LU symposium discusses range of religions

Panelist Ikbal Chowdhury, left, talks about being one of the many faces of Islam during a discussion about traditions of faith on Thursday at Lincoln University. He is joined by panel moderator Sultan Ahmad, center, and Noaman Kayani. All three are professors at the university.
Panelist Ikbal Chowdhury, left, talks about being one of the many faces of Islam during a discussion about traditions of faith on Thursday at Lincoln University. He is joined by panel moderator Sultan Ahmad, center, and Noaman Kayani. All three are professors at the university.

Paradise and practices were repeated topics during the Faith Traditions Dialogue, part of Thursday's seven-hour Religious Freedom and First Amendment Rights symposium at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

Local clergy and lay leaders from faiths, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Native American, Unitarian-Universalist, Unity, Quaker and Ba'hai, answered questions and offered personal beliefs.

The Capital Area Interfaith Alliance and Lincoln University partnered for this event.

Earlier in the day, experts discussed hate crimes, the changing religious landscape, religious symbols on public property, intelligent design, and the case of the Catholic church and contraception coverage.