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Parliament of World Religions: Student Experiences

On this page:2023 Cohort | 2021 Cohort | 2018 Cohort

MORSL sponsors a cohort of students to attend the interfaith convention. As a participant in the MORSL cohort, students are able to debrief with fellow UUֱ students and reflect on the learning. Each student produces a final reflection piece as a way of sharing their experiences and thoughts surrounding the conference. Students gain experience in self-reflection, creative thinking and collaboration.


Events

A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights (2023)

Hosted in Chicago, USA, fromAugust 14-18, 2023.

Opening our Hearts to the World: Compassion in Action (2021)

Hosted virtually, from October 16-18, 2021. Some of the notable speakers for this year’s convention include, among others; His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Marianne Williamson, Grandmother Flordemayo, Rabbi David Rosen, Bishop William E. Swing, and Eboo Patel, among other notable speakers.

The Promise of Inclusion, The Power of Love (2018)

Hosted in Toronto, Ontario, in November 2018.

The focus areas this year include climate change, income equity, reconciliation and the struggle against war, violence and hate speech.Over seven days, our students were able to choose from a wide range of panels, workshops,interactive cultural experiences, and art exhibits to name a few. With programming for everyone from scholars andactivists to families and children, our students got to learn from other students, clergy, interfaith leaders, scholars, NobelLaureates, city mayors, spiritual luminaries, best-selling authors, globally-recognized entertainers, thought leaders, state actors, and more.


Meet the 2023 Cohort

Meet the 2021 Cohort

  • Ryan Brown

    Ryan Brownis a U2 student doing an Honours in Religious Studies with specific interest in South and East Asian religions. He hopes to connect this specialization with the discussions held at the Parliament.

  • Cathy Chuang

    Cathy Chuangis a U3 student majoring is Psychology and Religion. She is looking forward to learning more about faith in action and seeing the role religion has played during the pandemic.

  • Taja De Silva

    Taja De Silvais a U4 student in Religious Studies and World Islamic and Middle East Studies. They are excited to tie together their interest in Buddhism with many of the topics presented at the Parliament.

  • Diana Gomez

    Diana Gomezis a U3 Mechanical Engineering student. She looks forward to growing in understanding how faith and religion are intrinsic to living a life of true and deep fulfillment.

  • Dylan Hillerbrand

    Dylan Hillerbrandis a singer pursuing his masters’ degree in early music performance. He is attending the Parliament interested in contemplative spiritual practice and faith-based community building and organizing.

  • Chloé Hugla

    Chloé Huglais a U1 student majoring in Political Science and Religious Studies. She hopes to supplement her academic interest in religion with a more vested personal experience and express her understanding through an artistic medium.

  • Midhat Kiyani

    Midhat Kiyaniis a first-year student of PhD Educational Studies (Science & Mathematics Education) at Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE), UUֱ. I would like to learn how to develop interfaith compassion, patience, and harmony for a peaceful World.

  • Antonia Lieben-Seutter

    Antonia Lieben-Seutteris a U4 student majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Religious Studies. She participated in MORSL's 2018 Parliament trip and found it to be one of the most exciting experiences in her studies. She is excited to apply her knowledge gained since then to this year's virtual conference.

  • Elyse MacLeod

    Elyse MacLeodis a PhD4 student in the School of Religious Studies. She studies intercultural and interreligious dialogue and feels that the Parliament is an important global forum for furthering dialogue, peace, and justice.

  • Darcy Wang

    Darcy Wangis a U3 student double majoring in in Philosophy and East Asian studies. She feels that the Parliament is an excellent opportunity to listen to and learn from different voices and as an imaginary way to travel across cultures during the pandemic.

  • Betty Wang

    Betty Wangis a U4 Psychology student. She joined this cohort because she hopes to be part of the antidote to the current chaos in the world.

  • Ian Whatley

    Ian Whatleyis a U2 joint Honours Economics and Finance student originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. He has always had an interest in both the shared wisdom of the great religious traditions of the world and the unique approaches which they have to the great questions of life.

Meet the 2018 Cohort

  1. The Voiceless Cry by Oi Yin Lai
  2. Tabling by Mariam Grigoryan and Antonia Lieben-Seutter

Mariam Grigoryan, IDS, Economics major
“PoWR is an extraordinary opportunity to meet people from different religious and spiritual backgrounds and learn about multi-faith social justice. Through various activities, workshops and seminars we discussed the importance of interreligious harmony in achieving a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.”

Antonia Lieben-Seutter, Anthropology major
“The most exciting experience for me at the PoWR was witnessing different religious rituals being performed and the respect and enthusiasm with which different religious groups interacted with each other. In a time where religious organisations are often portrayed as spreading terror, intolerance and hate throughout the world, it was great seeing not only religious followers but leaders of worldwide organisations come together and talk about how they can collaborate to make the world a better place.”

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