Conference Programmes, Papers, Visuals and Audios
Future conferences are going to be based in the regions. Whilst physical gatherings are great to catch and enjoy conference together, they also have a heavy carbon footprint. We will endeavour to electronicially disseminate the conference simultaneously (if possible). Thus conferences will be "hybrid".
2021/2022 Conference was held on the 7/8th October 2022
Theme: Spirituality for a sustainable future
Speakers:
Ian Harris gave the Sir Lloyd Geering Lecture entitled Spirituality for an eco-human future:
Video,
Powerpoint,
Printable documentJohn Thornley on Black Theology in African-American Music – illustrated by blues, gospel, soul, reggae and soul tracks.
Rob McKay on Maori Spirituality and sustanability
Dr Puspha Wood on What role can spirituality play in securing a sustainable future for the next generation.
Younger speakers: Munsenser Qamar, Loo Connor
2021 AGM was held by Zoom meeting on 6 November. Papers can be downloaded below:
2020 Conference
There will be no conference this year. Planning for the 2021 conference will commence soon.
2019 "Transforming Communities: Finding meaning in a consumer-driven world
Keynote summaries
Biographies
2018 "Religion for a sustainable future
Keynote addresses
Electives
2017 "Reformation 2.0, Luther lit a fuse, what happens next?"
Keynote Addresses
Electives
Annual General Meeting
2016 "With or Without God: Community in a Post-Theistic World"
Keynote ddresses
AGM
2015 "Micawber or Cassandra? Responding To An Increasingly Uncertain Future"
Keynote addresses
AGM
2014 "Exploring Inner Space: Can Spirit, Soul and Free-will Survive the Scrutiny?"
Keynote addresses
Electives/Workshops
2013 "Tell Me the New, New Story"
Keynote addresses
2012 "The Revaluing of All Values: What Values Do We Need To Survive"
Keynote addresses
Articles
Workshop/Electives
AGM
2011 "Pulling Us Back From The Brink: Economics? Science? Religion?"
Keynote addresses
2010 "Compassion and Crisis: Our Human Dilemma"
Keynote Addresses
2009 "Who Needs Jesus? Life in the 21st Century
Keynote addresses
2008 "The Ecological Imperative: Is Tomorrow's God Gaia?
Keynote addresses
Workshops
Auckland Regional Conference on Religious Terrorism 19 July 2008
2007 "Retelling The Story"
Keynote addresses
2006 "After Religion, What? — Is Nothing Sacred Anymore?"
Keynote addresses
2005 "What Makes Us Human — Dialogues With Art, Religion and Science"
Keynote addresses
2004 "20 Years On — Faith Evolving"
Keynote addresses
2003 "Making War — Making Peace"
Keynote addresses
2002 "Creative Uncertainty"
Keynote addresses
2001 "You Make Community Makes You"
Keynote addresses
2000 "Beyond Belief"
1999 "Mother Earth v. Father God?"
1998 "Inventing Reality"
1997 "Faith on the Margins"
1996
1995
1994
here has always been a tension between development, economic progress and spirituality. To further complicate this tension, religion and spirituality has often been used interchangeably. Thus, it is important to explore the relationship between spirituality and sustainable future whether it be an environmental, financial, political or social future.
While oberserving and participating in discussions amoung various groups, one thing is evident, that all faiths/religious traditions and spiritual belief systems have one thing in common - they assign the role of ‘guardianship’ to humans thus giving us the responsibility of maintenance and protection of this world. The role of interfaith dialogue has never been more important than now. The havoc created by COVID-19 in some ways has higghlighted the need for spiritual belief and religious practices in our day to day life.
Compared to religion, spirituality has more of an ‘individual’ flavour than a ‘communal loyalty’ flavour. It is important to note that one does not have to belong to a ‘religion’ to lead a spiritual life. Organised form of religion in some ways can inhibit one’s spiritual path and it is this belief that given rise to a "Spiritual but not religious" (SBNR), also known as "Spiritual but not affiliated" (SBNA), popular phrase.
An individual and collective spiritual belief system is not and does not have to be at odds with the practice of ‘progress and the materialistic world’. Where it is at odds is with the ‘profit and benefit at the cost of stakeholders of this this world. Almost every religion and belief system in its essence teaches its followers to respect and live in harmony with the nature, look after those who cannot look after themselves and protect those who cannot protect themselves. We need to translate this into economic and environmental terms, making a profit from your investment is not forbidden but when profit becomes the sole focus of the progress and individual interests start to take over the wellbeing of society, and the interests of humanity and nature become secondary, that is when inequality, injustice, damage to environment and poverty start to rear its ugly head!! That is where spirituality can play a guiding role to move towards a sustainable future for all.