Understanding Culture, Religion, and Society in the Middle East: Diverse Perspectives

Yossi Klein Halevi, March 23, 2009

4:30pm - Adamson Wing, 136A Baker Hall

How do dialogue and advancement occur in an environment where cultures and beliefs are sometimes at odds?

This first part in a continuing series features thoughtful and influential journalists who explore education, politics, and dialogue through a composition of insights and anecdotes. With their intellectually diverse perspectives and their education in methods of analysis, Carnegie Mellon students are in a unique position to understand an emerging Middle East, an important region to the U.S.

Yossi Klein Halevi, born in America and now an Israeli citizen, sought to understand whether faith could serve to heal rather than intensify relations in the Middle East, and began a journey to pray and meditate with “Christian and Muslim fellow believers.” At Carnegie Mellon, a diverse institution where science and technology know few barriers, Mr. Halevi will draw on his experiences and interviews to speak about how religion and culture help us to understand, and eventually resolve conflict. Mr. Halevi will also discuss the changing political landscape of the Middle East with recent elections in Israel and the current status of regional diplomatic relations. Mr. Halevi is a writer and Senior Editor at The New Republic, and contributes to the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Washington Post.

Co-sponsored by Tartans for Israel

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