Author: Anto Akkara

Source: Ecumenical News International

http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=3225

Indian officials say that a troubled and remote area of the northeastern Orissa state that witnessed widespread sectarian violence aimed at Christians a year ago, is now normal, with less than a thousand people left in relief camps. 

But those who fled the violence in Kandhamal in August 2008, say they have been told...

Author: Dionne Walker

Source: Yahoo news

Wire Service: AP

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090729/ap_on_re_us/us_rel_religion_today

Ordained a United Methodist minister, the Rev. Chester Cook has now become a jack of all faiths.

On a recent day, Cook welcomed a Christian-oriented Army chaplain, a Muslim family and a Buddhist ticket agent to his interfaith chapel at Hartsfield-Jackson...

Author: Judy Press

Source: Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com/x-11015-Kansas-City-Jewish-Life-Examiner~y2009m7d29-Christians-Jews-and-Muslims-engaged-in-Kansas-City-Festival-of-Faiths

The lack of civility in our society is obvious to anyone listening to the radio, television and sometimes, each other. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just shut...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The News-Star

Wire Service: AP

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090725/LIFESTYLE/907240307/1024/LIFESTYLE

Almost always, when Protestants and Catholics are formally gathered under one roof in New Orleans — and when they are joined by Jews, Muslims and Sikhs — somewhere in the background will be a retired Presbyterian minister named the Rev. Will...

Author: Dominic Casciani

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8166173.stm

Anti-Semitic attacks in the UK doubled in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2008, according to new figures.

The Jewish Community Security Trust, which monitors anti-Semitism, says it recorded 609 incidents between January and June - up from 276 last year.

Most incidents were abusive behaviour, but there were also 77 violent...

Author: Nanci G. Hutson

Source: The News-Times

http://www.newstimes.com/newtown/ci_12877329?source=rss

The Rev. Laura Westby of First Congregational Church believes the world's greatest hope for peace is to "teach our children to be peacemakers."

So Westby was delighted to see 25 children explore peace through the eyes of different religions and cultures during last week's sixth annual Interfaith Peace Camp sponsored by the Association...

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: 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 Jakarta Post

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/20/religious-leaders-antiviolence-campaigners-hold-interfaith-mass-prayers-ground-zero.

Leaders of various religious groups as well as anti-violence activists held two separate mass prayers on Monday at the site of the Jakarta hotel bombings, which killed nine people and injured more...

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: Rachel Zoll

Source: The Seattle Times

Wire Service: AP

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009501166_shiites20.html

The hotel conference room was divided: men on the left, women on the right. The speaker, a compact, bearded man in a safari vest, had come to talk about current events and the Quran.

In the weeks leading up to the gathering, postelection protests...