[ot-caption title=”Dr. Mark Luttio, Dr. Nelson Bass, and Dr. Eric Hanne addressed students at last week’s ICI Symposium. (via Jack Steinberg, Freshman)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/alll-3.png”]

This past Tuesday, Pine Crest School hosted a symposium in which three insightful professors, Dr. Mark Luttio, Dr. Nelson Bass, and Dr. Eric Hanne, came to the Ft. Lauderdale campus to inform Pine Crest students of the ongoing issues in the Middle East.

To begin, Dr. Luttio, an associate professor of Philosophy and Religion at Lynn University and doctorate from Notre Dame, discussed the transformation of distorted perceptions of religion into acts of terror.

Dr. Nelson Bass, an associate professor of Political Science at Nova Southeastern University, shared his insight on specific political aspects of the current conflicts. He brought up a controversial issue of whether or not America should turn its back on the monstrosities that are taking place overseas.

Dr. Eric Hanne, an associate professor of Medieval Islamic History and Culture at Florida Atlantic University, explained the current situations going on in the Middle East through an outlook on Islamic history. He discussed how religion is one of the most potent terrors and can serve as a daily cry for injustice.

Many questions asked by students regarded the role religion plays in shaping policy within the Middle East. Some questions included whether religion should even play a role in shaping policy, what is the proper role of the US in dealing with the threat of ISIS going forward, and does the US have a moral obligation to establish peace in the region?

To touch on those questions, Dr. Luttio explained how he believes that the power to change is all within us, and that as a country, we need to act up to make a difference in this world. He stated, “The American government needs to live up to the leadership role that carries with being the world’s number one superpower.” In regards to sectarianism, Dr. Luttio stated that the proper mindset is to “build bridges instead of creating barriers.”

The rise of Islamic tragedies has left our nation confused and looking for answers. How should we, as American students, think about the roles of religion, morality, and politics in regards to the mass destruction taking place overseas? What can we do to help? The goal of this symposium, was to give students the chance to grasp a better understanding of what is happening in the Middle East through the eyes of three professionals, who have spent their lives studying these issues.

On behalf of the entire Pine Crest community, we would like to express our extreme gratitude to Dr. Luttio, Dr. Hanne, and Dr. Bass, who took the time to share their vast knowledge of the Middle East with Pine Crest students and faculty

[ot-caption title=”Dr. Mark Luttio and Dr. Eric Hanne spoke with Ms. Carbonara in the ICI Library, prior to the symposium. (via Jack Steinberg, Freshman)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/all4.png”]