Sixth Annual International Abraham Conference, 26 August 2007

The Sixth Annual International Abraham Conference, cosponsored by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commision, the Australian Intercultural Society, the Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilisation, Monash University, B’nai B’rith Australia/NZ and the B’nai B’rith Anti Defamation Commission

was held tat the University of Melbourne Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sydney Myer Asia Centre on Sunday 26th August 2007 from 10am to 2pm.

The theme was: SHAPING A NATION'S VALUES: THE ABRAHAMIC CONTRIBUTION

The conference was opened by Prof. David de Kretser, Governor of Victoria.

The Keynote International speaker was Prof. Burhanettin Tatar (Samsun University, Turkey)

Dr Burhanettin TATAR was born in Samsun (TURKEY) in 1963. After graduating from high school, he became a student of theology in the Faculty of Divinity at Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun. He got his MA degree in Islamic theology at the same university and during his MA studies, he was appointed to the Faculty of Divinity (Samsun) as a research assistant in Islamic philosophy. In 1993, he went to USA for his doctoral studies. He received his doctoral degree on Western philosophy at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1997. In the following years, he has lectured in different courses of his faculty in Samsun. He was appointed as Associate Professor of Islamic philosophy to his faculty in 2003. Dr. Tatar is currently offering several courses on different fields from environmental problems to classical and modern Islamic and Western thoughts. He published several books and a great number of articles on philosophical and political hermeneutics, Islamic thought, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, ethics, and philosophy.

Download Professor Tatar's paper by clicking here

The Respondents were:
Prof. Veronica Brady IBVM (University of Western Australia)
Dr Danielle Celermajer (Sydney University)

AIS Chairman, Ergun Kirmaci, welcomes guests

Victorian Governor, Prof. David de Kretser, opens the Conference

Mr Orhan Cicek of the AIS thanks the Governor for attending

Professor Tatar gives his paper

Dr Danielle Celermajer responds to Dr Tatar's address

Sister Veronica Brady gives her response

Mr John Cohen asks a question from the floor

The panel of guest speakers

Dr Constant Mews of Monash University chairs the panel discussion

Prof. Abdullah Saeed of Melbourne University makes closing remarks

Some participants in the Conference