Dean Isensee, Vice President of the BLIA Chicago English Subchapter, and Piao-Jin Xu, President of the Second Subchapter, represented the temple at the 2nd Interfaith Symposium hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in downtown Chicago. The theme of the symposium was “Peacemakers Needed.” Vice President Dean opened the event by reciting “A Prayer for World Peace” by Fo Guang Shan founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The gathering drew approximately 80 participants, including Christians, Jews, Baha’is, Hindus, Native Americans, Muslims, Zoroastrians, and Sikhs.
The keynote speaker, Professor Steven T. Collis from the University of Texas School of Law, utilized his book Habits of a Peacemaker to analyze ten essential conditions for promoting human peace. The professor emphasized three key habits: cultivating the quality of humble wisdom, maintaining a positive attitude toward others, and refusing to fuel people’s fears. Six representatives from different religious backgrounds shared their perspectives on what it means to be a “peacemaker.”
The symposium concluded following a brief address by Church Elder Corbin Coombs, a Sikh hymn of praise, and a Zoroastrian prayer.