Rocky Mount, N.C.—  International terrorism and the threat to world peace result from the failure of many religions to respect and tolerate religious traditions that are different from their own, according to Dr. Umesh Gulati, a scholar and a former economist for the government of India.

Gulati will elaborate on his views at a free public lecture on Tuesday, September 11, at 4:30 p.m. at the Dunn Center at North Carolina Wesleyan College. His talk, entitled “Democratic Reconstruction of Religions and World Peace,” will highlight many parallels between the Hindu, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The presentation is sponsored by Wesleyan and the North Carolina Humanities Council.

Gulati taught economics, international business, and cross-cultural courses at East Carolina University from 1967 to 1999. He received his M.A. from the University of Delhi, India, and his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. Gulati has published a number of articles on religion and philosophy in India and the United States. Currently he gives presentations on cross-cultural understanding, religion, ethics, and moral values.

The talk at Wesleyan is part of the College’s participation in The September Project, a grassroots international effort to encourage public events that explore issues related to peace and freedom. As part of this world-wide project, Wesleyan also will call attention to its library holdings that relate to religious understanding, diversity, and tolerance.