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From August 24-27, the
International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) held its 34th World Congress in Birmingham, UK. A quadrennial event, this year's theme was
"Challenges for Religious Freedom in the Digital Age."
UUA President Rev. Peter Morales introduced keynote speaker Karen Armstrong, who delivered an impassioned speech titled "Religious Problems and Imperatives of Our Age" to over 250 attending delegates hailing from 25 countries. During the introductory proceedings, Armstrong was presented with the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award.
The two and a half day program hosted 11 sessions featuring 39 presenters from all over the world. Three plenaries were held addressing the following topics: "The coming-online faith world," "How (not) to liberate the world," and "educational potential of religious narrative animation."
The second plenary address was delivered by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom.
Providing a powerful opportunity for interfaith connection, discussion, and collegiality across borders, this year's Congress was hosted in Birmingham, a city whose rich history of "indigenous British religious nonconformity" made it a perfect milieu for 2014's gathering.
Check out this Storify collection of tweets and facebook posts from Congress participants:
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