Stories about Religion from January, 2007
Bangladesh: The racist subcontinent
Reacting to the Big Brother Racism controversy, Mezba says “The whole subcontinent. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. We discriminate daily based on caste, skin fairness, gender, religion (or inter-religion as in Sunni/Shia so on). Yet we are always the first ones to criticize.”
Kenya: the Dalai Lama not welcome in Kenya
Gathara's World responds to the news that the Dalai Lama has once again being denied Kenyan visa: The Dalai Lama doesn't need to come to the Maasai Mara to see Kenyan animals. Just watching the antics of the government over the his proposed visit should suffice. Moody Awori's monkey business...
Bangladesh: Proud to be Muslim
Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying on being Muslim and being proud of it. “This image of Muslims claiming their “moderate”ness and the incessant Muslim bashing that comes from the wingnuts is poisoning the well. It has led to the notion that unless Muslims jump every time some Muslim...
Central Asia: The LDS Church in Central Asia
The Golden Road to Samarqand writes about the LDS church in Central Asia.
Guadeloupe: Still Site of Magical Beliefs
Says Atout Guadeloupe (Fr): “To this day many Guadeloupeans believe in magic and go to “quimboiseurs” and “gadezafe” [i.e. magicians] to take care of private business and disputes with third parties! Guadeloupe still has many magical sites.”
Hungary: Collaborator Priests
Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar writes about Catholic priests who served as informers during Hungary's Communist regime.
Iran:Muslim Bloggers Conference
In Muslim Bloggers we read that on Thursday there will be the first meeting and conference where members of Muslim Bloggers can participate and meet each other. In their blog we read that their goal is to react against Satan's activities in information field and to promote Islam in cyber...
Nigeria: clash of values
Black Looks writes a post, which illustrates the clash between the older and younger generation in Nigeria when it comes to sensitive issues such as homosexuality.
Puerto Rico: Religion? None
Eugenio Martínez Rodríguez gives a nurse at a Puerto Rican medical centre pause (ES) when he reveals that his religion is “none”: “On the other hand, I'm almost sure that the nurse's reaction would have been similar if I had answered that I was Spiritist, Muslim or Buddhist.”
Malaysia: Thoughts on Censored Article
Lucia Lai wonders why two articles from a recent issue of Economist were censored. She has posted links to online archive of the articles. “so i highly recommend you to go read the articles and judge for yourself how interesting the articles are and wonder what in the world made...
Bangla blogs debate: Saddam or Bush – who is more guilty?
The year 2006 ended with the big news of Saddam Hussein’s execution in Iraq. Footage of his hanging was leaked on the Internet leaving many aghast at the manhandling he was subjected to in his dying hours. The blog world has been abuzz with outpourings of feelings towards the event...
Freedom of the press and Saddam Hussein in the Moroccan blogosphere
Last week was mostly about Nichane and since the trial of the two journalists started on Monday, this week will probably also be about this issue in the Moroccan Blogosphere (Blogoma). Saddam Hussein's hanging was also a hot topic in the Blogoma, and based on the emotion that “dominates” some...
Ethiopia: Jesus was born on January 7
Did you know that Ethiopians celebrate Christmas in January? Read Meskel Square, “As everyone who reads this must know by now, Ethiopia has its own calendar and time system – 7am is 1am, 2007 is currently 1999, there are 13 months in the year and Christ was born on January...
Japan: first mosque in Kyushu
Ampontan explains the process about how the decision of building the first mosque in Kyushu managed to get concensus from the local community. It takes 8 years and the construction involves huge amount of money.
Sri Lanka: Muslims in the country
Groundviews has some insights about the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. “At the same time the Sri lankan government is going to enroll 3,000 Muslim people into the army regiment under a Muslim regiment”
Bangladesh: Christmas & Eid celebrations, cold days and heated up politics
Like any other country Christmas was celebrated in Bangladesh with much enthusiasm. Tom of Bangladesh Barta shares his experience of celebrating Christmas in Bangladesh. Being a majority Muslim country should Christmas remain a minority festivity in Bangladesh? Sadiq of Inspirations and Creative Thoughts compiles some historical facts and lessons which...
Poland: Collaborator Archbishop Resigns
The beatroot reports on the resignation of a Polish archbishop who had been collaborating with the Communist regime for 20 years: “Watching on TV now it looks like a wedding where all the guests turn up only to discover it’s a funeral.”
Kazakhstan: Hare Krishnas
KZBlog reports an update to the fate of Kazakhstan's beleaguered Hare Krishna community.
Saddam execution video re-ignites death penalty debates worldwide
Over the past four months, we've tried to feature and contextualise videos we felt should be seen and debated by a wider audience. Today's featured human rights video is something completely new. You may be one of the millions who have sought it out online – or you may have...
Bangladesh: Embracing Diversity
Sadiq M Alam on Keith Ellison, Thomas Jefferson's Quran and America's embrace of diversity. “The news has significant on a number of grounds when it comes to embracing diversity, and also the controversies point to the fact of mental block in the so called ‘conservative camp’.”
Guyana: Eid-Ul-Adha specialities
Chenette posts several well-captioned photos on Flickr of foods traditionally associated in Guyana with the Eid-Ul-Adha observances, including Guyanese vermicelli and Maleeda.