Posts Tagged ‘www.beliefnet.com’

Burn a Koran? What If It Were a Torah?

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

I am ambivalent about giving any additional attention to a hate-filled, fear-driven, religious leader like Pastor Terry Jones. Once the Gainesville, Florida minister is being covered by the New York Times however, it seems that coverage is assured. The only question which remains is what shall be the response? (more…)

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The dog days of Ramadan

Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Depending on your reckoning, Ramadan is now about a third of the way complete. The fasting tends to get easier over the course of the month, because we physically acclimate to the routine, and also because the days get somewhat shorter as we progress. However, the fact that the Islamic months are shorter (based on the lunar cycle) than the Gregorian calendar months (based on the solar cycle) means that Ramadan will steadily march towards summer solstice in coming years. (more…)
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Eat, Pray, Love…and then what?

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Eat, Pray, Love is all the rage, again. After its run on bestseller lists a few years back, it is set to be a major movie success, starring Julia Roberts. It makes one wonder why, and whether or not it tells a story which makes us feel that we need exotic travel to stimulate our spiritual journeys. But do we? (more…)

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ADL: “let the bigots win”

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

The Anti-Defamation League has betrayed itself and its own principles, by coming out against the Park 51 project (which is still being characterized incorrectly as the “ground zero mosque”). Their press release (in full below) is even worse than the denunciation of the project by Sarah Palin or Newt Gingrich, because they explicitly concede that the muslim community has the right to build (more…)

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PHOTO: Mike Tyson at Mecca

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Here I am during  my journey to Mecca.  on  TwitpicI had no idea that Mike Tyson was a muslim until I heard last week that he had traveled to Mecca for umrah (the minor pilgrimage, identical to the Hajj except that umrah can be performed anytime during the year and does not fulfill the muslim’s religious obligation to perform Hajj at least once in a lifetime). (more…)

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Jon Voight Ignored Rabbinic Wisdom in His Letter to the President

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Actor Jon Voight attacked President Obama in an open letter published in the Washington Times. Telling the President that he “will be the first American president that lied to the Jewish people, and the American people as well, when (he) said that (he) would defend Israel.” The letter continues by asserting that Mr. Obama is “play(ing) a very dangerous game so (he) can look like a true martyr.” (more…)

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Afghanistan’s trillion dollar curse: lithium

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

The New York Times reports that a small team of American geologists and military personnel have discovered vast reserves of precious metals and minerals in Afghanistan, which profoundly transforms the destiny of this battered nation overnight: (more…)

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Struggle Over Proposed Mosque In Staten Island

Monday, June 14th, 2010

A group called the Muslim American Society wants to build a mosque on the grounds of an old convent in Staten Island, New York. Having purchased the building from the church, they went before a packed community meeting last night to discuss their plans. It wasn’t pretty. (more…)

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