2022 Annual WSU Diversity Conference

KEYNOTE

Reverend Dr. DeForest B. Saories, Jr.

Professor and Civil Rights Activist

The Reverend Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. has served as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) in Somerset, New Jersey since November 1990. His pastoral ministry focuses on spiritual growth, educational excellence, economic empowerment and community building.

As a pioneer of faith-based community development, Dr. Soaries’ impact on First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) and the community has been tremendous. In 1992, he founded the Central Jersey Community Development Corporation (CJCDC): a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that specializes in revitalizing distressed neighborhoods. In 1996, Soaries founded the Harvest of Hope Family Services Network, Inc. (HOH). This organization develops permanent solutions for children in the foster care system.

From 1999 to 2002, Dr. Soaries served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, making him the first African-American male to do so. He also served as the former chairman of the United States Election Assistance Commission, which was established by Congress to implement the “Help America Vote Act” of 2002.

In 2005, Dr. Soaries launched the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement. The dfree® strategy teaches people how to break free from debt as a first step toward financial freedom. dfree® was featured in a 90-minute CNN documentary “Almighty Debt.” He is author of the books “Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom”, and “Meditations for Financial Freedom – Volumes 1&2.”

Dr. Soaries currently serves as an independent director at three companies: Independence Realty Trust, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and Ocwen Financial Corporation.

Dr. Soaries earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fordham University, a Master of Divinity Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary.

Dr. Soaries resides in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey with his wife, Donna, and twin sons.

Did you miss our amazing Keynote Address?  You can now view it below:
2022 Diversity Conference Keynote

SESSIONS All sessions take place in the Shepherd Union Building at the Ogden Campus.

* Request ASL Interpretation: DeafServices@weber.edu

 9:30 a.m. Sessions

• The Contribution of Different Religion Physicians in Medicin Development during the Islamic Golden Age

  Room 316

• The aim of this paper is to shed light on some of Muslim physicians’ achievements or contributions in medicine who belong to different religions, during the Islamic Golden Age, when tolerance widespread among the scientists at that time.

  During the Medieval Ages, it was well known that many scientists belong to different religions at that time contributed in the scientific

  renaissance dominated during what is called the Islamic Golden Age. Islamic religion encourages the people to seek knowledge from the

  cradle to the grave; so many physicians belong to different religions appeared during that time, and achieved a lot of contributions in medicine.

  Hunayn ibn Ishaq (809–873) was an influential Nestorian Christian translator, scholar, physician, and scientist. During the apex of the Islamic golden age, he worked with a group of translators, and was called the chief of the translators. His developments in the study of the human eye can be traced through his innovative book, "Book of the Ten Treatises of the Eye". This textbook is the first known systematic treatment of this field and was most likely used in medical schools at the time. Rhazes (al-Razi) was a famous physician and writer, whose medical writings greatly influenced the Islamic world as well as Western Europe. Al-Razi is considered the first who described what is called now Baker’s cyst, which is attributed to the English surgeon William Baker (1839-1896) who described it in 1877. Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides, was a medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. In his time, he was also a preeminent physician, serving as the personal physician of Saladin. Maimonides' achievements in the medical field are well known, and are cited by many medieval authors. One of his more important medical works is his Guide to Good Health (Regimen Sanitis), which he composed in Arabic for the Sultan al-Afdal, son of Saladin, who suffered from depression. The aim of this paper is to shed lights on some of Muslim physicians’ achievements or contributions in medicine, who belong to different religions, during the Islamic Golden Age, when tolerance widespread among the scientists at that time.

   

  → Presenter: Dr. Abdul Nasser Kaadan

   

  Prof. Kaadan (he/him) is a visitor international professor at Weber State University, Ogden, UT-USA.

