Source: RELIGION NEWS SERVICE USA, January 23, 2002: A new report sponsored by the American Jewish Committee downplays the growth of minority faiths in the United States, saying they have generated more interest and pop culture buzz than actual adherents. The report follows a controversial study by the same author, Tom Smith, last October that downplayed the number of Muslims…
Source: Times of India CHENNAI, INDIA, January 21, 2002: The Tamil Nadu government’s educational policy would only allow a two-language formula in school education and the recommendation for a three-language formula in the curriculum made by National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) will not be accepted by the State, education Minister M Thambidurai said today. The State government…
Source: Source: The Hindu BANGALORE, INDIA, JANUARY 18, 2002: Opposition to genetically modified (GM) food is strong in Europe and the U.S., which accounts for 70 per cent of all GM crops grown, due to concerns on effects on health and environment. This leaves the agri-biotech companies focusing on Asia to expand their markets, says Sue Mayer, Director of GeneWatch,…
Source: New Straits Times JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA, January 20, 2002: More than 25,000 Hindus, including many from Singapore, converged at the 50-year-old Sri Muniswarar temple in Tampoi, to witness the third Asthabhanthana Maha Kumbabishegam (consecration ceremony) here this morning. Kuala Lumpur-based priest, R. Krishnamurthy Gurukkal, was invited to perform the Mahayagam (fire sacrifice) as part of the worship of the…
GO TO SOURCE MADIKERI, INDIA, January 21, 2001: Miscreants desecrated a small shrine dedicated to Bhadrakali in Betoli village near Virajpet in Dakshina Kodagu. The main door of the sanctum sanctorum was broken, and the temple kitchen was set on fire. A major portion of the kitchen has been reduced to ashes. The incident came to light when the temple…
Source: Religion News Service BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, January 23, 2002: Bowing to a picture of the founder of judo before a match is not a violation of a individual’s religious freedom, a federal judge ruled on Jan. 10. This interesting case could have implications for other situations, such as may occur in the teaching of yoga. In his ruling, U.S. District…
Source: Religion Today BYRON, CALIFORNIA, January 17, 2002: Seventh graders in a growing number of public schools are being required to attend an intensive three-week course on Islam. Students in Byron, California were sent home with handouts informing their parents of the course contents. The students in the Ancient Culture and History class are required to memorize Islamic terms and…
GO TO SOURCE PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, January 20, 2001: Several Indian religious organizations and groups have welcomed the proposal to bar devotees from burning camphor during the Thaipusam celebrations in Batu Caves on January 28. Malaysia Hindu Sangam president A. Vaithilingam said the burning of camphor was not a mandatory requirement and some temples in India had in fact stopped…
GO TO SOURCE MUMBAI, INDIA, JANUARY 8: They prefer to call this country Bharat, not India. Words like shakha, hindutva, dharma and samiti pramukh sanchalika roll off their tongues, thick with accents ranging from Birmingham to Durban. They are the latest batch of graduates — girls aged 15-25 — of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti camp held at Reshimbagh, the RSS…