A short history of the NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a cornerstone in the fight for equality among all American citizens. Above are some highlights of this prestigious organization.

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.

Father's 'honor killing' trial is set to begin in Arizona

It has been about 13 months since Noor Almaleki, 20, was allegedly struck and killed by a Jeep Laredo reportedly driven by her father, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 50, in Phoenix, Arizona. In what is being claimed by prosecutors to be a case of an "honor killing" because his daughter was becoming too Westernized and defying Mulsim traditions, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, an Iraqi immigrant, faces life in prison, if convicted for his daughter's murder.

Though honor killings have been noted the world over, in countries such as Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, among others, officials say it is a relatively rare occurrence to see one happen in the United States. Nevertheless, it is being reported that Noor Almaleki had refused an arranged marriage by her family in favor of living with a boyfriend of her own choosing.

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.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day to be celebrated on Jan. 17th this year

This year, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be celebrated this year on January 17. The Rev. Dr. King was a believer in nonviolent activism and the Civil Rights Movement. He was murdered because of his activism in 1968 and President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, though it was not formally observed until 1986.

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

Pastor discusses the mega church versus small congregations

While churches are not ideally judged by how many parishioners are in the pews every Sunday, there are those people (in and out of the clergy) who do just that.

Ever more, the plight of small, struggling congregations is being focused upon as mega churches, with their thousands of members, are becoming hubs of urban and even suburban life. American Baptist Churches Rev. Bill Whitehead, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Rahway, in NJ, discusses the ongoing issues about 'mega churches' versus small congregations in his latest column.

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.

Merry Christmas! The Mormon Tabernacle Choir 2010

Merry Christmas to you and yours this Christmas Season. From everyone at the New York Theological Seminary family to everyone in yours. This is a wonderful selection from the celebrated Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Please enjoy this seasonal music selection.

Christianity had tough competition in the 1st century Roman Empire

Within the 1st century AD Roman Empire, the Roman gods were competing with Jesus Christ, the Egyptian goddess Isis and the eastern sun god Mithras. The Archaeological Institute of America discusses the competitive nature of emergent religions in the world after the death of Jesus, and how Christianity was rivaled for awhile by the spread of Mithraic beliefs, which especially drew in Roman soldiers.

History tells us there were many similarities between the cult of Mithras and the young Christian church, including a communal meal and a resurrection tradition for Mithras' followers. In the race of time, though, the church of Jesus Christ outlasted the cult of Mithras, which had faded by the 5th century.


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.

2 arrested, charges with bias attack of Imam on A-train Wednesday morning

Two men were arrested in Manhattan Wednesday morning on charges that they allegedly beat an Imam. Police claim that the two attackers called the 49-year-old victim a "camel jockey" and threw his religious head covering onto subway train tracks.

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) confirmed the man who was attacked was, in fact, an Imam. The men were riding on a northbound A train when the harassment reportedly took place.

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

Baptists plan for 2011 GDVA Winter Games in Garden State

American Baptists in the Garden State are planning the 2011 GDVA Winter Games, tentatively scheduled for March 18-19 in Palmyra, New Jersey. According to event planners, "The 2011 GDVA Winter Games are a first step in connecting people together simply to enjoy some fun activities and connect with others while participating."

Individual events being planned include: Wii swordfighting, Wii ski jump, Wii Slalom, Wii Home-Run Derby and Wii Frisbee Toss to Dog, among others. There will be an invitation to congregations, who can be represented by up to two contestants. The 2011 GDVA Winter Games are being chaired by the Rev. Wesley Allen, who can be contacted on Twitter @wezlo.

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

Cleveland church to close after remaining members take vote

In Cleveland, Ohio, the Broadway United Methodist Church, which was constituted as a Sunday school in 1872, is getting ready to close. A church building that once held hundreds of worshippers on Sunday mornings now draws only about 20 people for services.

On Nov. 17, only 17 church members were at worship and, after service was concluded, voted to close the debt-ridden church by a vote of 16-1. This was the final blow for a once-thriving church that, in recent years, had disbanded its choir, shutdown its preschool and exhausted its endowment.

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.

Fallen athlete granted new lives for those in need through organ donation

Eleven months ago, the sports world was shocked and saddened by the loss of 26-year-old Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry. The American Football Conference all-star died on Dec. 16, 2009 after he fell from the bed of a pickup in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Henry's mother, Carolyn Glaspy, made a decision as her son was dying to donate his organs to LifeShare of the Carolinas, resulting in life-saving procedures for 33-year-old Brian Polk and 56-year-old Donna Wyatt Arnold, among others. Recently, Mrs. Glaspy met at an emotional reunion of recipients who received organs from her late son. She said that her son would have approved of helping others through organ donation, and she explained that some good can come out of even the worst tragedies.