  Prof. Kaadan was born in Syria. He is an orthopedic surgeon since 1986, received his PhD in History of Medicine in 1993 from the High Institute for the History of Arabic Science of Aleppo University. He was the chairman and Prof. in History of Medicine Department - Aleppo University, and the teacher of history of medicine and medical ethics. He supervised eight PhD and eighteen Master theses related to History of Islamic Medicine.

  Since January 2017, he has been working as a visiting international professor at Weber State University.

   Also, he is the founder and now the president of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine (www.ishim.net), and the chief editor of its Journal which is published in English.

   He has participated in more than 120 international congresses outside Syria, has 65 published papers and 8 books, and has been granted 28 scholarships, awards and prizes from Japan, Britain, Singapore, France, Taiwan, Germany, the United States of America, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, South Africa and Syria.     

  Prof. Kaadan was nominated for Nobel Prize in Literature (historical studies) in 2012 by Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine & Sciences in India.

   

  CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: 969 8410 3619, Passcode: 911148.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

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• The Religion-Supported State: How Early National New England Helps Us Understand Church-State Relations in America Today 

  Room 320

  To facilitate understanding of church-state relations and the conflicts and controversies that have arisen over diversity of beliefs, by examining a key region of the US during the nation's formative period.

  Why do Americans embrace the separation of church and state and yet so often end up with political issues — school prayer, same-sex marriage, and abortion are just a few — which are clearly disputed on the basis of religious beliefs? This presentation will explore how the religious politics of America’s formative generations set the stage for the paradoxes of our own time. Drawing on my forthcoming book, I look to New England for answers — its religious institutions dating back to the Puritans were completely transformed in the early American republic (1776-1850). New Englanders eliminated church establishments over decades, but still looked for ways to protect cherished religious truths in the public sphere. I argue that what New Englanders shaped — and what Americans today still grapple with — is what I call a “religion-supported state.” Christians of all kinds embraced tolerance and insisted that government had no business telling people what to believe. Yet across the religious spectrum — liberal and conservative, evangelical and rationalist — they expected the public sphere not to separate itself from religious truth entirely. They wanted a government supported by religious truth to avoid embracing errors and false beliefs that would turn the country from God’s will. However, as their communities grew more religiously diverse, who would get to decide what truths were worthy of protection? This problem shaped a political culture still visible across America today.

   

  → Presenter: Dr. Nathan Rives

  Dr. Nathan S. Rives (he/him) is an Instructor of History at Weber State University, where he teaches American religious history and the history of the early American republic and Civil War era. He completed his Ph.D. at Brandeis University in 2011. He recently published his first book, The Religion-Supported State: Piety and Politics in Early National New England with Lexington Books, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield.

   

  CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: ID: 929 3444 9169, Passcode: 823027.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

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• Understanding Internal Religious Diversity

  Room 312

  Upon completing this presentation, participants will gain a better understanding of the internal diversity within religions and be able to approach conversations about religious traditions and beliefs without assumptions.

  Most people understand that there is a great deal of diversity between different religions, but fewer recognize that religions can contain as much diversity within themselves. This presentation will show how people, culture, and history shape internal religious forces forming individual beliefs and practices and help participants to recognize the bias that many have against beliefs which are only slightly different than their own (“heresies”). Participants will discuss how to have conversations about religious and cultural identities without stereotyping adherents of any particular faith or treating them as a monolithic group. Finally, participants will discuss how to make their own tradition, religion, or culture welcoming to those who may believe or practice outside of “orthodoxy.”

   

  → Presenters: Garin Savage

  
  Garin (he/him) is originally from Idaho and has enjoyed studying religion for as long as he can remember. He is happily married to his wife Ana, and together they have two lovely kids and one sassy dog. Garin has a Master of Educational Technology (M.E.T.) from Boise State University and loves working at Weber State on Strategic Initiatives in the Student Affairs Division. His favorite hobbies enjoy playing percussion and organ, reading, and cinema.

