Stories about Religion from January, 2008
Bangladesh: Islamic banking and jargon
a bengali in TO is rather annoyed with all the jargon that accompanies Islamic banking, and puts forward a list of questions on interest, incentive and money.
Tunisia: Obama's Religion
“Should I worry about the way Islam is made out to sound like a plague that everyone wants to distance themselves from? Should I be wondering what the religion of a person has to do with them being electable to office or not?” writes Subzero Blue from Tunisia, after reading...
South Asia: Islam and Democracy
Pickled Politics takes a closer look at Islam and Democracy, particularly in South Asia.
Israel: Read At Your Own Risk
Shira, from Israel, posts a picture of a Bible with a warning.
Ukraine: Charity
MoldovAnn writes about charity work done by missionaries and volunteers in Kyiv.
Vietnam: Cao Dai Temple
Antidote to Burnout takes us to visit the colorful Cao Dai Temple in Southern Vietnam.
India: Arun Gandhi and Anti-Semiticism
SAJA Forum on the controversy surrounding Arun Gandhi for making remarks seen as anti-semitic.
India: Madrasa Reforms and Education
Madrasa Reforms in India highlights the work of Delhi-based Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA).
Belize: Palacio Laid to Rest
Belizean was there when musical icon Andy Palacio was laid to rest.
Jamaica: Safe Sex?
Stunner's Afflictions blogs about the controversial issue of distributing condoms in Jamaican schools.
Iran:Bahai Students are out of universities
Shahrahsolh (means highway of peace), a Bahai blogger,writes[Fa] that government does not allow Bahai students go to universities in Iran.The blogger adds that government wants to marginalise Bahais, more and more, in society.
Guatemala: Esquipulas and Rabinal, Two Symbols of Peace
Two villages in Guatemala, which were the site of brutal violence during the armed conflict, celebrate very important festivities in January - "Esquipulas" and "Rabinal". These communities have been able to resume these celebrations after the war ended and have become symbols of peace for the country.
Russia: Ukok Princess
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about plans to re-bury the mummy of a Scythian princess in the capital of Russia's Altai Republic.
Morocco: Obama and Religion
“Thanks to Barack Obama, Islam may have to redefine “believer” in Islamic terms as well as who is considered a Muslim, or the world community may have to start working on a new definition for “ethnic Muslim” to accommodate complicated individuals such as Mr. Obama,” writes Myrtus from Morocco.
Burkina Faso: Rites, festivals and a new book
Like anywhere else in the world, there is a season to everything in Burkina Faso: rites of passage, camel and horse racing, literature and death.
Cuba: The Church and Change?
The Cuban Triangle blogs about the Catholic Church's role in Cuba.
Bahamas: Prosperity Theology
Dan Schweissing blogs about prosperity theology in the Bahamas: “Telling someone that they are poor…because they don't have enough faith in God is the religious equivalent of telling a single mother with three kids and a full-time minimum wage job that she is poor because she's lazy and doesn't work...
Lithuania: Vytautas Sriubikis; the Hill of Crosses
Viola in Vilnius writes about Lithuanian flautist Vytautas Sriubikis – and briefly mentions the Hill of Crosses, quite an extraordinary place near the town of Siauliai, which “not surprisingly is a hill covered in crosses, and a bit of a place of pilgrimage.”
Russia: Hajj Quotas
Window on Eurasia writes about hajj quotas and how it relates to Russia's Muslims.
Bahrain: State Acts as Religious Policeman
Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif brings us the story of Maya, whose marriage in India and conversion into Hinduism led the Bahraini authorities to confiscate her passport.
Africa: Homosexuality debate
Andrew Heavens writes about homosexuality in Africa: “Amazing. The debate about homosexuality in Africa that started on Meskel Square almost three years ago is still going strong.”
