Lecture to address religious freedom

An interfaith activist from the Detroit area will explore how the common concept of religious freedom fails to embrace the right to freedom from religious intrusion and exploitation, during a presentation as the 2013 Rabbi Philip Sigal Memorial Lecture, at Grand Valley State University.

“Religious Freedom, Predatory Proselytism & The Case for Pluralism,” is the title of the lecture to be presented by Padma Kuppa, Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, 301 Fulton Street West.

“Predatory proselytism” is a term used to describe various unethical methods used in the attempt to gain converts. Kuppa will make a case for pluralism, and discuss how the existence of groups with different ethnic, religious, or political backgrounds within one society can work only if they respect others’ beliefs and practices.

Padma is an IT professional in the U.S. automotive industry and a columnist for Patheos.com. She focuses on interreligious cooperation as an executive council member of the Hindu American Foundation. She is also active in her own community, the Bharatriya Temple, in suburban Troy.

This event is sponsored by the Interfaith Dialogue Association and the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley. It is open to the public with free admission. For more information call (616) 331-5702.