   

  CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: 915 3772 6759, Passcode: 514093.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

 10:30 a.m. Sessions

• Christianity:  A White Man's Religion

  Room 316

  Show the diversity of different historical Christian Denominations, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.

  In the U.S. now when one thinks about Christianity, a predominantly White and conservative congregation comes to mind. It has also come to be associated with those of European descent and a religion forced on those who were not of European descent. Oftentimes ignoring that

  Christianity started in the Middle East and spread to the areas near it first. Coptic, Syriac, and Ethiopian, and Armenian Christianity. Lands that were Christian before Europe adopted Christianity and in some cases were responsible for sending missionaries into Western Europe (Coptic legends claim they sent missionaries into Ireland). It is a great irony then that in modern discourse POC in spaces seeking to decolonize are ostracized for still belonging to the “White Man’s Religion”. This presentation will examine how Christianity was meant to be a universal religion, diverse in practice but homogenous in dogma and how viewing it in the Euro-centric lenses erases the POC who spread it.

   

  → Presenter:  Salvador Ceja-Monroy (he/him)

   

  Born in Utah, I was raised in Mexico until I was four. Moved back to the U.S, and have lived here since. I graduated with a B.A. in political science. In my free time I like to write poetry and learn about the belief system of different cultures.

   

  CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: 969 8410 3619, Passcode: 911148.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

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• Was God Just Kidding? The ill-formed theological foundation for LDS views on abortion and nonheteronormative sexuality

  Room 320

  The current Christian nationalist attempts at rallying the entire Christian community with cultural dog whistles include superficial bumper sticker ideas that entice even some within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) community. I suggest that the LDS theological armor against such ideas should be much more clear and differentiating so that LDS policies might be generally more loving and welcoming, less judgmental and more Christlike. Here, I’ll make a case for why LDS scripture should clearly establish God as “pro-choice”, even valuing choice above life itself. Finally, I suggest scripturally founded theological reasons for greater societal inclusion of all who are perceived different: no need to look for divine (or any other) causation “why I am this way” (e.g., race or gender differences, tall/short, body type, deaf, LGBTQ, cancer, autism, whatever, etc….) These can be really clear-cut foundational precepts if we simply clarify God’s initial intentions, or—more precisely—choose to believe his words to our First Parents in Eden at face value. 

   

  → Presenter:  Dr. Ian Harvey

  Ian R. Harvey (he/him) worked for ten years as an engineer in the Silicon Valley semiconductor industry following his graduation from the Colorado School of Mines. He is an inventor with 29 patents and the author of four books on theological topics related to today’s discussion. Prior to WSU, his academic career spanned sixteen years at the University of Utah where he built the team that built the Utah Nanofab, and three years at Princeton where he directed the nanotech labs (Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials / Cleanroom). He and his wife Kristine are the parents of four and have two grandchildren. On weekends he assists his parents on their Wyoming beef cattle ranch and enjoys fresh air, clean water and hobbit-like activities.

  CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: ID: 929 3444 9169, Passcode: 823027.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

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• Life, Death, and Faith: Exploring the Interplay of Health and Spirituality

  Room 312

  This session will explore the interplay between one's health and their perception of religion and spirituality. When faced with life and death situations, profound loss, and unspeakable pain, a lot of deep personal reflection can take place. In this interactive workshop, we'll discuss questions that often arise in these experiences, such as: Was it science or a miracle? What happens after death? What role does prayer play? Does a higher power intervene in health matters? Can clergy be beneficial and detrimental? How does culture influence the relationship between health and faith?

   

  → Presenter:  Kathleen Paco Cadman, PhD, RN, CNE, CPH

   

  Kathleen Paco Cadman has taught nursing at Weber State since 2013. She has traveled to 136 countries (all 7 continents), including having lived and worked in Honduras, China, Guatemala, Nepal, India, and Belize. She has also taught honors courses such as Wicked Problems and Antiracism, and is involved with WSU's Women and Gender Studies, the university's GSA, and the NAACP. She is heavily engaged in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) initiatives across campus and in the community.

