Civic

Keeping the Faith: Religious Trends in the Waikato

October 12, 2007

Author: Hamilton City Council

Source: Scoop Independent News

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0710/S00157.htm

An important community exhibition and education programme on religious diversity in the Waikato opens at the Waikato Museum today. The exhibition focuses on nine religious groups that are either part of significant religious trends or key historical players in the Waikato, or that have made a unique impact on the 'spiritual landscape' of the...

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Congress Takes up Troubled Tribal Recognition Process

October 12, 2007

Author: Jerry Reynolds

Source: Indian Country Today

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415907

WASHINGTON - The federal process for acknowledging tribes has come under heavy criticism in both chambers of Congress within recent weeks, with assorted tribes urging legislative recognition for themselves and others trapped in a labyrinth of red tape and delay at the Interior Department.

Meanwhile, at a Sept. 19 hearing of the...

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U.S. House Passes Historic Ramadan Resolution

October 12, 2007

Source: Media-Newswire

http://media-newswire.com/release_1055501.html

(Media-Newswire.com) - Washington – A resolution recognizing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and expressing the "deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world" was adopted in the U.S. House of Representatives October 2 by a vote of 376-0.

The resolution acknowledging the importance of Muslims in America, the first of its kind, was introduced by Texas Representative...

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Muslims Plead for Central Mosque

October 12, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7042684.stm

The Muslim population of a growing town has increased from several hundred to 10,000 from 28 different countries in the last 10 years.

Muslims celebrating the end of Ramadan on Friday in Northampton filled their four make-shift mosques.

Imams are asking the borough council for land to build a central mosque.

The Muslim...

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Thompson Pledges to Fight ‘Islamic Fascism’

October 11, 2007

Source: Arab News.com

http://arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=102381&d=11&m=10&y=2007&pix=world.jpg&category=World

DEARBORN, Michigan, 11 October 2007 — Newcomer Fred Thompson muscled into his debut debate with Republican White House rivals Tuesday, avoiding gaffes, vowing to battle “Islamic fascism” and declaring the race “boring” without him.

Despite a nervy start and mocking...

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Taoist Gathering Later this Month

October 11, 2007

Source: American Chronicle

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=39968

International percussionist Yuji Nara will weave an improvisational tapestry of sound for the opening ceremonies of the Fourth Annual Taoist Gathering, to be held the last weekend of October in Oakland. Nara, who performs on instruments from Africa, South America and Asia, is one of many masters, scholars and practitioners who will take part in four days...

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A Foreign Policy for Foreign Religions

October 11, 2007

Author: Patricia M. Y. Chang

Source: Foreign Policy in Focus

http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4633

Nine years ago Congress, under President Clinton, unanimously passed the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The Act authorized the formation of a bi-partisan Commission on International Religious Freedom to monitor the status of religious freedom around the world and identify countries that are inadequately protecting religious freedom within their borders. The...

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Gambari Failed Us, Says Protest Leader

October 11, 2007

Author: Connie Levett

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/gambari-failed-us-says-protest-leader/2007/10/10/1191695990454.html

AN organiser of the protest movement in Rangoon has blasted the United Nations special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, for bowing to the junta and gaining nothing in his visit to Burma.

Surinder Karkar, also known as Ayea Myint and U Pancha (the...

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Interfaith Alliance Chief Urges Mitt Romney to Give a 'JFK Speech'

October 11, 2007

Author: Lisa Riley Roche

Source: Deseret Morning News

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695217769,00.html

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is going to have to confront the confusion surrounding his Mormon faith at some point during the campaign, the head of the Washington, D.C.-based Interfaith Alliance said Wednesday.

"There is a lot of misunderstanding, there are myths, there are misperceptions about the Mormon faith," the...

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Empire State Building Tower Lit for Islamic Holy Days

October 10, 2007

Source: Newsday.com

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--empirestate-light1010oct10,0,3417226.story

NEW YORK - The Empire State Building will be illuminated green this weekend to mark the Islamic holy days of Eid-al-Fitr (EED-ALL-FEET-er).

The joyous "Festival of Fast-breaking" marks the end of Ramadan, a month of intense spiritual renewal.

This year is the first time the famous...

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Bosniaks Coming Together Under One Roof

October 9, 2007

Author: Janet I. Tu

Source: The Seattle Times

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003935087_bosniak09m.html

On Friday afternoons, the imam leads prayers for some 20 people in the family room of his Shoreline house. But it is in the cavernous hole in his backyard that he sees the future of his scattered community.

Here, Imam Abdulah Polovina and other Muslims from Bosnia plan to build a roughly 4,500-...

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Ellis Helps Sponsor Ramadan Forum, Feast

October 9, 2007

Author: Matt Barnwell

Source: The Telegraph

http://www.macon.com/198/story/155848.html

Macon Mayor Jack Ellis has reserved the City Council chambers today to mark the end of Ramadan, an Islamic holiday that observes the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which God is said to have revealed the Quran to the prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan encourages abstinence from earthly pleasures and requires fasting during daylight hours. This year, the holiday...

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Sikh Community Lobbies for Recognition in the US

October 8, 2007

Author: Ravinder Singh

Source: Daily India

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/180664.php/Sikh-community-lobbies-for-recognition-in-the-US

Amritsar, Oct 8: Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, USA has stated that the Sikh community needs to make efforts in the US to get its recognition in the country.

In a telephonic interview, Singh said that despite living in the US...

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