2019 American Academy of Religions Meeting at the San Diego Convention Center

Submitted by Homi D Gandhi, President-FEZANA

On Monday, November 25, 2019, Erv Arda-E-Viraf Minocherhomjee, President-North American Mobeds Council (NAMC), and Erv Zarrir Bhandara joined me at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Religion and Foreign Policy (RFP) Program at the luncheon discussion on Religion and Foreign Policy: Bridging the Divide during the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting in San Diego.

[L-R]: Homi D. Gandhi; Irina A Faskianos, Vice President, National Program and Outreach at the Council on Foreign Relations; Erv. Arda-E-Viraf Minocherhomjee; Erv. Zarrir Bhandara

The discussion focused on how best to provide policymakers with contextual information as they debate and vote on issues pertaining to religion. Panelists included Rebecca Linder Blachly, director of the office of government relations, Episcopal Church; Suhail A. Khan, senior fellow for Muslim-Christian understanding, Institute for Global Engagement; Meighan Stone, senior fellow for Women and Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations; and Brie Loskota, executive director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California, moderated the discussion.

The meeting covered a host of suggestions on how the faith community and faith scholars can bring the issues to the policy makers so that such suggestions and points of view may be incorporated in legislative actions. We had the opportunity to discuss the issues with other faith leaders during the lunch and subsequent to the meeting. 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Room

FEZANA represents a diverse and growing Zarathushti community in North America.

Guided by the blessings of AHURA MAZDA and the teachings of our Prophet Zarathushtra; the Federation was founded in 1987 It serves as the coordinating body for 26 Zoroastrian Associations and 14 Corresponding Groups in the United States and Canada.

The activities of FEZANA are conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, co-operation and unity amongst all Member associations, and with due regard for the principles of GOODNESS, TRUTH, REASON, BENEVOLENCE, IMPLICIT TRUST and CHARITY towards all Mankind.

:+: Baname Khoda Kshnothro Ahura Mazda