On July 9, 2001, U.S. Newswire reported that a "coalition of Atheist,
Freethought, Secular Humanist and other nonbeliever organizations...under the banner of 'The Day
That Counts' will hold a media conference...in Washington, D.C...The goal is to encourage the nation's
27,000,000 persons who define themselves as Atheists, Agnostics,
Freethinker, Humanists or other...
On June 29, 2001, The Columbian reported that "at Beautiful Savior
Lutheran Church [in Vancouver, Washington]...a certified Qigong instructor teaches the ancient practice of
movement and meditation once a week." Qigong was created in China more than 4,000 years ago.
On June 11, 2001, The New York Times reported that "the
Volusia [Florida] County Council voted, 4 to 3, to deny [the Rev. John A.] Ferro's Dunamis Community and
Outreach Ministries an exception to zoning rules to build a 130-seat church on the site" they chose. They wanted to build near the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, a settlement for Spiritualists. Mr. Ferro is now suing the county in federal court.
On April 20, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported on the latest fashion trend among Southern Californian worshippers at Sunday services. "Sunday wardrobes now reflect age, ethnicity and even hobbies...Clergy do agree on one thing: Clothes styles
don't matter to God. The debate is over whether clothes make, or at least help,
the worshiper...Other religions [including Judaism and Islam] have seen a slight dip in fashion formality, though nothing
like the eclectic fashion sense of Christian congregations."
On April 1, 2001, The Tennessean reported that the Bible Belt is now home to "Six Buddhist communities. Five Jewish congregations. Five Islamic mosques. A
Baha'i center. A Hindu temple and a Hindu ashram, or teaching abode. Plus
assorted Sikhs and Jains...Others exist, too." Tom Russell, a...
On March 23, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle
reported on "the Eighth Annual Sufism Symposium
in Fremont [California]...The symposium is being held to promote dialogue, cross-cultural
understanding, interfaith education and unity among the people of the world...
Sufism is an ancient religion that dates back to the prophet Mohammed and
the 7th century."
On February 25, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
reported that "socially responsible investing...is coming into the mainstream...There are bond mutual
funds as well as stock funds, funds aimed at Muslims and Mennonites, funds for
animal lovers, and funds that focus on gay and lesbian rights, pro and con."
On February 10, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that, among the Hmong community in the Twin Cities, some have embraced Christianity over the past 50 years, "but many have remained faithful to
the traditional faith, shamanism...The Hmong are a farming people who live in mountainous ranges in
Southeast Asia and southern China. Refugees began immigrating to the United
States in the 1970s, after the Vietnam War ended...Today, about 11 percent of the estimated 75,000 to 80,000 Hmong in the
Twin Cities are Christian, according to...
On December 20, 2000, The New York Times reported that many Mormons are traveling to Palmyra, New York to
visit the birthplace of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism,
eventually led followers west. His recreated log home is one attraction in Palmyra. "A restored printing shop shows
where the Book of Mormon was first published, and a visitors' center plays a recording of Christ's words in 20
languages including Hungarian, Finnish and Tahitian. A new temple overlooking the Sacred...
On June 16, 2000, the Los Angeles Times
reported that city council members from Garden Grove, California have
approved plans for the state's first Cao Dai church, despite the
protest of residents who feel that the new religious facility will be
a detriment to their neighborhood. Cao Dai, a faith begun in Vietnam
in the 1920's that combines aspects of Buddhism, Christianity,
Confucianism, Judaism and Taoism, has approximately 200 followers in
Orange County, CA and commands about 5 million followers worldwide.
The new facility...
On October 5, 1998, The Houston Chronicle published an
article announcing the grand opening of Houston's first Cao Dai
temple. Cao Dai, a combination of Buddhism, Catholicism, and
ancestor worship, is the third most popular religion in Vietnam and
has approximately 1,000 adherents in the Houston area.