An Interfaith Christmas Story

By Saadia Faruqi

Source: Houston Community Newspapers

 

My first grader came home yesterday with news about his school Christmas performance. Tentatively he informed me that his class would be singing “Deck the Halls” in front of all the parents a couple of weeks from now. I say tentatively because I think he wanted to see my reaction and to give him some answers. At 6 and-a-half he is starting to become aware of the differences between “us” as Muslims and the majority of his school as Christians. It’s nothing new of course: this time every year, in schools and workplaces everywhere, Muslims, Jews and Hindus start feeling slightly uncomfortable during a holiday they cannot identify with.

Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Remain High

Source: Hatewatch

Hate crimes against perceived Muslims, which jumped up 50% in 2010 largely as a result of anti-Muslim propagandizing, remained at relatively high levels last year, according to 2011 hate crime statistics released today by the FBI.

When A Religious Home Is Defiled We Stand Together in Love

By Rev. Ellen Cooper-Davis

Source: Keep the Faith


There is a reason we refer to our churches, temples, mosques, chapels as sacred space. They are earthly containers of the holy, homes for the deep bonds of human community, centers for setting aside the demands of modern life and settling into prayer or praise or petition. Beauty, awe, wonder, joy and sorrow all reside here. It is to these sacred spaces we bring our children to be blessed, it is in these spaces we celebrate milestones of a human lifetime, it is in these spaces that we mourn our dead. This time of year, many people will enter their sacred spaces for festivals and holidays. They will go to celebrate miracles, to seek the light, to mark the birth of a Prince of Peace.

Religious Tolerance Wins Big in the Elections

By Saadia Faruqi

Source: Religious Freedom USA

 

Last week, after a fortnight of legal wrangling, House Republican Allen West finally conceded defeat in the race against Democrat Patrick Murphy in Florida. Despite spending $17 million in his campaign as opposed to Murphy’s $3.6 million, it seems that the people of Florida have spoken. They no longer want an Islamophobe representing them in Congress.

Subject: Fwd., Fwd., Fwd.

By Rev. Nell Green

Source: The APB News Blog

 

In general I don’t like emails that have been forwarded a dozen times. However, I do usually have a look at what I have been sent unless I have reason to suspicion a virus or such. Why take the time? It gives me a glimpse into how others are thinking about politics, faith, or daily living. Like social media, it is a tiny window into thoughts, ideas, concerns and sometimes prejudices and fears. Unless asked specifically to do so, I rarely answer these forwards.