Christianity

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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Nobel Winner Criticizes UK's Support of Religious Schools

October 29, 2003

Source: The Scotsman

http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/scotland.cfm?id=1192452003

On October 29, 2003 The Scotsman reported that "a Nobel prize-winner, who is credited with helping to transform education in the developing world, has criticised the Scottish Executive’s stance on denominational schools, claiming single-faith establishments damage educational attainment. Amartya Sen, an economist from India, made his comments yesterday in a keynote speech to the...

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National Council of Churches Responds to Reuters' Billboard Controversy

October 29, 2003

Source: The National Council of Churches

http://www.wfn.org/2003/10/msg00299.html

On October 29, 2003 The National Council of Churches released a statement responding to the decision by Reuters Corporation refusing to sell space to the United Methodist Church on Reuters' electronic billboard in New York's Times Square. Their decision was solely on the basis of a policy not to accept any religious advertising, regardless of content. The statement by the NCC declares that "To imply...

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Update: Reuters Reverses Decision in United Methodist Billboard Controversy

October 29, 2003

Source: National Council of Churches

http://www.ncccusa.org/news/03reutersbillboard2.html

On October 29, 2003 National Council of Churches reported that "international media giant Reuters has reversed its earlier refusal to carry United Methodist 'open hearts, open minds, open doors' advertising on its Times Square headquarters building. In an Oct. 28 letter to the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive of the denomination's communications agency, Reuters chief executive...

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U.S General Boykin's Remarks Called Offensive to Islam

October 29, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/la-na-boykin29oct29,1,1664504.story

On October 29, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "with hundreds of supportive calls coming into the Pentagon and Bush facing a reelection campaign in which he'll seek the help of Christian conservatives, it might be out of the question for the administration to fire Boykin. 'Gen. Boykin is kind of the living embodiment of a key Republican electoral constituency. So forcing...

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Muslims Worried Crucifix Controversy Will Cause Backlash

October 28, 2003

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3219551.stm

On October 28, 2003 the BBC News reported that "a radical Muslim leader has won a court battle to remove the crucifix from a state school where his children attend - a decision which has shocked political and public opinion and caused deep concern within Italy's Muslim community.

The symbol of the crucifix is not just in every Italian church, it still looks down on pupils from classroom walls in every...

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Halloween 2003: Controversies

October 27, 2003

Source: Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03300/234525.stm

On October 27, 2003 Post-Gazette reported that many children of conservative Christian, Jewish or Muslim religious traditions will opt out of Halloween parties this year because they view Halloween as a day that commemorates the devil or encourages pagan worship. "'There is a cultural war over Halloween,' said Charles Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center who has become a national expert...

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Hancock Park Residents File Suit Over Jewish "House of Worship"

October 26, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-hancock26oct26,1,3825451.story?coll=la-news-religion

On October 26, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "Orthodox Jews use of a residentially zoned house in upscale Hancock Park as a synagogue, and their plan to build another nearby, have prompted area residents to file suit... A long-running legal battle continues over Etz Chaim's right to...

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In a Dialogue of Faith, Hayward Sikhs and Christians Shared Worship Space

October 26, 2003

Source: The Daily Review

http://www.dailyreviewonline.com/Stories/0,1413,88~10975~1724744,00.html

On October 26, 2003 The Daily Review told the story of how Sikhs and Christians in Hayward have transformed dialogue into an opportunity to live, literally, side by side. Ranjit Singh Sabharwal, a founder of the Sikh Temple of Hayward, said that "the property on which the Sikh Temple stands could very easily have been bulldozed and sold to the highest...

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Growing Number of Latinos Are Converting to Islam

October 24, 2003

Source: The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/religion/stories/102503dnrelhispanicmuslims.66

On October 24, 2003 The Dallas Morning News reported that "a growing number of Hispanics are leaving Catholicism for Islam, for Protestant churches, for other faith traditions – or are dropping out of any religious practice. Exact numbers are impossible to come by, but some national Latino Muslim associations claim 'reverts,' their term for...

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Religious Icons Help Faithful to "Find the Spirit Behind the Symbol."

October 23, 2003

Source: The Plain Dealer

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1066901629123710.xml

On October 23, 2003 The Plain Dealer discussed the recent revival of religious imagery and iconography in places of worship. According to the article, "the increasing religious diversity of the nation is exposing more people to the idea of how art can enhance spiritual reflection in homes and sanctuaries. Along the walls of...

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Russian Officials Oppose Building of $10 Million Hindu Temple

October 22, 2003

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,1067931,00.html

On October 22, 2003 The Guardian [UK] reported that "Alfred Ford, a great-grandson of the motoring legend, Henry, has outraged the conservative Russian Orthodox Church with his plans to build a huge centre for Hare Krishna and Vedic religion worshippers in the centre of Moscow. The Orthodox Church, whose influence in Russia is rocketing since the fall of Communism eased...

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President Mbeki Meets With Religious Working Group

October 21, 2003

Source: AllAfrica Global Media

http://allafrica.com/stories/200310210471.html

On October 21, 2003 AllAfrica Global Media posted a BuaNews article that reported, "President Thabo Mbeki is meeting with the representatives of the Presidential Religious Working Group in Pretoria today. The Presidency said the meeting sought to promote meaningful interaction between the government and religious communities. President Mbeki has met with the religious group before and a...

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