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University of Trinity College
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6 Hoskin Avenue |
Join Trinity College for this historic and intellectually enriching event as we come together to reflect on how religious dialogue can enhance our understanding of navigating differences and conflicts in the modern world. This conference also marks the founding of the Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought and Practice at Trinity College, University of Toronto.
Trinity College invites scholars, graduate students, and monastics from around the world to participate, especially those engaged in Humanistic Buddhism, comparative theology, history, or interreligious studies.
Conference Overview
The Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought & Practice at Trinity College, University of Toronto, is delighted to announce its International Inaugural Conference on the theme “Navigating Conflict: Humanistic Buddhism and Comparative Theology in a Divided World.”
This conference seeks to explore how Humanistic Buddhism can engage in comparative theological reflection with other religious traditions to deepen mutual understanding, spiritual insight, and ethical renewal, particularly in a divided global context. Rooted in the teachings of the historical Buddha and shaped by the Chinese Mahayana tradition, Humanistic Buddhism emphasises compassion, wisdom, and the transformation of everyday life—values that resonate across faiths and cultures. Yet what happens when traditions are themselves internally divided, or are located in a social-historical context that sets them in apparent opposition with another tradition?
Through conversation with theological traditions such as Christianity, this conference aims to examine how various strands of Buddhism contribute to, or perhaps even complicate, global theological discourse. How might Buddhist teachings on interdependence, emptiness, and compassion inform comparative theology’s search for peace and reconciliation across differences? Conversely, how might comparative theology illuminate new dimensions of Humanistic Buddhist thought and practice that may serve as resources for bridging or healing divides in the face of conflict?
Bringing together scholars, monastics, practitioners, and theologians from around the world, the conference invites fresh perspectives on how religious traditions can and do intersect positively (and sometimes negatively) in an age of global pluralism and shared humanity.
Keynote Speaker
We are honoured to welcome Prof. Francis X. Clooney, SJ (Harvard University) - a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and one of the world’s foremost voices in Comparative Theology - as our keynote speaker.
Topics of Interest for Proposals
We welcome proposals on topics including, but not limited to:
- Comparative theology between Humanistic Buddhism and other religious traditions
- Theological interpretations of Buddhist compassion, emptiness, and interdependence
- Buddhist traditions in dialogue with Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Jewish, or indigenous traditions
- Historical examples of interfaith engagement that successfully (or unsuccessfully) navigated conflict
- Comparative reflections on human nature, suffering, and liberation
- Thought and practice in comparative theology
- Humanistic Buddhism, ethics, and global interreligious responsibility
- Spiritual and religious traditions as a factor in international and/or cross-cultural relations
Proposals adopting comparative, theological, or interdisciplinary approaches to Humanistic Buddhism are especially welcome.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit the following to jizhang.yi@utoronto.ca:
- Paper title and abstract (250–300 words)
- Short biographical statement (100–150 words)
Deadline for submissions: December 8, 2025
Notification of acceptance: January 9, 2026
Accepted papers will have the opportunity to be included in an edited volume, which we hope to publish in collaboration with a reputable academic publisher.
| For More Information |
416-978-2522
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