News

BHS Celebrates Diversity With Annual Program

December 31, 2008

Author: Joanna Kaselis Tzouvelis

Source: Wicked Local Burlington

http://www.wickedlocal.com/burlington/news/education/x946494426/BHS-celebrates-diversity-with-annual-program

Faculty and students at Burlington High School celebrated a wide array of cultural and religious diversity during the school’s annual Holiday Traditions program on Dec. 23.

Pam Eaton, a special education...

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Atheists Sue to Get Prayer, God Out Of Obama's Swearing-In

December 31, 2008

Author: Nikita Stewart

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/30/AR2008123002858.html?hpid=sec=religion

A group of atheists, led by a California man known for challenging the use of the words "under God" in recitals of the Pledge of Allegiance at public schools, filed a lawsuit yesterday to bar prayer and references to God at the swearing-in of...

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Interfaith Statement From Metro Detroit Religious Leaders

December 30, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/article/20081230/NEWS05/81230066

Salaam, Shalom, Peace,

Many have joined us in our prayers for working together for peace in the days ahead. May the God of Compassion and Mercy, draw all of us together with bonds of justice and reconciliation.

We recognize that all of the events in the Middle East have local implications. And, we know that our Metropolitan...

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World’s Biggest Sikh Youth Gathering

December 30, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Star-Ledger

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/12/30/central/2890284&sec=central

The sleepy hollow of Rembau in Negri Sembilan turned into a hive of activity recently when some 1,200 Sikh youths converged at SM Teknik Dato’ Lela Maharaja to participate in the 45th International Gurmat Parchaar samelan or annual Sikh youth camp.

The samelan, held over a week...

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Lawsuit On Religion In Military Expanded

December 29, 2008

Author: John Hanna

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.kansascity.com/682/story/956364.html

A newly expanded federal lawsuit alleged Monday that the military doesn't take complaints of religious discrimination seriously enough and allows personnel to try to convert Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan to Christianity.

The Military Religions Freedom Foundation and a Fort Riley, Kan., soldier suing Defense Secretary Robert Gates now allege that a...

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Interfaith Cooperation And New Beginnings Marked California's Religion News In 2008

December 29, 2008

Author: Steve Padilla

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-beliefs29-2008dec29,0,3094121.story

When religion made news in California this year -- and it did frequently -- much of that news involved conflict.

Religious leaders of various faiths squared off on Proposition 8, the successful statewide initiative to ban gay marriage. Rifts also continued in the Episcopal...

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A Book-Dealer Arrested In Arak Accused Of Being Baha’i

December 29, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Iranian Press Watch

http://www.iranpresswatch.org/2008/12/a-book-dealer-arrested-in-arak-accused-of-being-bahai/

The following news report was posted in Persian on Peyke Iran and Pezchvake Iran online sites:

According to reports received at our office, a cultural activist in Arak by the name of Kamran Jamshidi, the manager of Shahr-Ketab bookstore in that town, was...

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For First Time, Iraq Recognizes Christmas As Holiday

December 26, 2008

Author: Jim Heintz

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.ohio.com/news/world/36738279.html

Iraq's Christians, a scant minority in this overwhelmingly Muslim country, quietly celebrated Christmas on Thursday with a present from the government, which declared it an official holiday for the first time.

But security worries overshadowed the day for many, particularly in the north where thousands of Christians have fled to escape religious attacks....

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