Global Philosophy of Religion in the Local Des Moines Community
On Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 pm in the Harkin Institute (2800 University Ave), Dr. Helen Lee Turner, Professor of Religion at Furman University, will lecture on “Disability and Personhood among the Navajo People.”
On Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 pm in the Harkin Institute (2800 University Ave), Dr. Sarah Jean Barton, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Theological Ethics at Duke University, will lecture on “'The Work of the People': Disability and Participation in the Christian Tradition."
On Sunday, April 19, we will celebrate the annual holiday of Vaisakhi from roughly 12:00 to 2:00 pm with the Sikh gurdwara in West Des Moines, the Iowa Sikh Association (1115 Walnut St.). The service will include many of the elements of a typical Sunday worship service: the signing of hymns (kirtan), reading from sacred …
On Sunday, July 12 at 3:30pm in Meredith 101, we will screen the digital stories created by the campers at our 2026 Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp. A brief reception with follow the screening.
On Thursday September 24 at 6:00 pm in Aliber 101 (2847 University Ave), we host our first event of our 2026–2028 series on Prophets & Profits, a panel dialogue featuring local insurance industry executives.
On Thursday, October 15 at 6:00 pm in Aliber 101 (2847 University Ave), Dr. Jill DeTemple, Professor and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Southern Methodist University, will lecture on "Capabilities: What International Economic Development Models Explain about Health, Wealth, Religion, and Community in the Early 21st Century United States."
On Saturday, October 17, we will celebrate the Hindu festival of Navaratri from 5:00–7:00 pm at the Hindu Cultural and Educational Center (1960 E. Army Post Rd.)
On Sunday, October 25, we will celebrate the annual holiday of Boun Ok Phansa at 10:00 am with the Lao Buddhist temple, Wat Lao Buddhavath (1804 E Park Ave).
On Sunday, November 8, we will celebrate the Hindu (and pan-Indian) festival of Diwali in the evening (exact time tbd) at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center (33916 155th Ln, Madrid).
On Thursday, November 19 at 6:00 pm in Aliber 101 (2847 University Ave), Dr. Sudev Sheth, Senior Lecturer of International Studies at the Lauder Institute and the Wharton School and Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Pennsylvania, will lecture on “Who Owns Wealth? Gandhi’s Answer to Capitalism.”
On Sunday, November 29, beginning around 12:00 pm, we will celebrate the birthday of the first and founding Guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, at the gurdwara in Johnston, Sikhs of Iowa Khalsa Heritage, Inc (4820 NW 59th Ave, Johnston).
On Thursday, March 25, 2027 at 6:00 pm in Aliber 101 (2847 University Ave), Nimi Wariboko, Walter G. Muelder Professor of Social Ethics at Boston University, will lecture on "Global Dollar and War: Trump’s Resignification of America’s Empire.”