SPRING 2021
Theme: Religion in the Public Sphere
Please note: Discussions in the spring will continue to take place on Zoom.
Monthly discussions begin the first Wednesday in September and continue through the first Wednesday in May. Meetings are from noon-1 pm.
Join us on Zoom
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| Meeting ID: 827 1720 2109 | 253 215 8782 OR 346 248 7799 | |
| Passcode: 518801 | Meeting ID: 827 1720 2109 | |
| Passcode: 518801 |
February 3: Religion and Race
Continuing our discussion of “Religion and Black Lives Matter,” the panel will address how the social construct of race plays a part in our religions, historically and now.
Guest: The Rev. Heidi Jones-Magee, Episcopal deacon and MT Racial Equity Project board chairperson
Additional religious panelists: Rachel Allen and Karen DeCotis
March 3: Religion and White Supremacy
It’s not just the extremists who subscribe to white supremacy. This ideology
underlies many of our institutions and is embedded in our assumptions and
habits. What can we do about this?
Guest: Dr. Shane Doyle, Apsaalooka, educational consultant and environmental advocate
Additional religious panelist: The Rev. Duffy Peet
April 7: What is Truth?
Religions provide foundations for understanding the world. In an atmosphere where people speak of “alternative facts” and “information silos,” how do we know what to believe? Is all truth relative, or is there absolute truth?
Guest: Danny Johnson, Assistant Pastor, Grace Bible Church
Additional religious panelist: Rachel Allen
May 5: Reflections on the Pandemic
After 14 months of an officially declared global pandemic, what have we
learned? What does the future hold?
Guest: David Quammen, author of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next
Human Pandemic and The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life
Additional religious panelist: Karen DeCotis
Regular Panel Participants
Rabbi Ed Stafman is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beth Shalom, where he served for 10 years. Formerly a trial lawyer in Florida, he holds a masters degree in religion and has completed the coursework for a PhD in Religion of Western Antiquity.
Dr. Ruhul Amin and Shadmani Amin share the panel position representing Islam. He is a professor of mechanical engineering, president of the Islamic Center of Bozeman, and faculty advisor for the Muslim Student Association. Shadmani is the lab coordinator for the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
The Rev. Dr. Jody McDevitt is co-pastor of First Presbyterian Church (PC(USA)). Her theology degrees are from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
The Rev. Leo Proxell is poster of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Formerly he served parishes in western Montana. He also was campus minister at Carroll College and taught theology there for three years.
Additional Religious Panelists’ Affiliations:
Karen DeCotis, Zen Buddhist Priest, Bozeman Dharma Center
Rachel Allen, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Rev. Duffy Peet, minister, Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Bozeman