Christianity

Plans to Attack Florida Islamic Centers Uncovered

August 24, 2002

Source: St. Petersburg Times

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/08/24/TampaBay/Podiatrist_s_arsenal_.shtml

On August 24, 2002 the St. Petersburg Times reported on the arrest of Robert Jay Goldstein, a 37-year-old podiatrist from Seminole, Florida who was "charged with possessing illegal bombs and attempting to damage Islamic centers... [He] had compiled a list of 50 Islamic centers and mosques in the Tampa Bay area and Florida, federal authorities said...

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Albuquerque Learns More about its Immigrant Communities

August 24, 2002

Source: Albuquerque Tribune

On August 24, 2002 the Albuquerque Tribune reported that "three local organizations have teamed up to survey how people born abroad hold on to their culture... language, art and religion [in Albuquerque, New Mexico]... the survey... is aimed at identifying and documenting about 45 ethnic groups with populations of 750 or more... Funding slightly more than $60,000 comes from the city's Urban Enhancement Trust Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, New Mexico Arts and the Arts Alliance...   Interviews are designed to find...

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Controversy over Required Reading on Islam at University of North Carolina

August 20, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On August 20, 2002, The New York Times reported that the Univerisity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's "3,500 freshmen gathered today to discuss their summer reading assignment, which this year was a book about the Koran... The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in Richmond, Va., upholding a district court finding from last week, ruled against... a conservative Christian group that had sued to stop them... In the courtroom, lawyers for the university had spent the weekend arguing that the discussions were...

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New Jersey Mosque's Outreach Praised as Model for Muslim Communities

August 19, 2002

Source: The Associated Press

On August 19, 2002 The Associated Press reported that after September 11, "mosques around the country recoiled in fear of a backlash from angry Americans... But in Paterson, the northern New Jersey city... the community's leading mosque responded with openness... Leaders of the mosque welcomed outsiders into their center, held a blood drive and collected $15,000 for the Red Cross victims' fund, and offered classes explaining Islam to those of other faiths. They had Christian neighbors in for brunch, and still offer free...

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Pagan Pride Across the U.S., 2002

August 17, 2002

Source: LJworld

On August 17, 2002 LJworld reported that "KC Pagan Pride Day 2002, a community festival celebrating its fifth year, will [take place on] Aug. 24 in Lenexa's Shawnee Mission Park, and event organizers expect about 250 people from the region to attend... 'The people that come (to the festival) have always been friendly, and I believe Christians would be made to feel welcome. It's about educating people. Yes, it has a very pagan slant, but the main focus is community,' said the Rev. Duane Marshall, event coordinator. Marshall is a legal...

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New Weekly Interfaith Radio Show to Air in Nebraska

August 17, 2002

Source: Omaha World-Herald

On August 17, 2002 the Omaha World-Herald reported that in Nebraska, "'Faith to Faith,' a new interfaith radio show, will debut Sept. 8...     The weekly show will discuss religious issues from several different faith perspectives, including Jewish, Christian and Muslim.  Guest panelists will address such topics as faith and ethics, creationism, forgiveness and the afterlife... During the first half of the hourlong show, local and national panelists of different religious persuasions will discuss a topic among themselves...

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Controversy over Required Reading on Islam at University of North Carolina

August 16, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On August 16, 2002, The New York Times reported that "incoming freshmen at the University of North Carolina will participate in discussion groups on Islam's holy text after a judge ruled that having them read about the Quran did not threaten religious freedoms... U.S. District Court judge Carlton Tilley Jr. refused Thursday to grant a temporary restraining order requested by two taxpayers, one of them an official of the conservative Virginia-based Family Policy Network, and three unidentified freshmen."

Interfaith Group Focuses on Faith in the Workplace

August 16, 2002

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On August 16, 2002 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "for millennia, religions have addressed workplace ethics and business conduct. In recent months, however, such issues have been given heightened attention because of corporate scandals, widespread layoffs and the vast influence of corporations... Lama Kathy Wesley of the Karma Thegsum Choling Buddhist Meditation Center on the West Side, said people in her temple often come to her with questions about work relationships and duties. They sometimes express anxiety about...

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Rev. Franklin Graham Continues Pattern of Publicly Defaming Islam

August 15, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On August 15, 2002, The New York Times reported that "nine months after calling Islam 'a very evil and wicked religion,' the evangelist Franklin Graham said yesterday that Muslims had not sufficiently apologized for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and that they should help compensate victims' families... Last week, Mr. Graham said that terrorism is part of 'mainstream' Islam and that the Koran 'preaches violence'... Muslim groups dismissed Mr. Graham's statements... The Council on American-Islamic Relations has tracked and...

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The Catholic Church Rethinks Relationship with Jewish Communities

August 13, 2002

Source: The Boston Globe

On August 13, 2002 The Boston Globe reported that "the Catholic Church, which spent hundreds of years trying forcibly to convert Jews to Christianity, has come to the conclusion that it is theologically unacceptable to target Jews for evangelization, according to a statement issued yesterday by organizations representing US Catholic bishops and rabbis from the country's two largest Jewish denominations...  The declaration, which was negotiated by the bishops and an organization representing Conservative and Reform rabbis,...

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Washington Mosque Invites Neighbors for Celebration of Thanks

August 13, 2002

Source: The Seattle Times

On August 13, 2002, The Seattle Times featured an editorial on the activities of a Seattle Mosque. "The Idriss mosque in the Northgate area reached out to its neighbors and the community at large after Sept. 11, even after enduring attempts to vandalize and burn down the mosque. Mosque leaders and members helped to explain Islam to people suddenly fearful of it... And the community, including members of many faiths, reached back, some even watching the mosque 'round-the-clock to prevent any further attacks...    On Sunday,...

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Washington Mosque Invites Neighbors for Celebration of Thanks

August 12, 2002

Source: The Seattle Times

On August 12, 2002 The Seattle Times reported in the Northgate area of Seattle, Washington, the "Idriss Mosque received an outpouring of support after it was vandalized shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. Now, some neighbors have become friends...    Yesterday, the mosque held a barbecue to say thanks to those who supported it after the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, when Muslims - and the mosque itself - became targets of violence... Dozens of neighbors and mosque worshipers mingled in the breezy shade behind...

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American Muslims Plan 'National Day of Unity and Peace' for September 11

August 9, 2002

Source: CAIR

On August 9, 2002, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported on their release of a web site "designed to allow local mosques, churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions to register their participation in a September 11th national 'Day of Unity and Prayer' commemorating the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon."
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/dayofunity/

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Increases in Law Suits over Posting Ten Commandments in Public Places

August 8, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On August 8, 2002 the Los Angeles Times reported that "two years ago, about a dozen legal cases were working their way through the courts regarding the posting of the Ten Commandments on public property - schools and parks, even city halls. Now the number has risen to about 20, legal experts say... 'It may be that both sides are getting more aggressive about litigation,' said Douglas Laycock, a law professor at the University of Texas in Austin. 'You're not going to get a national consensus on this.'"

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