Christianity

Christians, Jews, and Christmas

December 24, 2003

Source: San Antonio Express-News

On December 24, 2003 San Antonio Express-News reported that "for a third consecutive year, [members of Wellspring Presbyterian Church in Texas] will use Congregation Agudus Achim, a synagogue, for their Christmas Eve service... Father David Garcia, rector of San Fernando Cathedral, believes... Jews, Muslims and Christians have a common bond in their belief in Abraham, and he sees many opportunities for those of different faiths to interact."

Las Posadas Brings Latinos Into Dialogue with New Neighbors

December 23, 2003

Source: Beliefnet

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/137/story_13724_1.html

On December 23, 2003 Beliefnet reported on the increasing popularity in America of celebrating Las Posadas, the Advent tradition of re-enacting in the days before Christmas the journey of Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, seeking a place to rest. For American towns experiencing new immigration, Las Posadas is creating a dialogue between Latinos and Anglos as they seek to learn about different...

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Lieberman Calls for Greater Role of Religion in Public Life

December 23, 2003

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/24/politics/campaigns/24TRAI.html

On December 23, 2003 The New York Times reported, "Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut called on Tuesday for strengthening the role of religion in public life and took a veiled swipe at Howard Dean, who has run a steadfastly secular campaign. 'I know that some people believe that faith has no place in the so-called public square,' said Mr. Lieberman, an...

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Commercial Side of Christmas Thrives While "Unofficial" Churches Persecuted

December 23, 2003

Source: ABCNews.com

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20031223_189.html

On December 23, 2003 ABCNews.com posted an Associated Press article that reported, "Chinese, few of whom are Christians, [have] adopt[ed] the holiday as a festive time to shop. But for members of China's unofficial Christian congregations, this is a season of fear as communist authorities crack down on unauthorized worship, detaining activists and bulldozing churches. 'Everyone is scared...

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Ohio Students Sing in the Season with a Ramadan Rap

December 23, 2003

Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/12/17/loc_ramadanrap.html

On December 23, 2003 The Cincinnati Enquirer reported, "More than 1,500 students, parents and guests crowded into Mason Intermediate School's gym Tuesday for a musical celebration of international holidays including, for the first time, Muslim students from a local Islamic center. The annual school musical event this year celebrated religious, racial...

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Office Disagreements on the Reason for the Season

December 23, 2003

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3320237.stm

On December 23, 2003 BBC News reported on the ongoing controversy among Americans of how to navigate the "December dilemma" in the pluralistic workplace. The article notes: "Any school, public library, university or government building which at this time of year crosses the constitutional boundary between church and state - be it simply through singing Silent Night or erecting a nativity scene on the lawn -...

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A New Religious Landscape in Lehigh Valley, PA

December 22, 2003

Source: The Morning Call

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5religionsdec22,0,2875692.story?coll=all-newslocal-hed

On December 22, 2003 The Morning Call reported on the increased religious diversity in Lehigh Valley, noting that practitioners of India's four major faiths — Hinduism, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism all share a temple in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The shared use of sacred space is "an amazingly successful...

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President Speaks on Need for Interreligious Harmony and Peace

December 22, 2003

Source: AllAfrica Global Media

http://allafrica.com/stories/200312220483.html

On December 22, 2003 AllAfrica Global Media reported, "President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed the need for inter-religious harmony and peace among the various religious believers in the country. He spoke at the N100 million fund raising ceremony of Owu at the weekend, where over N20 million was realised for the development of the Mosque still under construction. According to the President,...

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Archbishop of Canterbury Condemns Detention of British Muslims, French Legislation on Religious Symbols

December 21, 2003

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-12/21/article05.shtml

On December 21, 2003 IslamOnline.net reported, "Canterbury Archbishop lambasted Sunday, December 21, the detention without trial of British Muslims inside the kingdom and in Guantanamo as well as the mooted ban on hijab in French public schools...The leader of the worldwide Anglican Church, who maintains improving dialogue with Islam as a top priority, warned that...

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In Long Island, Muslims, Jews and Christians Share Sacred Space

December 21, 2003

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/nyregion/21LONG.html

On December 21, 2003 The New York Times reported on Protestant churches on Long Island that have opened their doors to Jewish congregations. The Times notes that "for Protestant congregations burdened with high costs of maintaining churches, renting out space - to other faiths, or, more commonly, to other Protestant denominations - has become crucial to making ends meet... But the...

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New Law Mandates All Catholic Public School Students Take Catholic Dogma Class

December 20, 2003

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/international/europe/21RELI.html

On December 20, 2003 The New York Times reported, "While President Jacques Chirac of France has called for a ban on religious symbols in public schools, the conservative administration of the Spanish prime minister, José María Aznar, who favors a mention of Christianity in a future European constitution, has passed a law to strengthen the presence of the Roman...

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