Author: Staff Writer

Source: Chillicothe Gazette

[chillicothegazette.com/article/20090514/NEWS01/905140302/1002/rss01]

Southeastern High School graduates will not have a clergyperson delivering an invocation and benediction at their ceremony.

Superintendent Brian Justice explained Wednesday he and the board are not anti-prayer, but are obliged to follow the law.

"We will not violate the laws ... (I and) my board of education believe in prayer, but we're not for violating the law. Are...

Author: Paul Schemm

Source: Connecticut Post

Wire Service: AP

http://www.connpost.com/ci_12368251

Iraq has lost more than half the Christians who once called it home, mostly since the war began, and few who fled have plans to return, The Associated Press has learned.

Pope Benedict XVI called attention to their plight during a Mideast visit this week, urging the international community to ensure the survival of "the ancient...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: ITN

http://itn.co.uk/3e70c9e40a5a6888d01a2d506623f4cb.html

Pope Benedict joined Muslims and Jews in singing a peace song during a trip to Nazareth.

At the end of a meeting involving representatives from different faiths, a rabbi announced he had composed a song using Arabic, Hebrew and English phrases about peace.

A Vatican spokesman said the Pope did not expect to be invited to sing the song but...

Author: Kathy Gannon

Source: The Guardian

Wire Service: AP

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8505630

Fauzia Abrar had finally gotten her crying baby to sleep when screaming men pounded on the steel doors of her home in the mostly Christian slum in the port city of Karachi.

Suddenly she heard shots, and the screaming grew louder: "Long live Taliban! Death to infidels!"

The men forced their...

Author: Crystal Lindell

Source: Northwest Herald

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2009/05/11/r_hm2ls8ocqom2oah7ez1pra/index.xml

The students at First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake started a recent evening with a Daoist meditation, then they discussed Christianity’s National Day of Prayer before learning that “Islam” roughly translates to peace, submission and security.

They are members of...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Indian Catholic

[indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/12104-1-1-Hindus-praise-Pope%E2%80%99s-espousal-of-interfaith-dialogue]

Welcoming Pope Benedict’s reported affirmation of the importance of interreligious dialogue in the pursuit of peace in Jerusalem yesterday, Hindus have urged him to take the lead in organizing one.

Serious and honest interfaith dialogue was the need of the hour, Hindu leader Rajan Zed pointed out in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, and...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8047537.stm

The BBC's appointment of a Muslim as head of religion and ethics is insulting to Christians, an Ulster Unionist assembly member has said.

Retired Presbyterian minister Dr Robert Coulter said the appointment of Aaqil Ahmed was "a juvenile gimmick".

"According to the Church of England 70% of the UK are Christian, 3% are...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: United Press International

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/05/12/CBS-to-air-interfaith-music-special/UPI-42661242173439/

The U.S. television network CBS Tuesday announced plans to air "Faith, Music and Culture," an interfaith religion special next month.

The program is set to premiere June 7.

"Music is often a vehicle for expressing...

Author: Ethan Bronner

Source: The New York Times

Author: Richard Boudreaux

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pope-mideast12-2009may12,0,1951298.story

Pope Benedict XVI, trying to quell Jewish anger over a Holocaust-denying bishop, bowed in silence Monday at Israel's memorial to Jews exterminated during World War II and declared that their suffering must "never be denied, belittled or forgotten."

"They...

Author: Vern Barnet

Source: KansasCity.com

http://www.kansascity.com/644/story/1191186.html

Today’s column may not affect your spirit in a very personal way, but it may lift up “Kansas City spirit” by noting a few examples of why the North American Interfaith Network chose Kansas City for its conference June 26-28.

•The group was organized in 1988 at a conference at which more Kansas Citians participated than any other city...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6261820.ece

Pope Benedict XVI urged Christians in the Middle East to hold on to their faith and traditions at an open-air Mass attended by 50,000 worshippers.

He told them to work with other religions to enrich their daily lives and counter violent ideologies. “Be faithful to your roots,” he said yesterday in his homily at...

Author: Melissa Nann Burke

Source: York Daily Record

http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_12339729

Many gave thanks in church Sunday to mom.

At the spiritually eclectic Nature Church, which attracts followers of Earth-based and nature religions, congregants also remembered the divine mother -- mother goddesses first revered by ancient cultures for qualities of motherhood, fertility or creation.

"She is the oldest, most primal, most universal of deity concepts...

Author: Kanglei Wang

Source: The Yale Globalist

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=60,8159,0,0,1,0

Nine years ago, Homeig Wu hesitated when asked if she had a religion. She had a fleeting relationship with Buddhism, making only occasional donations and trips to her local temple to “bai bai” — a light-hearted religious practice that more devout Buddhists see as only brushing the surface of spirituality.

Like...

Author: Violeta M. Gloria

Source: MindaNews