Mangalore : The fourth international conference on ‘Rethinking  Religion in India : Religion, Secularism and Law’ held at SDM Law College in Mangalore on November 24, Saturday, was inaugurated by  Fr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore. The conference is being held under the joint auspices of  SDM Law College, Mangalore, SDM Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Research in Law, Mangalore, Research Centre Vergelijkende Cultuurwetenschap, Ghent University, Belgium, Centre for the Study of Local Cultures and PGD of Law, Kuvempu University, Department of Study of Religions, University of Parbudice, Czech Republic, and the India Platform UGent, Ghent University, Belgium.

Speaking on the occasion, the Bishop said religion played an equally important role in the modern day world as in the past.

Prof. SN Balagangadhara, Director, India Platform, Ghent University, Belgium, who was the chief guest, said  religious theology has been the base of human rights values since long. He also emphasized the need to rethink religion.

Charly Poppe, First Secretary, Embassy of Belgium, and SL Bhoje Gowda, Member, Bar Council of India, Bangalore, Prof. S Prabhakar, Vice President, SDME Society, Ujire, and Dr. B K Ravindra, Principal, SDM Law College, Mangalore were among others present on the occasion.

The conference will conclude on November 27.