THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGION and POLITICS: A CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHICAL OVERVIEW

Don Bosco Chinthanaloka organized the 4th Annual Philosophical Symposium 2019-2020 on The Inter-relationship between Religion and Politics: A Contemporary Philosophical Overview. The Symposium called academicians, researches, social workers, religious and students to address the widespread conflict of religion and politics as an important imperative. Rev. Fr. Thomas Arokiasamy SDB was the General Chair of the Symposium and called for research papers. Three scholarly research papers were presented by local and foreign scholars of Philosophy and Theology. Rev. Fr. Jefferson Suresh SDB, professor of philosophy at Jaffna Seminary presented: "Religious Beliefs and Political Attitudes in Asia: The Rise of Religious Fundamentalism and the Waning Away of Scientific Temper in Political Discourse". The session was moderated by Rev. Fr. Hemantha Harshana SDB, professor at DBCIPH, Ahungalla. Rev. Fr. Noby George SDB, Principal, Don Bosco School Bandel, Kolkata, India, presented: "The Emergence of Right Wing Politics and the Response of the Catholic Church". The session was moderated by Rev. Fr. Tamizh Selvan SDB, professor of philosophy at DBCIPH, Ahungalla. Rev. Dr. Francis Jeyaraj Rasiah SJ, professor emeritus of Philosophy and Theology presented: "Emerging Patterns of Religion and Politics with a Special Reference to South Asian Countries". The session was moderated by Rev. Fr. Hemantha Harshana SDB, professor at DBCIPH, Ahungalla. The symposium was well attended by the students and faculty of the institute. It reflected on the current challenges the nefarious relationship that is taking shape between religion and politics across the world and more importantly, in the South Asian Countries. The symposium provoked everyone to reflect and take stock of the rise in fundamentalism that is often fuelled by religious fanaticism backed by political opportunism. It has been an eye-opener and platform to discuss and encourage everyone to actively participate and share their unique perspective and knowledge on religion and politics.