The organizer of a conference on hatred...

The organizer of a conference on hatred says that he could not have dreamed when he planned it two years ago that the theme would have such immediate relevance for Los Angeles.

“Who would have known?” asked Daniel Smith-Christopher, assistant professor of theological studies at Loyola-Marymount University and director of the scholarly Casassa Conference, to be held on campus March 19-20.

“Unfortunately, the topic has become far more important and timely here,” he said, referring to last year’s civil unrest.

The purpose of the annual conference, named for the late Father Charles S. Casassa, former president of Loyola Marymount, is to bring together scholars to discuss issues of social justice and human progress, to which the Jesuit educator was committed.

Smith-Christopher says he chose the theme because “college students aren’t engaging in serious discussion of racial issues as they should be” and “because of the hatred erupting into increasing incidents of racial slander and violence, especially in Eastern Europe.”

The conference’s full title is “The Persistence of Hatred.” Although most speakers will deal with national and international manifestations of hatred, Smith-Christopher says he believes that their research will shed light on Los Angeles as a microcosm of the world.

Anti-Asian hatred, which was unleashed during the riots, will be taken up by Gary Okihiro of Cornell University, in his talk, “Perils of the Body and Mind.” The conference director says he invited Okihiro because of the original approach of his research and writing.

“We know that Asian-Americans are seen as a model minority because of their high educational and economic levels,” Smith-Christopher said, “but their ‘success’ has been grossly exaggerated.” He said anti-Asian attitudes and deeds, including violence, is on a steep rise.

He said Okihiro’s position is that Asian-Americans occupy common yet separate ground with African-Americans and other U.S. minorities.

“The Concept of Hatred in Islam” will be discussed by Mahmoud Ayyoub of Temple University in Philadelphia.

Smith-Christopher said: “I think one of the most serious problems we have now and will have in the future is the clash between Christianity and Islam internationally. Both groups have histories of violence and yet both have resources for peacemaking in their traditions that tend to be overlooked or minimized. Ayyoub is one of the most important Islamic scholars writing in English today and he deals with that issue.

“The idea that the whole world will become secular and that’s how we’ll get along is a particularly American and Western European blindness,” Smith-Christopher says. “We are not going to learn to get along by ignoring religious commitment, but by drawing on resources within religious commitment for peace and coexistence.”

Other speakers include sociologist Gerald Cromer of Bar-Ilan University in Israel on “The External and Internal Enemy in the Ideology of Meir Kahane”; political scientist Ira Smolensky of Monmouth College in Illinois on “Channeling Hatred: What We Ought to Hate, How We Ought to Hate It and Why,” and historian John Boswell of Yale University on “Personal Distaste and Moral Disapproval.”

Conference sessions will also address such topics as anti-homosexual prejudice, the white supremacist movement and the emergence of anti-immigrant parties in Western Europe.

The conference is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested because of limited seating. For a full schedule or reservations, phone (310) 338-2907.

RETREATS

“Christ and the Church” is the theme of the annual retreat of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, to be held March 19-21 at the diocese’s retreat center in the Sierras. For registration, phone (213) 466-5265.

Beth Chayim Chadashim, a synagogue serving the gay and lesbian community, holds a Shabbaton weekend retreat at Camp Gindling Hilltop in Malibu March 19-21. Workshops, ritual observance, social and recreational activities are offered. Reservations must be received by Friday. (213) 931-7023.

DATES

First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles presents anthropologist-sociologist Monique Taylor speaking on “Race Relations in Los Angeles” at 11 a.m. Sunday. 2936 W. 8th St. (213) 389-1356.

Bishop Roy I. Sano will speak about homosexuality, AIDS and the Reconciling Congregation movement at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at a meeting of Affirmation/United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns at Westwood United Methodist Church. A light dinner will be provided. 10497 Wilshire Blvd. (213) 969-4664.

A series of contemporary plays written for the Lenten season by the Rev. Edward A. Rauff is being performed through Holy Week at three churches in Pasadena: Faith Lutheran Church, Hill Avenue-Grace Lutheran Church and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Admission is free. For a schedule, phone (818) 794-2294.

Rabbis Geoffrey Hunting and Sue Levi Elwell lead a Passover workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills. Participants will learn to feminize a family Seder or organize a creative egalitarian Seder. 8844 Burton Way. Phone (213) 651-4601 for reservations.

Universal Life Church holds its spring General Assembly from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Christ Church, Metaphysical. Speakers include the church founders, the Revs. Kirby and Lida Hensley. Admission is free. 1838 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach. (310) 597-8363.

St. Nicholas’ Church hosts a series of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday lectures on “Spirituality, Sexuality and the Song of Songs--Five Different Approaches.” Admission is free. 17114 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-4486.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple invites the public to a Jazz Shabbat at 8 p.m. Friday. Pianist-composer Jose Bowen will lead the Kol Echad Chorale, soloist Sam Glaser, a jazz sextet and the temple’s choirs. Admission is free. 3663 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 388-2401.

BRIEFLY

First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills welcomes the Rev. Jim Sillerud as its new pastor Sunday. . . . Christ Temple Church in Los Angeles celebrates its 75th anniversary today. Blanche L. Miller, author of “God’s Purpose for Marriage,” and the widow of the Rev. Floyd C. Miller, will be feted at a farewell dinner celebration Friday, before she returns to Austin, Tex., after 30 years in the ministry in Southern California. For ticket information, phone (213) 751-1282.

Sinai Temple was the site of a meeting this week sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. and the University of Judaism. . . . Associate Rabbi Stewart Vogel of Valley Beth Shalom was among those honored this week by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. . . . The South-Central Los Angeles Planning Committee of the California Southern Baptist Convention needs $35,000 to create a community business training center. For information, phone (818) 918-3225.

Please address notices to: Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Fax: (213) 237-4712. Items should be brief and arrive at least three weeks before the event. Date, time, address and a phone number for information must be included.