Berkley & Woodstock Visiting Jesuits
Vincent Sekhar, SJ

Rev. Vincent Sekhar, S.J., is the Secretary for Interreligious Dialogue for the Jesuit Conference of South Asia. He currently teaches at Arul Anandar College in Madurai (Tamil Nadu), India. Fr. Sekhar authored "Quest for Harmony: An Anthology of Religions in Dialogue", published in Bangalore, India by Claretian Press. Fr. Sekhar, will be at Woodstock as a visiting fellow from March 10, 2006 - June 10, 2006.

Rev. Vincent Sekhar, S.J. attended the University of Madras, where he was one of the very few Christians to receive a doctorate in Jain religion and philosophy. Prior to joining Woodstock as a international visiting fellow in 1999, Fr. Sekhar was director of Dhyana Ashram, the Institute for Spiritual Animation and Interreligious Relations in Madras, India. He has taught theology in various seminaries throughout Madras and been involved in youth ministry. Fr. Sekhar has also published several articles on Jain religion.

Rev. Sekhar will return to Woodstock for the spring semester as an international visiting fellow. He will do research on the topic of religious pluralism in a secular society and its impact on Indian theology. He describes India as a "multi-mindset nation founded on the two pillars, democracy and secularism." India also has a rich mix of religions, which do not always promote the values of these two pillars and whose interests may at times even conflict. Rev. Sekhar will explore the attitudes of various Indian religions toward democracy and secularism. He will also question whether there are ways in which new approaches by religious leaders could help to promote not only tolerance and understanding between the various religions, but a more peaceful and tolerant society as outlined in the Indian constitution.