News

Tens of Thousands Expected at Yuba City's Sikh Parade

October 31, 2003

Source: Sikh Temple Yuba City

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031031/sff004_1.html

On October 31, 2003 Sikh Temple Yuba City reported that "Sikhs from across America have started arriving in Yuba City for the traditional weekend of religious devotion and celebration. By the time the weekend ends on Sunday with the 24th annual parade, an estimated 50,000 Sikhs will have spent an estimated $5 million with local businesses... More than 100,000 free meals will be prepared and...

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In Wake of Deadly Fires, California Muslims Pray for Rain

October 31, 2003

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

On October 31, 2003 Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that their Southern California office had "called on mosques and Islamic centers across the state to offer prayers for rain following the normal Islamic congregational gatherings on Friday. The Islamic civil rights and advocacy group is also calling on people of all faiths to offer prayers for rain according to their own religious traditions. CAIR-LA initiated the prayer request to provide a spiritual dimension in the efforts to bring California'...

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Iftaar at the White House

October 31, 2003

Source: The Washington Times

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031028-103856-4806r.htm

On October 31, 2003 The Washington Times reported that a group of American Islamic leaders were upset over the fact that several Islamic organizations were not invited to Iftaar at the White House this year. The Muslim Students Association, American Muslims for Jerusalem, the Islamic Society of North America, Project Islamic Hope, the Coordinating Council of Muslim...

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Jewish Scholars Want Religion Question on U.S. Census

October 31, 2003

Source: Forward

http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.31/news12.njps.html

On October 31, 2003 Forward reported that "Jewish researchers frustrated with the trouble-plagued National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01 are calling for a question on religion to be added to the decennial United States Census. Bucking the Jewish community's historic opposition to government inquiries on religion, three leading scholars now say it may be the only way to count Jews...

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Halloween 2003: Celebrations and Spirituality

October 31, 2003

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44375-2003Oct30.html

On October 31, 2003 The Washington Post reported on a new book on Wiccans that applies social science techniques and unearths certain demographic patterns. "Typically, Wiccans are white, college-educated and middle class, according to 'Voices from the Pagan Census: A National Survey of Witches and Neo-Pagans in the United States,' which polled 2,000 believers...

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Halloween 2003: Celebrations and Spirituality

October 31, 2003

Source: Heartland News

http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=1503111&nav=8H3xIp1q

On October 31, 2003 the Heartland News reported that "Halloween is just around the corner, but for some people it's not just a time to dress up or go trick or treating; it's time to focus on a much more spiritual event. Wiccans are people who have earth based pagan beliefs, and part of a religion that's not only one of the fastest growing religions across the country, but also...

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Soka Gakkai International Attracts Diverse Faithful to Buddhism

October 31, 2003

Source: Tricycle

http://www.tricycle.com/p_articles_id_123.html

On October 31, 2003 Tricycle described " Soka Gakkai International (SGI for short), the largest, most racially and ethnically diverse Buddhist organization in America and, with twelve million members in 186 countries worldwide and a full-time representative to the United Nations, the first global Buddhist presence in history... "Chanting for a better car, a new job, even a mate, has long been the hallmark of SGI...

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Halloween 2003: Celebrations and Spirituality

October 31, 2003

Source: Forward

http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.31/living1.html

On October 31, 2003 Forward published an article on Jewish "witches," or individuals who "have a strong sense of Jewish identity but also practice magic, cast spells and tend to identify with 'goddess-directed' worship. Their beliefs run the gamut from strict monotheists to those who worship a pantheon of goddesses... their numbers could be in the hundreds. In September, Jewitchery.com site...

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Ten Commandments Will be Displayed in Wyoming Plaza

October 31, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.fac.org/rel_liberty/publiclife/news.aspx?id=12139

On October 31, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "the City Council decided yesterday to move a controversial Ten Commandments monument out of a park and into a plaza that will honor a variety of historic documents. The 5-4 vote followed a unanimous rejection of an offer by the Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan.,to place his own monument...

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