Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0226/p12s01-lehl.html

On February 26, 2002, The Christian Science Monitor reported that "the ivory tower has gone from keeping a rigid distance between religion and social-science scholarship to a still-modest, but growing, embrace of it, says Dr. Luis Lugo, director of the religion program at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia... For most of the 20th century, scholarship and religion were at...

Source: Newsday

On February 24, 2002, Newsday featured the editorial "Pat Robertson Is at It Again." It noted that "on Thursday night, Robertson showed a sharply slanted segment on Muslim immigrants in America, portraying many of them as apologists for terrorism." The article quoted the following dialogue: "co-host Lee Webb had a question for Robertson: 'As for the Muslim immigrants, Pat, it makes you wonder, if they have such contempt for our foreign policy why they'd even want to live here?' ... 'Well,' Robertson allowed, 'as missionaries possibly to...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On February 23, 2002, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "about 2,500 Milwaukee-area Muslims gathered Friday to celebrate one of Islam's holiest days and to learn from a prophet who is a central figure in the world's three great monotheistic religions -- the prophet Abraham... The spelling of his name varies from one religious tradition to another. So do details of his life. What remains rock solid in Islam, Judaism and Christianity is his greatness... And in Islam, that was illustrated by the event...

Source: The Seattle Times

On February 23, 2002, The Seattle Times reported that "religious broadcaster Pat Robertson drew criticism yesterday from Arab Americans and others for describing Islam as a violent religion that wants to 'dominate and then, if need be, destroy'... Robertson made the comment Thursday on his '700 Club' television program... 'The rhetoric is exactly the same as traditional anti-Semitism. All you can do is change the word 'Jew' to 'Arab' or 'Muslim,' ' said Hussein Ibish, spokesman for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On February 23, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that "on one of Islam's most important holidays, a day dedicated to the remembrance of Abraham, Los Angeles Muslims and Jews met Friday and reminded themselves of their common patriarch... With 45 members in tow, Rabbi Harold Schulweis of Valley Beth Shalom journeyed... to meet with the Muslims of King Fahd Mosque... For many from Schulweis' Conservative congregation, it was their first visit to a mosque prayer service--yet, they said, it somehow seemed familiar... And...

Source: Star Tribune

On February 23, 2002, The Star Tribune reported that "the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the main religion in Utah, but other faiths - among them Judaism, Buddhism and even Hare Krishnas [ISKCON] - have found a place in the mountains... the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple... This Hindu temple, with 350 families actively worshipping, is flourishing... In the shadow of the Delta Center, home to Olympic figure skating, sits the Buddhist Temple of Salt Lake City, one of 16 Buddhist centers in the state... It's a...

Source: The Denver Post

On February 22, 2002, The Denver Post featured a report that "stung by criticism of limits on worship space at Stapleton, the Interfaith Council at Stapleton will draw up a list of restrictions so religious leaders can at least know the ground rules from the beginning... Letters will be sent soon to hundreds of religious organizations that may want to build worship centers, said Landri Taylor, a spokesman for Forest City Inc., which is developing the former Stapleton airport... The amount of land churches, synagogues, mosques...

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49436-2002Feb21.html

On February 22, 2002, The Washington Post featured the story "Robertson Calls Islam a Religion of Violence, Mayhem." It reported that "Television evangelist Pat Robertson yesterday described Islam as a violent religion bent on world domination, drawing immediate protests from American Muslims." The article quoted Robertson: "'ladies and gentlemen, I have taken...

Source: The Interfaith Alliance

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/Newsroom/press/2002/020222.htm

On February 22, 2002, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance issued a press release "Robertson’s Characterization of Islam: A Disgrace to Religion, Harmful to Healing Nation." It read, in part: "Islam, Christianity and Judaism all adhere to teachings that espouse the common values of peace, compassion and human dignity. Islam, as all other religions...

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0220/p01s02-ussc.html

On February 20, 2002, The Christian Science Monitor reported that "by focusing on the concept of government neutrality toward religious groups rather than mandating a hands-off relationship between church and state, the [Supreme] Court has blurred the line barring tax revenues from flowing to faith-based schools... Today, the nation's highest court takes up a case involving a...

Source: The Washington Post

On February 20, 2002, The Washington Post reported that "contrasting 'the way of God and the way of the terrorists,' [Attorney General] Ashcroft's speech to a group of Christian broadcasters in Nashville included some of the most explicitly religious remarks from the attorney general since he was confirmed amid controversy over his views more than a year ago... 'Civilized people -- Muslims, Christians and Jews -- all understand that the source of freedom and human dignity is the Creator,' Ashcroft said in prepared...

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On February 17, 2002, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "Sheila Musaji and a group of parents in the Pattonville School District planned an evening to promote understanding of the Islamic faith. And they expected to find a sympathetic audience in the Pattonville PTA... But the evening took a hostile turn when some people who don't routinely attend PTA sessions showed up. One called Islam a violent religion and suggested Musaji was lying about her faith... Musaji is a longtime parent and volunteer in the district....

Source: The Syracuse Post-Standard

http://www.syracuse.com/news/syrnewspapers/index.ssf?/newsstories/20020217_rotrip.html

On February 17, 2002, The Syracuse Post-Standard featured the article "7,500 Miles to Redemption: Local man to represent community at Sikh event in India." It reported on the journey of Mark Lichtenstein, president of a local school board, to India: "For the 40-year-old Oswego County resident, the next 11 days will...

Source: The Seattle Times

On February 16, 2002, The Seattle Times reported that Joy Carey, a founder of Mystical Chant, expected about 400 people to attend the first daylong interfaith chanting event in 1999. However, "about 800 people came to St. Mark's Cathedral to watch and participate in Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist chants. "We were absolutely amazed at the number of people who showed up," said Carey, a counseling psychologist and Sufic Muslim. "I never expected this to be an annual event." Indeed, next Saturday marks the third...

Source: The Detroit Free-Press

http://www.freep.com/news/metro/darab15_20020215.htm

On February 15, 2002, The Detroit Free-Press reported "Ford donates $2 million to Arab-American center." It noted, "In one of the largest contributions ever to an Arab-American group, Ford Motor Co. announced Thursday that it will give $2 million to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) for projects that include a new museum and cultural center. ... The...