Source: Reuters

http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=BKK206284

On October 17, 2005 Reuters reported, "Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called for calm in the restive Muslim south on Monday after the murders of a monk and two teenage boys at a Buddhist temple stoked fears of growing religious tension.

'Even Muslim leaders cannot stand this. It was an act human beings would not dare to do,' Thaksin told reporters when...

Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: RNS

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/176/story_17662_1.html

On October 17, 2005 Religion News Service reported, "Religious relief agencies, already faced with numerous disasters in the last year, have begun assisting survivors of a massive earthquake in South Asia. After a 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on Saturday (Oct. 8), Catholic Relief Services staffers already based in...

Source: The News Observer

http://newsobserver.com/news/story/2818700p-9266404c.html

On October 17, 2005 The News Observer reported, "Ten years ago, Khalilah Sabra could not imagine herself participating in interfaith activities with Jews. 'Although I am not Palestinian, the occupation was like a sore that would not heal,' said Sabra, a Muslim woman living in Raleigh. In a classic leap of faith, Sabra organized such a gathering Sunday when about 50 Muslims and...

Source: Bernama

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=160815

On October 16, 2005 Bernama reported, "When was the first Thaipusam festival held at Batu Caves? When were the steps into the temple -- perched high up in the limestone caves -- built? Who built the Hindu place of worship that yearly attracts millions of devotees and tourists from the world over? The answers to these and other questions are facts that the 7,000 or so tourist guides in the...

Source: The Age

On October 16, 2005 The Age reported, "[Caroline] Tully [a witch in Melbourne] is part of an Australian trend in which witches and charismatic Christians are leading religious growth. Many women are turning to witchcraft or paganism as a reaction to the patriarchal nature of traditional Christianity. Academic Dr Philip Hughes, of the Christian Research Association, told a Melbourne seminar on spirituality that 'nature' religions rose by 140 per cent between 1996 and 2001. Agnostics are on the rise, too. For many, the nature religions were...

Source: Lodi News-Sentinel

http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2005/10/15/news/3_graffiti_051015.txt

On October 15, 2005 the Lodi News-Sentinel reported, "The crudely painted black, red and green swastikas and letters came as a shock this week to Lodi Sikhs who regularly gather at their property [in Lodi, California]... Who painted the swastikas and letters that stand for 'white power' is not known. The vandalism appeared this week on the Sikh property...

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-10/15/article06.shtml

On October 15, 2005 IslamOnline.net reported, "Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the highest seat of religious learning in the Sunni world, has decided to shun American officials and freeze cooperation with all US institutions after Washington denied one of its senior officials an entry visa. 'Grand Imam Sheikh Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi decided to ban US officials from entering...

Source: Newsday

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-pak1015,0,2689587.story

On October 15, 2005 Newsday reported, "From the old Pakistani enclaves of Brooklyn to the spanking new mosques of Bay Shore, Muslims gathered Friday to mourn, to pray and to collect money.

'Everyone is very, very shaken up,' said Dr. Hafizur Rehman, a pediatrician from Bay Shore whose family comes from the earthquake-devastated region...

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/15/BAGOEF8UP81.DTL

On October 15, 2005 the San Francisco Chronicle reported, "As part of their commemoration of Islam's holiest month, Bay Area mosques are inviting non-Muslims to learn more about Islam during five Ramadan dinner celebrations this weekend. Organizers hope the outreach will help break down stereotypes about their faith. 'We're inviting people into...

Source: Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5670262.html

On October 14, 2005 the Star Tribune ran an opinion piece by Doug Grow, a writer for the Star Tribune. He reports on his conversation with the recent Minneapolis mayoral candidate, Farheen Hakeem, who is also a comedian. "Hakeem, who has been doing comedy for six years, was the Green Party's candidate for mayor of Minneapolis in last month's primary election. She finished third, behind Hennepin...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-fals14.html

On October 14, 2005 the Chicago Sun-Times reported, "The Muslim community, according to 2002 Irish census figures, numbers about 20,000 in the south of Ireland and, according to Irish Muslim leaders, is more like 25,000 in the south with another few thousand in Northern Ireland... Much of the dramatic increase came in a wave of refugees and asylum seekers from Eastern Europe and...

Source: The Mercury News

Wire Service: AP

h ttp://w ww.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/12901796.htm

On October 14, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "The Vatican sent a message to Muslims on Friday for the end of Ramadan, pledging to keep up momentum for closer relations begun by the late Pope John Paul II and to work for 'greater justice and enduring peace.' The traditional message, signed by the head of the office for interreligious relations, Archbishop Michael...

Source: Chosun

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200510/200510140006.html

On October 14, 2005 Chosun reported, "It was half a century ago that two Muslims, Imam Zubercoch and Abdul Rahman, fought for peace in the Korean War as part of the UN forces and in the process introduced Islam's holy book, the Koran, to Korea. On Friday, the country celebrated the golden anniversary of their mission. Sponsored by the Korea-Middle East Association,...

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/international/asia/14charity.html

On October 14, 2005 The New York Times reported, "All across America, Muslim charities, many of which have shunned the spotlight since 9/11 lest they attract unwanted law enforcement attention, are now stepping up their efforts to raise money for the victims of the earthquake that crumbled the northernmost corner of Pakistan. In many cases, they have been more...

Source: The Mariner

h ttp://w ww2.townonline.com/rockland/artsLifestyle/view.bg?articleid=347288&format=text

On October 14, 2005 The Mariner reported, "[Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, Massachusetts is hosting its] seventh annual series of 'Listening to Other Voices.' [This year, the themes is] 'Religion and the World We Live In.' The title was motivated by the abundance of news items that were defined or interpreted by a religious perspective. [These have included the] Tsunami... stem cell research... war... political...