   

  CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: 915 3772 6759, Passcode: 514093.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

 11:30 a.m. Sessions

• The Religion-Supported State: How Early National New England Helps Us Understand Church-State Relations in America Today 

  Room 316

  To facilitate understanding of church-state relations and the conflicts and controversies that have arisen over diversity of beliefs, by examining a key region of the US during the nation's formative period.

  Why do Americans embrace the separation of church and state and yet so often end up with political issues — school prayer, same-sex marriage, and abortion are just a few — which are clearly disputed on the basis of religious beliefs? This presentation will explore how the religious politics of America’s formative generations set the stage for the paradoxes of our own time. Drawing on my forthcoming book, I look to New England for answers — its religious institutions dating back to the Puritans were completely transformed in the early American republic (1776-1850). New Englanders eliminated church establishments over decades, but still looked for ways to protect cherished religious truths in the public sphere. I argue that what New Englanders shaped — and what Americans today still grapple with — is what I call a “religion-supported state.” Christians of all kinds embraced tolerance and insisted that government had no business telling people what to believe. Yet across the religious spectrum — liberal and conservative, evangelical and rationalist — they expected the public sphere not to separate itself from religious truth entirely. They wanted a government supported by religious truth to avoid embracing errors and false beliefs that would turn the country from God’s will. However, as their communities grew more religiously diverse, who would get to decide what truths were worthy of protection? This problem shaped a political culture still visible across America today.

→ Presenter: Dr. Nathan Rives

Dr. Nathan S. Rives (he/him) is an Instructor of History at Weber State University, where he teaches American religious history and the history of the early American republic and Civil War era. He completed his Ph.D. at Brandeis University in 2011. He recently published his first book, The Religion-Supported State: Piety and Politics in Early National New England with Lexington Books, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield.

CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: 969 8410 3619, Passcode: 911148.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

• Tolerating Difference? A look at the theory of religious toleration

  Room 320

  To set out the limits of the theory of religious toleration in dealing with religious difference.

  The theory of religious toleration emerged in response to the Protestant Reformation. It was intended to address the new problem of religious difference within a political community. The theory, as originally articulated in the late 17th and into the 18th century, has severe limitation when applied to our current context here in America. In this paper I explore the basic tenets of this theory as well as contemporary revisions and critiques of this theory in attempt to articulate a theory that is better equipped to deal with contemporary American problems with religious difference.

  → Presenter:  Thom Kuels (he/him)

  I received my BA in Political Science from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio in 1986.  I received my MA in Political Science from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland in 1989 and my PhD in Political Science from Johns Hopkins in 1992.  I have been at Weber State since 1993.

  CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: 929 3444 9169, Passcode: 823027.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.

  ---

  Life, Death, and Faith: Exploring the Interplay of Health and Spirituality

  Room 312

This session will explore the interplay between one's health and their perception of religion and spirituality. When faced with life and death situations, profound loss, and unspeakable pain, a lot of deep personal reflection can take place. In this interactive workshop, we'll discuss questions that often arise in these experiences, such as: Was it science or a miracle? What happens after death? What role does prayer play? Does a higher power intervene in health matters? Can clergy be beneficial and detrimental? How does culture influence the relationship between health and faith?

→ Presenter:  Kathleen Paco Cadman

Kathleen Paco Cadman has taught nursing at Weber State since 2013. She has traveled to 136 countries (all 7 continents), including having lived and worked in Honduras, China, Guatemala, Nepal, India, and Belize. She has also taught honors courses such as Wicked Problems and Antiracism, and is involved with WSU's Women and Gender Studies, the university's GSA, and the NAACP. She is heavily engaged in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) initiatives across campus and in the community.

CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?  Visit the Zoom Link  ID: 915 3772 6759, Passcode: 514093.  This Zoom session will not be recorded.