Author: Amita Verma

Source: Deccan Chronicle

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/national/hindu-muslim-wedding-under-one-roof-663

For those who preach communal harmony, this was a fantastic premier.

The Muslim Maulvi and the Hindu Pandit sat side by side to solemnize the wedding of a Muslim couple and a Hindu couple under the same roof.

This unique event took place in Dalel Purwa locality in Kanpur on...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Seattle Times

Wire Service: AP

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010432491_apwacapitolholidaydisplays.html

A Seattle atheist group and a Jewish group are applying to put up holiday displays on the Capitol campus in Olympia again this year.

A spokesman from Seattle Atheists says the sign they want to post is less provocative...

Author: Barney Zwartz

Source: The Age

http://www.theage.com.au/national/blessings-aplenty-as-worlds-religions-gather-20091204-k93h.html

Counting their blessings was an important part of the opening of the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne last night: a round dozen of them, each in its respective religion's fullest ceremonial richness and colour.

About 4000 delegates had their week-...

Source: Zee News

http://www.zeenews.com/news584553.html

Several Hindu and Muslim groups have decided to take out a march on the 17th anniversary of demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6 to promote peace and communal harmony, even as many political parties will be observing the day as "dhikkar" and "kalank" diwas. 

"With a message of peace and communal harmony we will start Karwan-e-Aman from Ayodhya to Ajmer Shareef on December 6 to promote Hindu...

Author: Rob Luff

Source: Public Opinion

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_13854798?source=most_viewed

An atheistic and agnostic group plans to seek legal action against the Borough of Chambersburg following a decision Monday night that bans anything other than flags and flowers from adorning the Memorial Square fountain war memorial.

The unanimous decision from Chambersburg Borough Council came after Carl Silverman,...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Economist

http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15019864

On a manicured lawn within the grounds of the Arkansas state capitol in Little Rock a Nativity scene is erected each Advent. It is causing all sorts of problems. Shouldn’t other religions (or, for that matter, those who reject organised religion altogether) get their chance to show off? Doesn...

Author: Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Source: The Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/641/story/1731279.html

A runaway Christian convert and her Muslim family must listen to each other's views about religion if they are to reunite, a possibility that appears in jeopardy since the girl continues to refuse any contact with her parents or siblings, a caseworker says.

A case-management plan filed Monday said Rifqa Bary and her parents should hear what each...

Author: Erika Jacobson Moore

Source: Leesburg Today

http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/2009/12/03/news/9970display120109.txt

Taking the Grinch out of Loudoun's holiday season, the Board of Supervisors today voted to overturn the decision of the Courthouse Grounds and Facility Task Force to prohibit displays of all kinds on the grounds of the historic courthouse in Leesburg.

The decision to allow all religious...

Author: Eric Fingerhut

Source: JTA

http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2009/12/01/1009477/adl-ajc-join-brief-on-wiccan-clergyman

The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee have signed on to an Americans United for Church and State amicus brief arguing that a Wiccan clergyman should be able to challenge a state prison policy that limits paid chaplaincy positions to people who are...

Author: Peter Capella

Source: Brisbane Times

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-world/switzerland-confronts-backlash-over-minaret-ban-20091130-k0ub.html

Switzerland confronted an international backlash and charges of intolerance on Monday as the country's Muslim leaders urged calm over a shock vote to ban new minarets.

The Vatican joined Muslim leaders in...

Author: Peter Capella

Source: Brisbane Times

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-world/switzerland-confronts-backlash-over-minaret-ban-20091130-k0ub.html

Switzerland confronted an international backlash and charges of intolerance on Monday as the country's Muslim leaders urged calm over a shock vote to ban new minarets.

The Vatican joined Muslim leaders in...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: ANI/Sify.com

[videos.sify.com/watch/ANI-Hindus--Muslims--Sikhs-live-in-complete-harmony-in-Malerkotla-jl4uObjgeaf.html-jl4uObjgeaf.html]

It[']s dawn and silence prevails in Malerkotla town. And so does harmony .People in this Muslim dominated town have been living in peace since ages and the region has never seen or heard of any conflict in the past. In fact the town is a shining example of Hindu Muslim and Sikh unity. And showcasing this example of...

Author: Duke Helfand

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jihad29-2009nov29,0,6075196.story

Jihad Turk -- clean-shaven and youthful -- is telling an interfaith audience that the prophet Muhammad traces his lineage to Abraham, the biblical patriarch. 

Turk explains to the crowd of mostly Christians and Jews that Muslims also revere Jesus and Moses as prophets, and that Islam...

Author: Lauren Yanks

Source: The Poughkeepsie Journal

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20091129/LIFE/911290310/1005/LIFE

Throughout the ages, a variety of cultures have viewed the winter solstice as a time for celebration and renewal. The tilt of the earth’s axis makes the winter solstice the shortest day — and longest night — of the year. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, the word...

Author: Sudarsan Raghavan

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/24/AR2009112403898.html

The last remaining Jews in Yemen are vanishing, driven out by politics, war and hatred. Once numbering 60,000, one of the oldest Jewish populations in the Arab world now has fewer than 350 members.

In recent months, persecution by Islamist extremists has intensified,...