Islamabad, Mar 08, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- TVSCF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi has called for seeking guidance from Quran and Sunnah for the betterment of humanity. He was speaking at All Pakistan Naat competition jointly organized by Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television Corporation at National Broadcasting House, here Saturday.

via tradingmarkets.com

An editorial titled 'Sanctity of the national mosque' appeared in The Daily Star of January 18, 2009. What was happening there at the mosque every Friday since the beginning of this year is a shame for all of us. About the involvement of the government in the appointment of a Khatib, I have a question. Why should the government get involved in the management of a mosque? Is it managing the religious institutions of the other major religious communities of the country, the Hindus, the Buddhists and the Christians? I wish to raise some questions fundamental.

via thedailystar.net

The UN has agreed with Myanmar to extend its activities in a region from which hundreds of Muslim boat people recently fled, the world body said after its refugee chief toured the military-ruled nation. Antonio Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), left Myanmar on Thursday after a six-day visit focusing on areas near the Bangladesh border where ethnic minority Rohingya migrants live.
Hundreds of Rohingyas were rescued in Indonesian and Indian waters earlier this year after they fled Myanmar but were then towed out to sea by Thai security.

via google.com

For those curious about the meanings of the names of Angkor temples, here is a brief explanation for the most popular nomenclature: Angkor Wat literally means Temple City. The Thom in Angkor Thom means big. The meaning of Bayon is unclear, but a plausible translation is Leading Sacred Amulet. Prasat Bei near the south gate of Angkor Thom means Three Towers. Ta in Ta Prohm means grandfather or old man.

via phnompenhpost.com

A prayer book in his hand, Mehran Bashiri prayed for seven strangers who were persecuted in Iran because of their participation in the Baha'i Faith. Bashiri, 48, and other Baha'i members from San Mateo County met in a devotional gathering last Thursday night at Linda Duper's home in Pacifica, where they remembered all those who are oppressed and abused. Among the recipients of the group's prayers were two women and five men who are held at Evin Prison in Tehran while awaiting trial.

via insidebayarea.com

Hollywood star Colin Farrell is reportedly giving up his Catholic faith to convert to Judaism for his new girlfriend Emma Forest. The actor has been dating British novelist Forrest since June, but the romance appears to be turning very serious.The star couple attended a West Hollywood party for Heeb magazine at MBar earlier this month, where Farrell was seen wearing a chain with a Star of David pendant around his neck, according to the New York Post’s Page Six. A source adds that Forrest was seen doing "a striptease burlesque act to traditional Jewish music".

via theinsider.com

Amritsar, Punjab: A timely intervention by Assistant Superintendent of Police Pradeep Yadav today averted a clash among members of Haryana’s Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Ad hoc) and SGPC’s Task Force at the Golden Temple complex here. Sikh activists from Haryana, led by Jagdish Singh Jhinda, a leader of the Haryana committee, brought offspring of Guru Gobind Singh’s horse and his relics as “proof” to demand the resignation of SGPC’s chief Avtar Singh, who had alleged that the horse was bought from a bazar.

via sikhsangat.org

I am often asked by foreign friends what is Buddhism? What would be a good, short reply? Well, to offer a brief reply, you could explain that the Buddha was just an ordinary man who abandoned his worldly life in order to help sentient beings transcend suffering. He achieved this goal when he woke to reality. Perhaps you could explain this realization in the following way. The Buddha discovered that wrong view is the root of suffering.

via kuenselonline.com

Clash between Hindus and Muslims erupted on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi in Mahidpur area of Ujjain district in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, March 10. Resultantly, one person was killed and nearly 40 people were injured, which also included three police officers. Since the situation was getting out of control and more violence was expected so indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Ujjain district on Wednesday. Additional security forces personnel have been deployed but situation is still tense.

via dailymailnews.com

Conservative evangelical and Catholic leaders who went out on a political limb by aligning themselves with the Obama administration are expressing feelings ranging from disappointment to optimism in their reaction to the president's decisions so far on culture war issues.
Although most of President Barack Obama's moves on abortion and stem cell research have been expected, some right-leaning Christian leaders who took a risk sitting down at the table with a Democratic president feel that several major decisions fall short of the common ground Obama had promised on divisive social issues.

via news.yahoo.com

The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Al-Quran Institute (ITQSHHB) held a Khatam al-Quran for 25 times to mark Brunei's Silver Jubilee National Day. The event took place at the Institute in Jalan Tutong. The event began and ended with the recital of the Quran for 25 times by all officers, staff as well as male and female students of ITQSHHB.

via thepeninsulaqatar.com

The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Al-Quran Institute (ITQSHHB) held a Khatam al-Quran for 25 times to mark Brunei's Silver Jubilee National Day. The event took place at the Institute in Jalan Tutong. The event began and ended with the recital of the Quran for 25 times by all officers, staff as well as male and female students of ITQSHHB.

via brunei-online.com

The Ciel Association, that manages the Elsau mosque in Strasbourg, has been in conflict with city officials over their failure to construct a larger structure for the neighborhood Muslim population. Recently their anger and impatience resulted in outdoor prayers and a show of force at the municipal administration building. The (Ciel) Association has been managing a place of worship on rue Mathias-Grunewald since 1989 - a basement that was flooded last May. The congregation refused to pray in the gymnasium of the Hans-Arp middle school and set up a tent on the sidewalk as an alternative solution.

via europenews.dk

Wisconsin's population is becoming less Christian and more secular. That's according to the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey done at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. It says 76 percent of Wisconsinites identify as Christian, down from 91 percent in 1990. Fifteen percent claim no religion, up from 6 percent in 1990. The survey says similar trends are seen nationwide. But, the number of Catholics in Wisconsin has dropped, while it has remained stable nationwide. Catholics dropped from 39 percent of the state's population in 1990 to 29 percent last year.

via chicagotribune.com

THE Anglican Church hopes the jailing of a former youth leader for sexually abusing young boys will prompt more of the man's victims to come forward and seek help.
Andrew William Dawson-Ryan, 60, was jailed for 18 years in the South Australian District Court on Thursday for offences between 1972 and 1988. As a leader with the Church of England Boys Society, Dawson-Ryan abused four boys after plying them alcohol, giving them cigarettes and exposing them to pornography. The abuse occurred mostly on youth camps and started when the boys were aged about 12 or 13.

via news.com.au