The William Johnsson Center for Understanding World Religions presents “Ancient Faiths in a New Land” this Saturday afternoon, Dec. 1, in a program featuring the Jain, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Ashanti Adventist faiths.
The event is open to all and takes place from 3–5 p.m. at the Damazo Amphitheater in Centennial Complex, 24760 Stewart St., Loma Linda, CA 92350.
The program will feature perspectives shared by:
• Maneck Bhujwala, MA, a Zoroastrian priest and interfaith community leader.
• Janice De-Whyte, PhD, assistant professor of religion at Loma Linda University and a scholar of Ashanti Adventism.
• Nitin Shah, MD, professor of anesthesiology and critical care at Loma Linda University Health and former president of the Jain Center of Southern California.
• Harpreet Singh, a Sikh community leader.
A panel discussion will follow, facilitated by Jon Paulien, PhD, dean of Loma Linda University School of Religion and director of the school’s Center for Understanding World Religions. Audience members will be able to ask questions of the panelists following the discussion.
According to Paulien, this program will be special in several ways. “The four faiths we are highlighting are virtually unknown to many people in the United States,” he said, “yet there are many more practitioners than people realize, including some who work, study or seek medical care at Loma Linda University Health.”
Additionally, it makes for a special occasion to simply bring together representatives of these faiths, Paulien noted.
The program will begin with an introduction from Paulien and then words and an interfaith prayer from the center’s namesake, William Johnsson, PhD, MA.
Call 909-558-7478 for more information.
About the William Johnsson Center for Understanding World Religions
The Board of Trustees at Loma Linda University Health approved the center in 2016, and its inaugural event took place in January 2017.
The center’s name recognizes William Johnsson and his contributions to promoting interreligious understanding in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Johnsson served as assistant for interfaith relations for former General Conference President Jan Paulsen for a number of years following a prolific career in publishing and scholarship in the Adventist Church. Johnsson retired to Loma Linda in 2014, where he teaches courses for the School of Religion and still writes books.