The Hindu “Festival of Lights” known as Diwali (or Deepavali) begins Saturday, Oct. 17, and runs for five days. Diwali is one of the most popular holidays in the Hindu diaspora, especially in the United States, where the Hindu population has topped 1 million — tripling in 15 years.
The anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, always casts in sharp relief America’s relationship with the Muslim world, and the role of the growing Islamic community in the United States — issues that are covered in a new Pew survey and in a number of ReligionLink guides and resources, as shown below.
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins on or about Aug. 22, and the fasting and abstaining and feasting that accompany the observance are among the most prominent markers of North America’s growing Muslim population. But few may realize how diverse the Muslim community is.
President Barack Obama’s June 4 address to the Muslim world served as a fresh reminder of the tensions between civil rights and national security that have played out in the U.S. and abroad since 9/11. The president’s speech was welcomed by the Muslim community, which remains deeply concerned about attacks against Muslims.
Like Jews, Catholics and other immigrant groups before them, Muslims are building a social infrastructure in America that includes houses of worship, schools, health clinics, banks, charities and more. Muslims’ social and religious needs are diverse – and that diversity is reflected in the network of mosques and related social services centers they are creating.
Two key precepts have always found some form of expression in religious traditions across the ages: One is that we love our neighbor by welcoming the stranger, and the other is that the sacred ground of a house of worship cannot be violated by secular authorities. These two teachings came together in the United States [...]
The end of Congress’ most ambitious effort in years to reform the nation’s immigration system has effectively shifted the issue from Capitol Hill to the campaign trail, where presidential candidates are contending with this divisive and vexing challenge.
UPDATED MAY 15, 2006: The debate on immigration reform has split the country, so it’s no surprise that the religious community is divided over the issue as well. In this case, the clergy are divided from their flock. Across the country, Roman Catholic clergy have been fighting efforts by Congress to make it a crime [...]
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