Stories about Religion from November, 2008
Israel: Why isn't Twinning Week held in Saudi Arabia?
From Israel, Yisrael Medad writes about the Week of Twinning, in which mosques and synagogues across the US joined forces to confront Islamophobia and anti-Semitism and asks: “Well, why can't...
US: Mosque and Synagogue Twinning Week
Richard Silverstein, a Jewish blogger in the US, writes about how 40 mosques and synagogues in the US conducted a joint programme on Islamophobia and anti-Semitism this weekend. “The goal...
Israel: Straw and Mud Mosque to be Demolished
International and local activists spent the night waiting for demolition crew to come and destroy a new straw and mud mosque built in an unrecognised village of Wadi el-Naam, Israel. One blogger gives us a detailed account of what happened on the eventful night while another wonders what the reaction would be had it been a synagogue that was being threatened.
Egypt: The InterFaith Conference and Arab Israeli Relations
Saudi Arabia's King Abdulla sat in the same room with Israeli political leaders for the first time ever, during the UN Interfaith conference, held in New York, US. How will this impact the Arab Israeli peace process?
Russia: Rise of Orthodox Militia
Sean's Russia Blog writes about Moscow Patriarch's plans to found an Orthodox People's Militia serving the Church. WindowonEurasia and Windows to Russia! continue the discussion.
Humanitarian crisis in south Philippines
The fighting between government troops and Muslim separatist rebels in the last three months has not stopped. More than 610,000 people have been displaced already. The situation of refugees is deteriorating. Children are among those who are suffering the most.
Trinidad & Tobago: Godliness?
This Beach Called Life suggests that the members of Trinidad and Tobago's government are “Gods of The Good Times”: “The bad and hard times fall squarely on the lap of...
Religious unity: The Charter for Compassion
As children we may all have heard the Golden Rule expressed in many different ways, but the basic idea is: Treat others as you would like to be treated. This is Karen Armstrong's TED wish, to create The Charter for Compassion, a platform in which the different Abrahamic faiths could focus on what was common to all, the moral backbone of all their faiths towards a greater unity and better communication among people of different faiths.
Bangladesh: Hajj pilgrims vote issue
Ghore Baire critically analyzes the point one major political party of Bangladesh raised that Hajj pilgrims will not being able to vote if the elections are held on December 18.
Qatar: Museum of Islamic Arts to Open
Qatar Living announces the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art on November 22. The museum will open its doors to the public on December 1.
Egypt: King Abdullah's Glass of Wine
A rumor has been spreading in the blogosphere, accompanied with a photograph of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia showing him seated beside US President George W Bush while holding a glass of wine in his hand. And as you all know, alcohol is prohibited in Islam, and it is a sin to drink or even stay in a place where it is being served or available. Following are reactions from Egypt.
Trinidad & Tobago: Up on the Mount
Simply Trini Cooking makes a trip to Mount St. Benedict – “a terrific place for a retreat or just to get away from it all.”
India: Yankee Hindutva
Amardeep at Sepia Mutiny writes about ‘Yankee Hindutva’, the American version of Hindu nationalism.
Iran: No Country for Old Trees
About one year ago Iranian authorities ordered security forces to rid the country of ‘western influences’ and ‘immodesty’. Fortunately they soon backed off again. But this time green bloggers in Iran and an Iranian daily newspaper, Etemaad, have reported on their new victims: old trees
Russia: The Crisis and the Hajj
Window on Eurasia writes: “For the first time since the end of the Soviet Union, the number of Muslims from the Russian Federation making the pilgrimage to Mecca is set...
Czech Republic: Muslims in Brno
Belatedly, a link to the item on the Muslim community of Brno – at The Czech Daily Word.
Peru: Art Exhibit Depicting Saints Causes Controversy and Possible Censorship
A controversial art exhibit in Lima, Peru portrayed an alternative view of popular Catholic saints. Some were dressed in undergarments and others in modern-day situations. The artist wanted to show a more human side of the religious figures. However, days before the exhibit's conclusion the gallery was closed by the municipal causing cries of censorship.
India: Islam is not a nationhood
M. J. Akbar opines: “As Maulana Azad repeatedly emphasized…Islam is a brotherhood, not a ‘nationhood’. If Islam were sufficient to create a modern nation state, the Arabs would not be...
India: Terror stalks Kolkata
Recently, Kolkata (or Calcutta, as it is still referred to by some) woke up one morning and its heart skipped a beat as it read the headlines of the day...
Jamaica: Schoolboy Murdered
A Jamaican schoolboy is sodomized and murdered, prompting Carlos King at Abeng News Magazine to write an open letter to the Prime Minister and Long Bench to address the issue...
Syria: No for Sunni/Shiaa Divisions, We're Muslims!
Feras [AR] comments on the so called “Shia-Sunni conflict” in the region. He says that this conflict is not only due to Zionists and Americans’ policies in the region, but...
