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An International Conversation on the Significance of St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art (Glasgow)

Delivered by Interfaith Glasgow in partnership with the Center for Intercultural Theology and Study of Religions, University of Salzburg.

St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, the only museum of its kind in the UK, is facing an uncertain future.  It has not been scheduled for re-opening along with other museums as Covid-19 restrictions lift and financial pressures present a risk of permanent closure or repurposing.

St Mungo’s was set up in 1993 with support from the various faith communities in the city to “promote mutual understanding and respect between people of different faiths and none”. Over the years it has fulfilled this mission, working with people of all religion and belief backgrounds to promote good relations and to challenge discrimination.

Beloved by the people of Glasgow, St Mungo’s also has an outstanding international reputation and has helped to inspire the creation of other museums of religion and related initiatives in other parts of the world.

Join us to hear from speakers from the Museum of World Religions in Taiwan and the House of Religions in Hanover, and an academic expert in ‘Houses of Religion’ from the University of Salzburg; and learn how St Mungo’s mission, collections, and educational programmes have been a global inspiration.

We will also hear two leaders in local interfaith engagement – who were integral to the Museum’s inception – explain why the museum matters to Glasgow’s faith communities.

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Thank you for your support!

Speakers:

Prof Dr Wolfgang Reinbold

Wolfgang Reinbold is Chairman of the House of Religions in Hanover, founding member of the Council of Religions in Hanover and co-founder of the Federal Congress of Councils of Religions in Germany. He is Professor of New Testament at the University of Göttingen and representative of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover for Christian-Muslim dialogue.

Brij Gandhi, MBE

Originally from India, Brij Gandhi migrated from Kenya to Glasgow with her two sons in 1984. Once here, she dedicated her life and career to community work, running interfaith groups and building experience in youth counselling. Founder of the Meridian Black and Ethnic Minority Women’s Resource Centre, she has overseen a number of major roles promoting racial equality in Scotland.

Dr Maria Reis Habito

Maria Reis Habito is the International Program Director of the Museum of World Religions in Taiwan, the Director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute USA, and a Zen Teacher authorized in the Sanbo Zen lineage.  She runs the international Interfaith program of the Museum of World Religions and her publications address various issues in Interfaith Dialogue, Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue, Buddhist Christian interactions, as well as themes in spiritual practice in interfaith contexts.

Sr Isabel Smyth, OBE

A founding member of Glasgow’s first interfaith organisation, the Glasgow Sharing of Faiths, Sr Isabel is a leading advocate for interfaith relations in Scotland. She has served on a variety of interfaith and religious education bodies including the Churches Agency for Inter Faith Relations in Scotland and the UK Interfaith Network. In 2007 Sr Isabel was awarded an OBE for her work in inter faith relations.

Prof Dr Martin Rötting

Martin is the Director of Religious Studies at the Center for Intercultural Theology and Study of Religions, University of Salzburg and editor of Houses of Religions: Visions, Formats and Experiences, published just this year. Martin is co-founder and chairman of the board of the Occurso Institute for Interreligious and Intercultural Encounters.

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