Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Harvard Gazette

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/09/a-backdrop-on-islam-in-america/

American leaders who criticize the proposed Islamic community center in lower Manhattan are not only shamelessly exploiting American fears about Islam for political gain, but are fruitlessly flailing against a new demographic reality, said Ali Asani, professor of Indo-Muslim and Islamic religion...

Author: Banan F. Malkawi

Source: Ammon News

http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=9651

A discussion of Islam and Muslims in America and America’s relation with the Muslim world may be best understood and explained when viewed from within the context of the history, development, and status of religious pluralism and diversity in the United States. 

In a conversation via video-conferencing on Tuesday held at Princess...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The United States Justice Department

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/September/10-crt-1058.html

The Justice Department today issued a report marking the 10th anniversary of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), showing that the law has had a positive impact on protecting the religious freedom of a wide range of faith groups, and had a particularly significant impact protecting...

Author: Tony Gonzalez

Source: The News Virginian

http://www2.newsvirginian.com/news/2010/sep/21/dreadlocked-employee-claims-workplace-discriminati-ar-517768/

A Waynesboro-area man charges in a federal lawsuit that moving and storage company officials who chose not to hire him discriminated against him because of his Rastafarian religious practice of declining to cut his hair.

 ...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The American Civil Liberties Union

http://www.aclu-nj.org/news/aclunjchallengesrecitation.htm

Acting on behalf of a borough resident, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced today that it has filed suit against Point Pleasant Beach to challenge the borough's longstanding practice of reciting the Lord's Prayer at its municipal council meetings. The ACLU-NJ has also asked the court to issue an...

Author: Lawrence Wright

Source: The New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2010/09/20/100920taco_talk_wright

When a dozen cartoons satirizing the Prophet Mohammed appeared in the conservative Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, in September, 2005, there was only a muted outcry from the small Danish Muslim community, and little reaction in the rest of the Muslim world. Six months later, however, riots broke out and Danish...

Author: Anne Barnard

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/nyregion/21mosque.html?_r=1

The proposed Islamic community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan got its strongest vote of confidence yet from major Muslim leaders on Monday, after months of behind-the-scenes grumbling that they were not properly consulted on the project, and a day’s worth of intense and painful conversations at a hotel near Kennedy...

Author: Meg Luther Lindholm

Source: National Public Radio

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129886566

While most Muslims in Fargo, N.D., say they feel accepted within the wider community, many are watching protests over the proposed Islamic cultural center near New York City's Ground Zero closely, particularly as they plan to expand their own mosque.

Fargo's Muslim...

Author: Diana Eck

Source: The Harvard Crimson

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/9/17/interfaith-muslim-rauf-cordoba/

Since Sept. 11, the interfaith movement has grown exponentially in American cities, towns, and college campuses, including Harvard. Among these interfaith initiatives, is the Cordoba Initiative of Feisal Abdul Rauf. So how is it that one of America's leading Muslim advocates of closer interfaith...

Author: Erica Noonan and Katrina Ballard

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/wellesley/articles/2010/09/17/school_visit_to_mosque_decried/?p1=News_links

Wellesley’s school superintendent apologized yesterday for allowing middle school pupils to participate in a prayer service during a field trip to a Roxbury mosque last spring.

The apology to parents was made...

Author: Helen Gray

Source: The Kansas City Star

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/17/2231355/local-muslims-find-support-after.html

Mustafa Hussein of the Islamic Center of Greater Kansas City didn’t know what to expect.

The proposed Islamic center and mosque in New York City blocks from ground zero has drawn harsh anti-Muslim reaction.

A Florida pastor threatened to burn...

Author: William Dennison

Source: The Buddhist Channel/My Central Jersey

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=60,9530,0,0,1,0

“We know there are hungry people, so we tried to find food for our neighbors who need help.” Ms. Hmwe Lee explained that she asked the families who meet at the Buddhist Temple in Manalapan most of whom are from Burma to request food donations from their friends and relatives, so the group could do...

Author: Liz Thomas

Source: WIBC 93.1 FM

http://www.wibc.com/news/Story.aspx?ID=1280059

Hoosiers from several religious backgrounds come together to celebrate their differences.

The "friendship luncheon" at the Indiana Statehouse Thursday is the first in a series of cultural gatherings to foster an understanding and appreciation of the various religious communities in the state.

Author: Tom Breen

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hfzlAZx8J9TaN6TwZpSftLVbGCeAD9I8UHB01

A soft-spoken 14-year-old's nose piercing has landed her a suspension from school and forced her into the middle of a fight over her First Amendment right to exercise her religion.