Christianity

Controversy over Required Reading on Islam at University of North Carolina

July 23, 2002

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16580

On July 23, 2002, The Associated Press reported that "three students and a conservative Christian organization have filed a lawsuit against the University of North Carolina, saying the required reading of a book about Islam is unconstitutional... The suit... says the university is infringing on students' First Amendment right to religious freedom by...

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Controversy Over Participation in Interfaith Service

July 20, 2002

Source: The Washington Post

On July 20, 2002, The Washington Post reported that "last month, the Rev. Wallace Schulz of Pacific, Missouri, a vice president of the church,... suspended a New York pastor for joining... an interfaith service at Yankee Stadium after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks." Schulz was, until recently, the main host of 'The Lutheran Hour,' "a St. Louis-based gospel program carried by more than 1,000 radio stations [and]... the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod's most prominent pulpit...    [But] deluged with criticism of [Schulz'...

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North Carolina Group: Americans and Muslims for Intercultural Dialogue

July 20, 2002

Source: The Herald-Sun

http://www.muslimdialog.org/

On July 20, 2002 The Herald-Sun featured an article on the Durham, North Carolina organization Americans and Muslims for Intercultural Dialogue. The groups goal is "to promote religious tolerance and knowledge of Islam... Their objective is twofold: to combat what they see as a rising tide of intolerance of Islam in the United States, and to counter-balance what they call increasing fundamentalism within some Muslim groups here and...

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Houston Suburb Faces Plans for Exclusive Christian Memorial on September 11

July 19, 2002

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On July 19, 2002 The Houston Chronicle reported that "an effort by evangelical Christians to commemorate the tragedy of 9/11 in The Woodlands has split the religious community and led to accusations of intolerance in this suburban area north of Houston, [Texas]... Critics of the memorial service on the anniversary date accuse its organizers of implicitly stigmatizing the Muslim community... and of monopolizing the logical venue for a commemoration that would embrace all faiths... Rabbi James Brandt of the Congregation...

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New Study Shows Lack of Strong Support for Faith-Based Initiative from Protestant Clergy

July 16, 2002

Source: CNSNews.com

http://www.CNSNEWS.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200207\CUL20020716a.html

On July 16, 2002 CNSNews.com reported that "support for President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Act remains 'lukewarm' among Protestant clergy across the nation, a new study reveals... The Bush administration so far has not been successful in creating greater acceptance of its faith-based agenda among the Protestant...

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Opening Prayers at Ohio Governmental Meetings Increase in Diversity

July 14, 2002

Source: Dayton Daily News

On July 14, 2002 Dayton Daily News reported that "prayers from... a variety of Christian denominations routinely open governmental meetings in the Miami Valley [in Ohio]... [But] a Xenia councilwoman is inviting Muslims, Hindus and representatives from other faiths to do the same... 'This is America' Patricia Felton said. 'We need to make that opportunity available to anyone who wants to speak'... Likewise in Columbus, the majority of those who lead the prayers for state legislators are Christians, but in recent years several...

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Religious Diversity in Texas Prisons

July 14, 2002

Source: The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/071402dntextdcreligion.32e5c.html

On July 14, 2002 The Dallas Morning News reported that "at first glance, prisons may seem an unlikely place to find religion... But as inmates grapple with the despair and monotony of prison life, some find religion... In all, nearly 140 denominations are represented in the Texas Department of Criminal...

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Book to Focus on Religious Diversity of Ohio

July 12, 2002

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On July 12, 2002 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio... and the Religious Experience Advisory Council of the Ohio Bicentennial Commission are planning [a new] book, Religion in Ohio: Over 200 Years of Experiences... As the state approaches 200, Christian and Jewish bodies remain prominent, but now they have plenty of company. [The] book for Ohio's bicentennial in 2003 also will discuss the beliefs of American Indians, Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs and...

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Central Florida Religious Leaders Meet to Discuss Religion and Public Education

July 12, 2002

Source: The Orlando Sentinel

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-locrelschools12071202jul12.story?coll=orl%2Dhome%2Dheadlines

On July 12, 2002 The Orlando Sentinel reported that "religious leaders from a spectrum of faiths met Thursday night in a Winter Park [Florida] church to grapple with the contentious issue of religious faith and public education... Panelists agreed that teaching about...

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Controversy Over Participation in Interfaith Service

July 12, 2002

Source: The New York Post

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/45304.htm

On July 12, 2002, The New York Post reported that the "Lutheran minister suspended for taking part in an interfaith prayer service for families of Sept. 11 victims said yesterday that he had no regrets... 'I feel that I've acted with integrity,' said the Rev. David Benke, pastor of Brooklyn's St....

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Controversy over Required Reading on Islam at University of North Carolina

July 12, 2002

Source: Chapel Hill Herald

On July 12, 2002 the Chapel Hill Herald reported that a "Christian advocacy group hopes to sue UNC on the grounds the book on Islam the university chose for its required summer reading program is a religious text and is therefore unconstitutional... � But university officials are defending the choice, strongly objecting to any implication that UNC is pushing Islam on its students...� The book is 'Approaching The Qur'an,' a collection of 35 translated passages from the holy work along with written commentaries on each. All new...

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New Jersey Quakers Share Meeting House with Jewish Congregation

July 7, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On July 7, 2002 The New York Times reported that at Chatham, New Jersey's Quaker meetinghouse "for seven years, Quakers here have shared their space with Jews, allowing the practice of two distinct religions under one roof... 'The Quakers are an incredibly generous group,' said Deborah Fineman, president of Congregation Beth Hatikvah, which meets on Fridays and Saturdays before vacating for Quaker worship on Sunday. 'They've allowed us to make a home.'"

Appeals Court Rules "Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance Unconstitutional

July 6, 2002

Source: The Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/projo_20020706_cthicks6.835aa.html

On July 6, 2002, The Providence Journal featured an editorial by Prof. Douglas Hicks of the University of Richmond entitled "Let's Pledge to Respect Differing Beliefs." The piece emphasizes that "'One nation under God' means different things to different Americans... Both critics and supporters of the...

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California Parents File Complaints Over Teachings about Islam

July 6, 2002

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On July 6, 2002, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "a Christian law firm is suing a San Francisco Bay Area school district, alleging it violated the Constitution with its way of teaching the Islamic religion to students. At issue is a world history lesson conducted at Excelsior School in the Byron Union School District... in October 2001. In a seventh-grade class, students reportedly were required to participate in various exercise simulations including selecting a Muslim name, wearing traditional Muslim...

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