Author: Clifford J. Levy

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/world/europe/22briefs-Russia.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

Russia’s president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, said Tuesday that the federal government would begin a national program to teach religious education in the schools. Parents would be able to choose studies in four federally recognized religions — Russian...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The New Zealand Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10585813

Workers should be able to swap Christian religious holidays with others important to different religions, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association.

The suggestion has come as the Government asks for public submissions on a review of the current Holidays...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Breaking News 24/7

http://blog.taragana.com/n/hindus-muslims-willing-to-tie-the-knot-outside-their-religions-114539/

An increasing number of Hindus and Muslims are willing to exchange wedding vows with people of other faiths, according to researchers.

A Monash University research has shown that 10 per cent of Hindus have married out of their faith, along with 8 per...

Author: Debra Chong

Source: The Malaysian Insider

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/32848-court-to-decide-on-aug-3-if-state-islamic-councils-can-intervene-in-allah-suit-

The High Court here will decide in the next two weeks whether to allow several state Islamic councils into a legal dispute moved by the Catholic Church which is fighting for...

Author: Scott Smith

Source: Recordnet.com

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090719/A_NEWS/907190309/-1/NEWSMAP

A Druid lives behind the walls of Deuel Vocational Institution, a state prison for men near Tracy.

Morgan James Kane, a burly man with tattooed forearms, follows a neopagan belief older than Christianity. The little-known religion born among ancient Celts promotes the...

Author: Rob Hotakainen

Source: Yahoo News/Mcclatchy Newspapers

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090718/pl_mcclatchy/3274259

A California Republican congressman wants to do a little writing on the walls of Washington's newest federal building. If Rep. Dan Lungren gets his way, Congress will spend nearly $100,000 to engrave the words "In God We Trust " and the Pledge of Allegiance in prominent spots at the Capitol Visitor Center .
...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

http://www.examiner.com/p-375700~CAIR__Oregon_Bill_Reinforces_Ban_on_Muslim__Sikh__Jewish_Teachers.html

A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization oday joined America's Sikh community in expressing concerns about legislation awaiting the governor's signature in Oregon that purports to broaden religious freedom, but would...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Economist

http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14034841

The church of La Placita, “the little square”, formally called Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Angeles, was founded under Spanish rule at around the same time as the pueblo bearing the same name, the future Los Angeles. As the land on which it stood became first Mexican and then American, it...

Author: Michael M. Phillips

Source: The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124544682085632447.html

In a country soaked with religion, it has fallen to an Oklahoma Baptist to turn Islam into a weapon against the Taliban.

The U.S. military, eager to hand the war over to the Afghan government, has placed mentors throughout the Afghan National Army. The Americans help commanders command, fliers fly and spies spy. U.S. Army...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: World Sikh News

http://worldsikhnews.com/15%20July%202009/Sikhs%20join%20Faith%20Trail%20in%20London%20suicide%20bombers%20town.htm

Sikhs in Leeds have taken the initiative to invite members of other faiths to see their place of worship in step with similar reciprocal action by others.

Four years on from the 7/7 London bombings, Muslims, Sikhs and...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8151352.stm

Police in Malaysia have said they will release nine Christians mistakenly accused of trying to convert Muslim university students to Christianity.

A university security guard wrongly thought they were handing Christian pamphlets to Muslims, police said.

Trying to convert Muslims to another religion is forbidden in Malaysia, though Muslims...

Author: Tim Cocks

Source: Reuters

http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/07/14/baghdad-church-bombings-leave-tiny-christian-minority-trembling/

A spate of bombs targeting churches in Baghdad this week has Iraq’s minority Christian community trembling at the prospect of being the next victim of militants trying to reignite war.

Iraqi Christians, one of the country’s...

Author: Julia Zappei

Source: wtop.com

Wire Service: AP

Author: Adelle M. Banks

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=18393

As a federal judge, Sonia Sotomayor sided with Santeria prisoners who wanted to wear religious beads and Muslim inmates who wanted to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

At the same time, she ruled against Muslims who wanted a Muslim crescent and star added to post office holiday displays that featured Christmas and Hanukkah...

Author: Paolo Gallini

Source: Religious Intelligence

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=4741

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed its alarm at the recent spate of bombings of churches in Baghdad and Mosul and called on the Iraqi government to provide protection to all of the country’s citizens, especially its vulnerable Christian minority.

The bombings occurred late...