Interfaith

Religion and its Role in Global Affairs, Part I

December 25, 2006

Source: The World/ Public Radio International

http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/6830

Religion is used to bring people together. And the narratives of many religious writings often speak of and aim to teach mankind's love for one another. But the reality is that we live in a world in which religion is and has been used as the main driving force that divides people. We discuss religion and its role in global affairs with Prof. Diana Eck.

Sikh Boy Admits his Attack was a Lie

December 24, 2006

Author: Lorna Martin

Source: The Observer

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1978539,00.html

A Sikh schoolboy, who prompted an inter-faith vigil to promote peace, respect and tolerance after claiming his hair was chopped off by racist thugs, invented the story.

The 15-year-old, in tears, gave a graphic description of a vicious verbal and physical attack by four white males who struck as he walked near his home in...

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UN Declaration on Religious Tolerance Commemorated in Prague

December 19, 2006

Source: Baha'i World News Service

http://news.bahai.org/story/496

Although it was negotiated at the height of the Cold War, a 25-year-old international agreement on freedom of religion or belief remains as relevant today -- and perhaps even more so -- said speakers at a major United Nations-sanctioned observance here in late November.

Some 350 participants representing more than 60 governments, UN agencies, and various international non-governmental organizations -- including the Baha'...

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Pakistani Minorities Protest Against Approval of "Taleban" Law

December 19, 2006

Author: Qaiser Felix

Source: Asia News

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=7827&geo=2&size=A#

Peshawar – The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) has protested about the approval of a law in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which is inspired by Islam and allegedly harks back to Taleban decrees. The law just passed in the Pakistani province bordering Afghanistan has been described as a "cause for concern for all other faiths...

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Catholic, Buddhist Youths Find Interfaith Friendship Near War Zone

December 18, 2006

Source: Catholic News Service/UCA News

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=22395

ANURADHAPURA-VIHARAHALMILLAWA, Sri Lanka – Milanka Kumari, a 15-year-old Buddhist girl, smiles as she holds hands with two Catholic friends she met during her first group interreligious encounter.

"We appreciate Catholic schoolchildren sharing their joy and kindness with us," beamed Kumari, who spoke with UCA News during a Dec. 12...

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In N.J., a Leap of Interfaith: Pastor Gives Rabbi a Kidney

December 18, 2006

Source: Philadelphia Daily News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/nation/16264787.htm

A New Jersey Reform rabbi and a Methodist pastor may celebrate different holidays this month, but they have something to rejoice together - one is giving a kidney to the other.

After almost a year of waiting to hear good news, Rabbi Andrew Bossov, of Mount Laurel, Burlington County, found out this week that doctors...

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New Virginia Program Aims to Dispel Fears of Muslim Community

December 18, 2006

Author: Kristen Gelineau

Source: WVEC.com

Wire Service: AP

http://www.wvec.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8M3F89G4.html#

The small beige signs bearing black Arabic script have been appearing all over town on buses and at colleges.

Are they secret messages from terrorists? one panicked bus rider asked. Should the FBI be contacted? What do they mean??

Actual translation: "Paper...

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In Thai Widows' Village, Loss Unites 2 Faiths

December 17, 2006

Author: Kim Barker

Source: Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0612170430dec17,1,7561863.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

ROTAN BATU, Thailand -- This gated community looks like a typical suburban subdivision, filled with identical two-story homes, potted plants and yellow plastic garbage bins. Children ride bicycles. Women ask their neighbors for a can opener...

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Non-Muslims Snap up Islamic Accounts

December 17, 2006

Author: Julian Knight

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6168800.stm

Emma Dellaway, 25, from south London, likes to know that the money sitting in her current account is not doing harm.

"I don't have much money, as I am just starting out on my career, but what I do have should not be used unethically," she says.

"I hate to think of arms going to some African country funded, however indirectly, from my account."...

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There are Limits to Freedom, Warns Khairy

December 17, 2006

Source: New Straits Time

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/National/20061217100042/Article/index_html

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should not abuse the freedom they have to openly debate and criticise issues.

Deputy Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin said he was all for the open atmosphere, where government policies and leaders could be criticised by the media and where issues could be discussed, but warned that there were...

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Muslims Talk to Jews in Metro Detroit

December 16, 2006

Author: Aatif Ali Bokhari

Source: The Arab American News

http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=7045

DETROIT -- A group of local Muslim activists here responded to a number of questions put forth by the Metro-Detroit Jewish community this past week.

"In Our Own Words ... Muslim Voices in Detroit: Messages to the Jewish Community," took place at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, Thursday night. A mostly...

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"True Muslims Must Never Deny the European Holocaust," a Commentary by Ibrahim Ramey

December 16, 2006

Author: Ibrahim Ramey

Source: The American Muslim

http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/true_muslims_must_never_deny_the_european_holocaust/0012306

History will recall the tragedy of the genocide that slaughtered some six million European Jews between the rise of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1933 and the culmination of the Second World War in Europe in May, 1945....

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Court Rules in Favor of Australian Pastors, Accused of Vilifying Islam

December 15, 2006

Source: Indian Catholic

http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=5117

Sydney - The Supreme Court of Victoria in Australia upheld the appeal of two Australian pastors who could have faced jail time for publicly comparing Christianity with Islam.

The court ruled in favor of Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah, who were previously found to have “vilified Islam” with their public comments by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

...

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