GO TO SOURCE RAIPUR, INDIA, July 21, 2002: Christian bodies in Ambikapur, district headquarters of Sarguja, observed a general strike in missionary schools protesting against the conviction and jailing of a nun on charges of illegal conversion. The Shiv Sena and the BJP called the strike — organized to express solidarity with nun Vrishi Ekka — a provocative step. They…
GO TO SOURCE MUMBAI, INDIA, July 20, 2002: Indian television is launching a reality show which will arrange marriages for potential brides. “Kahin naa Kahin koi hai” takes viewers through the entire journey as the bride meets prospective grooms and their families, gets to know them and selects a spouse. Beginning July 29, the show will be hosted by veteran…
Source: Religion News Service DURHAM, USA, July 24 2002: The Journal of the American Medical Association published a major article illustrating the potent effect health professionals can have by addressing a patient’s spiritual needs. The study provides evidence that people with strong religious beliefs and practices cope better with illness, are able to decrease chronic pain intensity, speed recovery from…
GO TO SOURCE MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, USA, July 7, 2002: Mata Amritanandamayi opened her arms to Iowa, deep in America’s heartland, and continued to receive amazingly positive press reports such as this one in the Desmoines Register. In the gym at Iowa Wesleyan College, more than 1,000 men, women and children waited hours for their turn to receive a comforting,…
GO TO SOURCE JAMMU, INDIA, July 19, 2002: Amidst reports that splinter groups of Pakistan-based militant outfits were planning to sabotage the Amarnath yatra, the first batch of Amarnath-bound pilgrims left under tight security for Nunwan near Pahalgam, base camp to the holy cave shrine. The batch, comprising 2,681 pilgrims will offer prayers inside the holy cave at a height…
GO TO SOURCE LEICESTER, UK, July 22, 2002: A newly retired Leicester head teacher has been honored with a new name by the renowned Hindu singer and preacher, Rameshbhai Oza, after helping to stage a massive religious festival in the city. Former Rushey Mead School head Steve White now answers to the name “Shiv” in honor of the Hindu deity…
GO TO SOURCE JODHPUR, INDIA, July 25, 2002: Over 150 idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses resembling the erotic Khajuraho murals and meant for export to United Kingdom have been seized by customs department in Jodhpur, official sources said on Thursday. The statues, included 95 of Lord Ganesha, were seized from a railway container depot, they said. The sources said…
GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 25, 2002: All over India, and throughout the world, satsangs, devotional gatherings, marked Guru Purnima celebrations on Wednesday, the full-moon day in July. Disciples offered prayers to their gurus, with many observing fasts as well. The Sant Sri Asaram Ashram reported a gathering of 50,000 devotees in Delhi alone. Members of Sri Sri…
GO TO SOURCE WASHINGTON, D.C., July 23, 2002: The Interfaith Alliance Foundation here has started a program entitled, “Use of Religion in Campaigns Monitoring Network.” They want to “identify and catalog the uses and abuses of religion in this year’s national, state and local races” for political office. They ask for anyone encountering what they consider “exploitation of religion” to…
GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 25, 2002: One hundred thousand people, one destination. This year fourteen thousand people have already had darshan, sight of the Deity, at Amarnath, a small cave shrine of Lord Siva high up in the Himalayas. Amarnath yatras, pilgrimages, have been called off due to harsh weather and terrorists ambush. But nothing deters the…