Christianity

Legislation Could Give Religion Majors Funding

January 4, 2004

Source: Associated Press

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1073220840326232.xml

On January 4, 2004 the Associated Press reported that according to Michigan law, students majoring in theology, divinity or religious education are ineligible for Michigan's Competitive Scholarship program. Yet a proposed state legislation and a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision could mark a change of policy. "A package of...

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Chinese Orthodox Church Struggles for State Recognition

January 3, 2004

Source: The Washington Times

http://www.washtimes.com/world/20040102-112750-1747r.htm

On January 3, 2004 The Washington Times ran a London Daily Telegraph story that reported, "The Southern Cathedral in Beijing was suffused with the smell of incense as 50 members of the Chinese Orthodox Church attended a funeral Mass for Father Alexander Du Lifu, 80. But his burial is not necessarily the end of a dying tradition. The Orthodox community now has would-be...

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German President: All Religious Symbols Should Be on Equal Footing

January 3, 2004

Source: The Straits Times

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,228145,00.html

On January 3, 2004 The Straits Times ran an Agence France Presse article that reported, "If a Muslim headscarf is an expression of faith, so is a monk's habit or a crucifix and they should be on equal footing, said German President Johannes Rau, prompting fury from Roman Catholic politicians and clerics. Mr. Rau has appealed for all religions to be treated...

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Opinion: Wearing Veil is Liberating, Not Opressive

January 3, 2004

Source: The Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/31/wscarf131.xml

On January 3, 2004 The Telegraph ran an opinion piece by Stella White, a Catholic woman from Kent who wears the hijab, or veil. She writes, "To liberated Westerners, the hijab, or veil, is a stain on womankind. It symbolises the crushing of the female spirit and is the mark of slavery, transforming a woman into a passive lump who is only allowed...

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Rhode Island Courthouse Sees Religion... Again

January 2, 2004

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0104/02barrow.html

On January 2, 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, "Another religious display has been set up in the Barrow County Courthouse. The latest display includes alternate versions of the Ten Commandments, Hindu stories, Buddhist teachings, excerpts from the Quran and writings defining agnosticism. It has been placed across a breezeway from a Ten Commandments...

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Mennonites Find a Home in Texas

January 2, 2004

Source: The Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/religion/2332613

On January 2, 2004 The Houston Chronicle published an article on the Mennonites who live in rural Grandview, TX. The Grandview Mennonite community was formed as "the daughter church" of one in Lott, Texas and includes members who moved from Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Missouri. Of Grandview's 1,450 residents, about 180 are Mennonites, many of whom have opened bakeries, furniture...

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Proposed Law Would Limit Religious Conversions

January 1, 2004

Source: ZENIT News Agency

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=46903

On January 1, 2004 ZENIT News Agency reported, "Sri Lanka hopes to introduce a law that will limit conversions from one religion to another, the country's Minister of Religious Affairs announced. The Colombo government will promote a legislative disposition directed to those who use a variety of 'incentives' to convince others to change their religion. 'More than 7,000 Hindus, from the...

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Muslim and Christian Dialogue in the Midwest

December 31, 2003

Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

http://www.nccbuscc.org/comm/archives/2003/03-250.htm

On December 31, 2003 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reported, "The Mid-Atlantic Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims, sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America, Plainfield, Indiana, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Washington, DC, has finished a sixty-five page study resulting from discussion over an eight-year...

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Locals Mix Traditions in Hawaii

December 30, 2003

Source: The Honolulu Advertiser

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Dec/25/ln/ln01a.html

On December 30, 2003 The Honolulu Advertiser reported that "many families in Hawai'i are mixing traditions this Christmas Day. Interfaith marriage is rising across the United States, and Americans nationwide are celebrating increasingly diverse holidays. Although exact data is hard to come by because the U.S. Census is forbidden to ask questions about...

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Fans Rally as Football Player Fined for Wearing a Cross

December 29, 2003

Source: Beliefnet

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/137/story_13787_1.html

On December 29, 2003 Beliefnet reported on a controversial call by the National Football League, which fined Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna $5,000 for a cap emblazoned with a cross symbolizing his devotion to Jesus. "The NFL told the Bengals Kitna was in violation of a rule requiring all merchandise worn by players or other team personnel to be approved and licensed by the football...

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Americans Increasingly Mix and Match Religions

December 27, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-beliefs27dec27,1,4445205.story?coll=la-news-religion

On December 27, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported, "A recent Barna poll found that significant numbers of Americans embrace beliefs that are 'logically contradictory,' blending different faith views to create unorthodox religious viewpoints. 'Mix and match spirituality, I call it,' said...

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Muslims Have Mixed Views and Practices Regarding Christmas

December 27, 2003

Source: The Daily Star

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/features/24_12_03_a.asp

On December 27, 2003 The Daily Star ran a story on Muslims in Lebanon viewed and embraced or rejected Christmas traditions: "Wandering about the overwhelmingly Muslim southern suburbs of Beirut during the lead-up to Christmas, Ramadan decorations were still up in the streets and in shop windows. However, in the shop window of the Karout Grand Supermarket in the suburb of Haret Hreik, there was a...

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Interfaith Council Calls for Middle East Peace

December 26, 2003

Source: The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/religion/opinion/stories/122703dnrelguestcolumn.13f09.html

On December 26, 2003 The Dallas Morning News published an editorial by Marzuq Abdul Jaami on the American Clergy Leadership Conference and the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace, organizations that are working to establish an interfaith council at the United Nations and focus religious efforts...

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Archbishop of Canterbury Urges Religions to "Stand Together" Against Secular Society

December 26, 2003

Source: The Scotsman

http://www.news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1410182003

On December 26, 2003 The Scotsman reported, "An ecumenical message from the Archbishop of Canterbury has urged Christians, Jews and Muslims to stand together against an increasingly secular society. Dr. Rowan Williams, speaking at Canterbury Cathedral, told of fears over religion, noting what he described as 'sniggering' in the media over the Prime Minister, Tony Blair’s, faith. He said: 'It isn...

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