversation.
"We want to look at the events of the past, present and future in reference to communist societies," she said. "Many people think there are no longer problems like this, but these religious issues are still very much present."
Guests from all over the world have been invited to present and speak at the event.
"We tried to get a lot of different perspectives for the event," Hillman said. "We even have guests from China."
The symposium is targeted to students, scholars, faculty and the Waco community.
"Anyone interested in religious dissonance and rights would find it interesting," Hillman said.
All events are free and open to the public. Armstrong Browning Library is located at 710 Speight Ave. For more information, call the Keston Center at (254) 710-4647.

by Kristen Bennett, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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