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.

Dalai Lama to quit role as head of the exiled Tibetan government

The Dalai Lama, 75, has stated he is seeking to quit his role as ceremonial leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile. This was reported by one of the Dalai Lama's aides on Tuesday. It is being speculated that this represents another step in the process of the aging Dalai Lama in passing the torch of succession.

As the leader of the dominant Gelug arm of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is the top religious leader in Tibet. However, many of the Dalai Lama's predecessors also served as Tibet's ruler. This Dalai Lama was ruler of the country when Chinese troops forced him into fleeing to India in 1950.

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 background, for careers in ministry.

Atheists and agnostics gather in Springfield for 'Skepticon' event

In Springfield, Missouri, thousands from around the country are converging upon the city to talk about religion, or perhaps the lack of it. Atheists and agnostics are taking part in a convention dubbed "Skepticon," and have assembled the largest event of its kind ever.

Skepticon is now in its third year and has grown larger every year. Event organizers reportedly chose Springfield for a host city because of its reputation as the "Buckle in the Bible Belt."

During the convention, atheists and agnostics will reportedly share why they lost their faith or have not been able to form it in the first place.

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 walk of life, 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.

As holidays near, jobless benefits on the line for 2 million

As we collectively head into the Holiday Season, job benefits will run out for 2 million people unless they are renewed by a Congress that is locked in partisan division. While extended unemployment benefits are being reviewed for adoption, so are preserving tax cuts for people earning more than $200,000.

The two issues have created renewed arguments in the halls of Congress. An extension of jobless benefits enacted this past summer expired on Dec. 1 and, on Thursday, a bill to extend them for three months failed in the House.

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.

Haiti reels as cholera outbreak spreads throughout island

About a month after a cholera outbreak started spreading in Haiti, the death toll for the disease has risen to 917. This has proved to be an especially tough break for the island nation, which experienced a historic earthquake in January (which killed more than 230,000 Haitians and displaced about 1.3 million).

According to the United Nations, up to 200,000 Haitians could become infected by this recent outbreak. Complicating an already bad situation, most Haitians do not have access to either clean water or reliable sanitation.

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 walk of life, 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.

Website launches new stage-specific Alzheimer's guide

The website Caring.com has launched its first Alzheimer's resource for family caregivers, which is titled "Steps and Stages." This resource includes an interactive guide and a customized e-mail newsletter that offers specific, stage-appropriate advice.

People who are impacted by Alzheimer's disease experience early-, middle- and late-stage symptoms. With each stage, not only does the person with the disease deal with a specific set of symptoms, but also the caregivers involved with that person. In order to best assist people experiencing Alzheimer's, caregivers should be educated about what to expect at each stage, according to Andy Cohen.

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.

Miami Herald reveals investigation into Haitian child trafficking

It is being reported that Dominican border guards are smuggling Haitian children into the Dominican Republic and selling them. Guards are allegedly selling these children above the Massacre River. When asked about this issue by the Miami Herald, Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive allegedly acknowledged smuggling is an issue between the two countries. Prime Minister Bellerive said many people along the border are benefitting from this monetarily.

After the January earthquake, which killed about 300,000 people, investigations by El Nuevo Herald and the Miami Herald revealed that witnesses have seen money being passed between border officers for smuggling children. Children are then, subsequently, it is being reported, sold for the purposes of sex or domestic work.

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

CT mom reportedly sends son to school armed to hold back bullies

In Connecticut, Hartford resident Sylvia Mojica, 38, has reportedly been arrested with risk of injury to a minor. It is being alleged that Ms. Mojica armed her 12-year-old son with a BB gun and a knife to fend off bullies at his school. Ms. Mojica's son has been attending the Burns Elementary School.

According to published reports, the boy is facing suspension or even possible expulsion as a consequence of these charges.

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.

Cholera outbreak spreads throughout quake-ravaged Haiti

Having already survived a landmark Jan. 12 earthquake and subsequent hurricane, as well as tropical storms, the island republic of Haiti has a new concern.

According to published reports, Haiti is experiencing a cholera outbreak that has claimed the lives of about 200 people thus far, while afflicting approximately 2,000 Haitians. Public health officials have fears that the epidemic will spread to the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince.

Haitian Medical Association President Claude Surena said there are already 2.4 million living in dangerous situations and this epidemic poses a substantial threat to them. Cholera is a disease that dehydrates people, with frequent diarrhea, among other symptoms. Haiti last experienced a cholera outbreak about a century ago. The disease is associated with standing and fetid water.

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