Frank Kaufmann

Frank Kaufmann is the director of the Inter Religious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP). [Forward, Martin. Ultimate Visions. Oxford: Oneworld Oxford, 1995, pp. 156-166.] [Kaufmann, Frank, "The Unification Church", in Beverschluis, Joel. "Sourcebook of the World's Religions". Novato, CA: New World Library, 2000, pp. 109-110] [ [http://www.irfwp.org/about/about_goal.shtml About IRFWP] ] He is editor in chief of the IRFWP's academic journal "Dialogue and Alliance", which the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) selected in 2005 to add to their online "collection of major religion and theology journals". ["Dialogue and Alliance" was chosen in the top 10 of 650 reviewed religion journals in an independent study commissioned by ATLA, the basis for their decision to request "Dialogue and Alliance" as a title for its collection. Letter from ATLA Executive Director Dennis A. Norlin to "Dialogue and Alliance" Associate Editor Clair Bowles, June 4, 2004.Verify source|date=September 2008 ] [ [http://www.atla.com/news/press/press05.html ATLA Press Releases—2005] , American Theological Library Association.] [ [ftp://ftp.atla.com/public/atlas/atlas_titles0508.xls May 2008 Update] , American Theological Library Association]

In 2007, Kaufmann was nominated for Hofstra University's first Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070920/main7.htm Jew, Christian, Sikh scholars vie for Guru Nanak award] , Prabhjot Singh, The Tribune, 20 September 2007]

Peace activism

IRFWP under Kaufmann's direction convened conferences for a broad range of interfaith topics such as Jewish-Muslim dialogue, [Selengut, Charles (ed). Jewish-Muslim Encounters: History, Philosophy, and Culture. St. Paul: Paragon House, 2001, p. x.] Christianity and the wider ecumenism, [Phan, Peter. Christianity and the Wider Ecumenism. New York: Paragon House, 1990.] "the responsibility of the world's religions", [ “'Realizing the Ideal: The Responsibility of the World's Religions', held in Seoul, Korea, August 20 – 27, 1995, and sponsored by the Inter Religious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP)... Two hundred scholars and religious leaders ... were from...: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Thailand, Honduras, Italy, Colombia, Nigeria, Russia, India, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Mauritius, the United Kingdom, Israel, Senegal, Yemen, Republique du Mali, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Barbados, Canada, the USA, and Korea.” p. 9. “The conference organizing committee included Bishop Paulos Mar Gregorios (Honorary Chariman), M. Darrol Bryant (Secretary General), and Frank Kaufmann (Executive Director)." Carter, Robert and Isenberg, Sheldon. The Ideal in the World's Religions. St. Paul: Paragon House, 1997. p. 10.] African Traditional Religions in contemporary society, [Olupona, Jacob K. (ed) African Traditional Religions in Contemporary Society. St. Paul: Paragon House, 1991, p. 12.] ideals in religion, [Carter, Robert. Isenberg, Sheldon (eds). The Ideal in the World's Religions: Essays on the Person, Family, Society, and Environment. St. Paul: Paragon House, 1997, p. 10.] "Evil in the World's Religions", [Cenkner, William (ed). Evil and the Response of World Religion. St. Paul: Paragon House, 1997, p. ix.] several conferences on Buddhism, [Kalupaha, David (ed). Buddhist Thought and Ritual. New York: Inter Religious Foundation. 1991, p. 1.] and several conferences on Judaism. [Selengut, Charles (ed). Jewish Identity in the Post Modern Age. St. Paul: Paragon House. 1999, p. 8.] [Patai, Raphael. Goldsmith, Emanuel. Thinkers and Teachers of Modern Judaism. New York: Paragon House, 1994, p. xii.] [Patai, Raphael. Goldsmith, Emanuel. Events and Movements in Modern Judaism. Thinkers and Teachers of Modern Judaism. New York: Paragon House, 1995, p. ix.]

Kaufmann has had peace commentary published in the "Washington Times" (on the need for "positive Islam"), [ [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/mar/18/forum-voice-needed-for-positive-islam/ Voice needed for positive Islam] , Frank Kaufmann, Washington Times Forum, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.] in the "Middle East Times" on Israel and Palestine, [ [http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=555&lan=en&sid=0&sp=0 Time For Vigilance Not Amnesia] , Frank Kaufmann, Middle East Times, 25 February 2005] and in United Press International (on a worldwide call to prayer).. [ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7776359_ITM Outside View: Worldwide call to prayer] , Frank Kaufmann, UPI Perspectives, 7 January 2005]

Academic and advisory work

Kaufmann has taught religion at Pace University and Modern European Church History at the Unification Theological Seminary. [ [http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm vSiteName=SearchBooksResult.cfm&vID=61613&iAlpha=F&vLang=D&vHR=1&vUR=2&vUUR=8 "Foundations of Modern Church History" entry] , Peter Lang Verlagsgruppe] He also writes on scholarly religion topics. [e.g., "Christianity in the Americas: Ecumenical Essays", Frank Kaufmann and Thomas G. Walsh, 1997. "Religion and Social Transformation in Southern Africa", Thomas G. Walsh and Frank Kaufmann, St. Paul, MN: Paragon House, 1999. "Religion and Peace in the Middle East", Frank Kaufmann & Justin Watson, 1988.]

Kaufmann has served as board member for the International Coalition for Religious Freedom, a "non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization dedicated to defending the religious freedom of all, regardless of creed, gender or ethnic origin" which "receives the bulk of its funding from institutions and individuals related to the Unification Church community". [ [http://www.religiousfreedom.com/about.htm About Us] , International Coalition for Religious Freedom.]

References

External links

* [http://irfwp.org The Inter Religious Federation for World Peace]
* [http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/ "The New World Encyclopedia"]
* [http://merelight.blogspot.com Mere Light] , blog of Kaufmann's "observations, analysis, commentary"