House committee will examine 'radicalized US Muslims' in special session

In Washington DC, the House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee is set to hold a March 10 hearing into "radicalized US Muslims." Some critics have said this hearing is an attempt by the committee to popularize bias against the Muslim community.

Reportedly, two US Muslims with family members who were radicalized will be among the witness. The committee is chaired by New York Rep. Peter King. Meanwhile, Japanese-American lawmaker Mike Honda took aim at the hearing, evoking the image of 1940s Era Japanese-American detention camps where Americans were forcibly relocated by the US Government based on prejudice.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

What would Jesus do to mend interfaith misunderstandings?

Recently, at the North Wood Church in Keller, Texas, a global faith forum was conducted. At the event, the question was asked: How can Christians communicate what we believe without being denigrating or inflammatory?

In particular, event organizers wanted to explore this question in the context of interfaith relations between Christians with Muslims and Christians with Jews. Too often, according to author Mark Galli, relationships between Christians and other groups are marked by misunderstandings and anger.

So, given the state of the world and previous missteps between religions in relating to each other, the possible answers to how Christians communicate with other faiths is examined through the lens of "What would Jesus Do?"

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to social justice, religious tolerance, diversity and multiculturalism. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Eid al-Azha is what Muslims do when they cannot go to Hajj

Eid al-Azha is an annual festival within Islam. It is celebrated in the last month of the Mulsim calendar, during Zul Hijja. Muslims gather from around the world to celebrate Hajj during the month of Zul Hijja.

To celebrate Eid al-Azha is to take part in a day of solidarity. Only a relatively few Muslims would be able to travel to Mecca and perform Hajj by making a pilgrimage. Everyone else takes part in Eid al-Azha wherever they live. Eid al-Azha is a day of sacrifice.

Muslims make symbolic sacrifices on this day. It is important to know that Hajj and its practices are symbolic re-enactments of acts performed by the family of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Ishmael, and his mother was Hajira.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, religious tolerance and social justice. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Saudi government plans improvements for Hajj pilgrims

As the 2010 Hajj pilgrimage begins this week, Muslims from around the world are returning to the holy cities of Mecca and Medinah. In all, about 3 million pilgrims are expected to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Among the down sides of so many people descending upon a few areas, though, there is extreme traffic.

In recent years, extreme traffic congestion has been compounded by swine flu and severe flooding. However, the Saudi government is making important changes to improve the lot for pilgrims. Among other innovations, the government will unveil a new high-speed commuter train for pilgrims in 2011. In addition, the Saudi government is rolling out improved drinking water and sanitation facilities during the event.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Indonesian Muslims protest planned Quran burnings

In Jakarta, Indonesia, thousands of Indonesian Muslims protested outside the U.S. Embassy to decry a plan by The Dove World Outreach Center, in Gainesville, Florida, to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11th. The Dove Center is reportedly timing the Koran burnings to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

As well as protesting in Jakarta, Muslims demonstrated in five other Indonesian cities. Some Muslim leaders are hoping the U.S. Government will use its influence to get the center to cease the Quran burnings at the Dove Center. Notably, Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to religious tolerance, multiculturalism, diversity and social justice. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every walk of life, for careers in ministry.