Instructor Named to UNESCO Committee on Religion

An instructor at Cal State Fullerton has been named to a new international advisory committee dedicated to fostering a better understanding among the world’s religious groups.

Honored is Anada Guruge, a part-time faculty member in Cal State’s comparative religion department, who once served as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United States and as an advisor to the director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

UNESCO has named Guruge to the 20-member International Interreligious Advisory Committee, which will meet for the first time on Feb. 6 in Chandigarh, India.

Ben Hubbard, a comparative religion professor at Cal State Fullerton, praised Guruge’s appointment and expressed pleasure that UNESCO has created a group of religious advisors who may be able to help resolve conflicts.

Although causes for wars usually involve religious, economic, social, political and ethnic issues, “nonetheless religion can unravel the knot and it can be the key” to keeping peace alive, Hubbard said.