Large and involved audiences in several locations attended lectures on “Religious toleration and freedom of conscience” across Australia and New Zealand from 2nd to 20th of May.
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The lecture tour was part of the on-going South Pacific “Speakers of Excellence” series and featured American Professor Fred E. Woods and Australian barrister and senior counsel, Professor Neville Rochow SC.
Professor Woods said the purpose of the lecture tour was “to discuss freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. Not just tolerating the other person but validating them, respecting them regardless of their religiosity. We have a need to appreciate and defend our differences.”
The tour was supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which espouses the importance of defending and preserving religious freedom throughout the world.
Dr Woods, a religion professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, USA, has lectured in many countries on the subject of interfaith relations. He has lectured at many universities internationally and is the author of numerous books and articles.
Neville Rochow holds an adjunct professorship at the Sydney Law School of the University of Notre Dame Australia and is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Adelaide Law School. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences and seminars in the Pacific, Asia, Europe and USA and is the author of many publications.