Noted Scholar Dr. Leela Prasad Addresses “Religion That Underlies All Religions” on March 15

Richmond, VA—Have you ever been curious about Gandhi’s influence 75 years after his death? Join multi-lingual author and religious scholar, Dr. Leela Prasad, to learn more in her upcoming Dawe Lecture on Wed. March 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Lake Chapel at Union Presbyterian Seminary.

She’ll help attendees understand what Gandhi meant by the “a religion that underlies all religions” focusing on Sammati, the practice of generous orientation. Dr. Prasad’s work focuses on Hindu worlds, gender, religion, modernity, prison pedagogy and Gandhi plus colonialism and decoloniality. She is the director of Undergraduate Studies at Duke University and served as the inaugural faculty director for the Duke Center for Civic Engagement. In 2024-25, she will serve as the president of the American Academy of Religion.

Named after the late Dr. Donald G. Dawe and his wife, Nancy Dawe, the annual Dawe Lecture series promotes ethical religious understanding and interfaith dialogue. Established by a generous gift from Dr. Coleman Longan honoring Donald and Nancy Dawe, the lecture series seeks to contribute a deepened awareness and insight in areas of intellectual and especially practical religious concerns.

The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit https://bit.ly/315Dawe23 by noon on March 15. The lecture will also be livestreamed on the Seminary’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/UPSem

To hear a podcast interview with Dr. Prasad and the Director of the Leadership Institute, Chris Burton, visit https://open.spotify.com/episode/67MyOLYaynrBUL6oYcOI1S?si=e3fbe55cba664f97

For or additional information, contact Chris Burton, Director of the Leadership Institute, at 804-278-4383 or chris.burton@upsem.edu today!

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