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    Interfaith Worker Justice National Conference (2014)

    The Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) National Conference, this year themed “Coming Together: Building a Just Economy,” took place from June 22- June 24, 2014 in Chicago Illinois. The conference was held at DePaul University’s Student Center. Over 500 people attended the conference, including members of interfaith groups and worker centers, students, pastors, congregation leaders, and worker justice activists. Multiple faith traditions were represented, including Christians from a variety of denominations, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists. Resources and translators were available in both...

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    Death in Boston: Dying, Mourning, and Religious Difference (2014)

    This report explores the history and modern practices surrounding death and mourning in Boston's religious communities.

    Scholars and critics often point to an American tradition of death and mourning that dominates our culture’s funeral rites. It is at once derided and celebrated: for some, it represents a brutal scheme of extortion and abuse; for others a tasteful way to dispose of the dead.[1] For all, this tradition is a uniquely American event, one with no precedent in either American or Christian religious history.

    ...

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    4th Dr. Jasbir Singh Saini Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies Conference (2015)

    On May 8th-10th, 2015, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) hosted the 4th Dr. Jasbir Singh Saini Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies Conference. This year’s theme was “Living and Making Sikhi in the Diaspora: The Millennial Generation Comes of Age.” As the largest Sikh studies conference in North America, the three-day event brought together Sikh studies scholars, young Sikh activists living in the diaspora, as well as students and community members to “explore the ways in which millennial Sikhs of the diaspora are making and living Sikhi in various settings...

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    Information on Global Religious Distribution (2005)

    United States Department of State

     

    Country Background Notes

    Quick statistics on the religious distribution, population, and ethnic breakdown in every country in the world is available on the website for the U.S. State Department. These breakdowns are available on a regional basis as well as an alphabetical country by country basis under the Background Notes section of the website, available at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/ An example of the Background Notes for Indonesia is contained in Appendix 1. (http://www.... Read more about Information on Global Religious Distribution (2005)

    Interfaith Initiatives and Resources in Theological Education (2012)

    Today, a growing number of graduate theological institutions are seeking to prepare students to effectively lead in an increasingly multi-religious world. Below you will find examples of several intensive models offered at schools across the nation. This list is intended to be illustrative rather than comprehensive and we welcome suggestions for additional opportunities to be included here. Selected readings and information about degree programs specializing in interfaith studies are also highlighted.

    It is also worth noting the emergence of institutions such Zaytuna College,...

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    Muslims and Lutherans in the Twin Cities Conference (2002)

    Dr. Mark Swanson, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Islamic Studies Program at Luther Seminary, was a member of the planning committee for a conference held in St. Paul in May 2002, entitled "Muslims and Lutherans in the Twin Cities." He explained that the impetus for the conference came from the Lutheran communities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. They had noticed the presence of many Muslims in their neighborhoods, and realized that they ought to know more about their neighbors.

    The topic was broached by grassroots participants at the annual meetings of...

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    Twin Cities' Responses to September 11 Attacks (2002)

    On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack in New York resulted in the deaths of thousands. The innocent Americans killed in this attack were of various faiths, and the broader victims include everyone who considers America home, regardless of ethnicity or religious tradition. That awful day propelled the discussion of religion into the American public square. From new heights of fear of unfamiliar practices to a new awareness of the variety of religious communities in the United States, people all over the country who had no previous knowledge of the religious diversity in...

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    Soka Gakkai in America (2001)

    Soka Gakkai is the largest "new religion" in Japan with eight million official members in 1992. It has branches throughout the world, and it is the clearly the biggest Buddhist organization in the United States.

    Currently, estimates very widely as to the American membership, but the truth is probably somewhere between the 300,000 of Soka Gakkai's official 1997 census and Philip Hammond's conservative estimate of approximately 36,000. Soka Gakkai represents the largest and most ethnically diverse group of Buddhists in...

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    Apna Ghar: Domestic Violence and Reaching Out to Chicago's Faith Communities (2001)

    Apna Ghar is a Hindi term that means "Our Home," and is the name of a non-profit organization and shelter located in Chicago for victims of domestic violence that are specifically of South Asian descent. Like many organizations, Apna Ghar began as an idea in the minds of a small group of people. In this case, that group was composed of five women—three from Chicago's Asian Human Services Organization—Prem Sharma, Kanta Khipple, and Lee Maglaya - along with friends Ranjana Bhargava and Mohini Pai. All were activists, professionals, and leaders in their communities, who throughout the mid-...

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    Mapping Muslim Communities in Mississippi (2006)

    The history of Islam in Mississippi began, as it did throughout the Southern United States, during the slave trade. Despite the paucity of evidence concerning the belief and practice of slaves brought from West Africa, we have detailed knowledge of certain individual Muslim slaves. One prominent example is the fascinating life of Abd Rahman Ibrahima, a Muslim prince from 18th century Mali who was captured into the slave trade, settled in Natchez, Mississippi and eventually won his freedom through the intercession of Henry Clay. As cases like his are few and far...

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    The History of Islamic Communities in Rhode Island (2006)

    By the 1990s, Muslims had established more than six hundred masjids (mosques) and centers across America.[1] The approximately six thousand Muslims in Rhode Island are a dynamic and vibrant subset of this larger Muslim-American community.

    Muslims began meeting in the 1960s and 70s in the student's union building at the University of Rhode Island and surrounding smaller communities to pray and develop a community for worship and socialization.[2] This small group of Muslims would often...

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    Interreligious Activity in San Diego Since September 11 (2002)

    Following the events of September 11, the atmosphere in San Diego was particularly tense. Three of the hijackers involved in the attacks were from the San Diego area, and San Diego has a strong military presence that includes the North Island Naval Air Station, Fort Rosencranz Military Reservation, Imperial Beach Naval Air Station, U.S. Naval Communication Center, and US Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Immediately following the events, Rev. Freeman, a minister in Chula Vista, organized an interfaith prayer service for that weekend. The next week during a regularly scheduled...

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    Religion Communicators Council Convention: Faith-based Communications: Bridges, Avenues, and Intersections (2016)

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    On Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2, 2016 over 100 Religion Communicators Council (RCC) members met throughout New York City for a three-day conversation about the challenges, innovations, shortcomings and successes of faith-based communication. The shifting location of the annual RCC convention each day brought attendees to the Interfaith Center, the Church of Latter-Day Saints Center, the Church Center for the United Nations and finally the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. Further, over a third of convention attendees were...

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