Source: Messenger-Inquirer

http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/columnists/owen/3382699.htm

On July 28, 2001, the Messenger-Inquirer reported on the growing religious diversity in the Bible Belt. "About 200 Jains and about as many Sikhs live in west-central Kentucky and Tennessee now... Bowling Green has 2,000 actively practicing Muslims, mostly Bosnian immigrants... Nashville has about 24,000 Hispanics, compared to 2,700 a decade ago." Thomas Russell and...

Source: The Arizona Republic

On July 28, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported on Torkom Saraydarian. "Through his philosophy, which he called Ageless Wisdom, he drew from the teachings of the world's religions to help others fulfill their destinies. He died at age 80 in 1997...Today in Cave Creek, his daughter, Gita Saraydarian, carries on her father's legacy by publishing his books and teaching classes...'It's a blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Sufi,'" she said.

Source: The Boston Globe

On July 28, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that Harvard Divinity School "is poised to hire its first chair of Buddhist studies. The school has chosen Janet B. Gyatso, a professor of religion at Amherst College. " The Globe published an interview with Gyatso, who is currently researching issues relating to sex and gender in Buddhism.

Source: The New York Times

On July 25, 2001, The New York Times printed a front-page article about Soka University of America, "the first new private liberal arts college to be built in California in 25 years...Some [enrolled] students turned down admission to the likes of Bryn Mawr and Brown to be pioneers in a Buddhist-inspired experiment where everyone from the president to a janitor has the same-size office." The principal architect has designed projects for Stanford. Phillip Hammond, a professor of religious studies at UC Santa Barbara and author of...