All posts by Fredo Villaseñor

About Fredo Villaseñor

I am Fredo Villaseñor!

Prodromou discusses Turkey’s historical, ongoing erasure of Christianity
Interfaith Lecture Recaps, Interfaith Lecture Series, Lectures

Prodromou discusses Turkey’s historical, ongoing erasure of Christianity

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Turkey is located at the crossroads of many faiths, Elizabeth Prodromou said. Nonetheless, the country’s government is systematically driving out what religious minorities it once harbored, particularly Christians.

“If there’s anything to be learned from Turkey when it comes to the future of democratization and peace in the region,” she said, “I think it’s that violations of religious rights and religious freedom and … what can be defined as policies of religious cleansing against Christianity need to be avoided.”

Cagaptay discusses Western and Middle Eastern identities of Turkey
Interfaith Lecture Recaps, Interfaith Lecture Series, Lectures

Cagaptay discusses Western and Middle Eastern identities of Turkey

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The early Ottoman Empire was a global power for more than 200 years before it was defeated during the Siege of Vienna in the 16th century. And it took the Ottomans about 150 years to figure out what they did wrong.

“They tried many things,” Soner Cagaptay said. “In the end, they concluded that the only way to catch up with the Europeans was to become a European society.”

Chane argues need for Turkey in negotiations with Iran
Interfaith Lecture Recaps, Interfaith Lecture Series, Lectures

Chane argues need for Turkey in negotiations with Iran

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During his Interfaith Lecture on Monday, the Right Rev. John Chane demonstrated that Turkey and Iran share similar political and economic interests: Both are concerned about the plight of those living in the Palestinian territories, and soon the trade volume between the two countries is expected to exceed $30 billion, he said.

However, Chane noted that Iran and Turkey also have their differences. Iran sees Syria’s Assad regime as its ally and as a distribution point for weapons, arming both Syrian forces and also Hezbollah. Turkey, on the other hand, views Syria as a destabilizing presence in the region and has directly opposed its leadership.

APYA coordinators reflect on relationship between evil and suffering and God
Religion

APYA coordinators reflect on relationship between evil and suffering and God

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If there is anything that regularly challenges belief in God, it’s the existence of the ungodly. Evil and suffering have been frequent visitors to Chautauqua Institution, both as topics of discussion — for example, during the Interfaith Lecture Series’ week on emancipation — and as experiential realities. While some may think otherwise, Chautauqua isn’t paradise; evil and suffering happen here every day.

Miller busts myths about U.S. policy on Israel
Interfaith Lecture Recaps, Interfaith Lecture Series, Lectures

Miller busts myths about U.S. policy on Israel

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In Aaron David Miller’s view, there is no subject that suffers from more confusion or more controversy than the relationship between the domestic politics of the United States and its policies on Israel.

“Some of it, I would argue to you, is willful misunderstanding and advocacy,” he said. “Much of it is simply a lack of exposure and experience.”

Miller discusses obstacles to making Israeli-Palestinian peace
Interfaith Lecture Recaps, Interfaith Lecture Series, Lectures

Miller discusses obstacles to making Israeli-Palestinian peace

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After about 40 years of studying and being involved in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Aaron David Miller believes three things hold true in regards to ending the conflict. First, ending the conflict is possible, so long as the right circumstances are in place. Second, dialogue and negotiation are necessary. And third, the United States has a major role to play in those negotiations.

Miller delivered the third of his five Interfaith Lectures for Week Seven at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Hall of Philosophy. He has studied the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a historian, and in the 1980s, he was an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Department of State, focusing on Lebanon and Palestine. He has also worked as a policy maker and negotiator under six secretaries of state.

Miller details three challenges facing U.S. in Middle East
Interfaith Lecture Recaps, Interfaith Lecture Series, Lectures

Miller details three challenges facing U.S. in Middle East

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The United States’ ability to pursue its interests in the Middle East are challenged by three main issues, Aaron David Miller said: the Arab Spring, Iran’s regional and nuclear ambitions and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Miller delivered the second of his five lectures on the week’s Interfaith Lecture Series theme of “Religion, Culture and Diplomacy” at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Hall of Philosophy. He is currently the vice president for new initiatives and a distinguished scholar in the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. For 24 years prior to this position, he worked for the U.S. Department of State and served as an advisor to six secretaries of state, helping to formulate U.S. policy on the Middle East and on the Arab-Israeli peace process.