Does Muslim center project test religious tolerance for some?

Has the proposed Muslim community center project in Lower Manhattan tested the limits of the American public's tolerance? AP National writer Allen G. Breed questions U.S. society's commitment to "freedom from bigotry or prejudice."

As the Muslim community center project takes center stage in the media, Americans are now forced to examine how truly tolerant they are – or aren't.

In 1790, a letter to newly-elected President George Washington from Rhode Island's Moses Seixas concluded "God's hand" was in the establishment of a government free of bigotry. In reply, President Washington assured the Jewish leader that the United States represented a new chance for people to enjoy freedom and respect.

American history is resplendent with examples of religious tolerance, some unparalleled in human history. So, does the Muslim community center project represent a change of some American attitudes, or values, on any levels?

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

President Obama elevates proposed mosque to a national discussion

President Barack Obama has weighed in on the issue of a proposed mosque being constructed near the site of the World Trade Center attacks, in Lower Manhattan. On Saturday, President Obama said Muslims do have a right to build a cultural center where it is being proposed. President Obama went on to say that, in America, people should be treated equally, in accordance with this nation's laws.

Some of President Obama's critics have been vocal about his remarks about the Islamic center. Meanwhile, the president's remarks have also garnered support from those who espouse the rights of people to practice their faith free from governmental interference in the United States.

The New York Theological Seminary is dedicated to fostering religious tolerance and diversity. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women from a wide array of backgrounds for careers in ministry.

Commission paves way for a new Muslim center near WTC site

A group is attempting to build a Muslim community center within blocks of the 9/11 attacks, in Lower Manhattan.

The New York City Landmarks Commission recently denied "historic status" to a building constructed in the 19th century nearby the site of the World Trade Center attacks. By doing this, the commission has cleared the way for a group seeking to build a 15-story Muslim community center.

The new community center is expected to be named the Cordoba House, in honor of the medieval Spanish city where Christians, Jews and Muslims lived in peace and tolerance for nearly a millennium. The developers of this project are hoping to build a center that encourages peace, diversity, and reconciliation between people.

While the project has many supporters, it also has many detractors who criticize the construction of a Muslim community center so close to where the attacks took place.

During the Sept. 11th attacks, many faculty members and students from the New York Theological Seminary assisted with the effort in Lower Manhattan. Likewise, volunteers from NYTS served for long periods of time during the period after the attacks.