First Muslim Police Association created in Scotland

Strathclyde Police Friday welcomed the creation of Scotland's first Muslim Police Association, which is aimed to tackle the rise of Islamophobia.

"The formation of the Muslim Police Association is a positive step," said the chief constable of Scotland's biggest police force, Steve House.

"These are officers who are positive about seeing the police force as a career and want to use their association to reach out to Muslims," House said.

World Leaders Seek Help from Interfaith Leaders

It is remarkable to witness the awakening of the political community to the necessity of interfaith cooperation as a vital and necessary cornerstone for peaceful life and political stability.

The president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, and LOK Sabha Opposition leader L K Advani in India are cited here making virtually identical calls to religious leaders to intensify their interfaith and interreligious commitments for the the sake of healthy and stable societies.

clipped from www.speroforum.com

The EU needs religion

Speaking to religious leaders, Hans-Gert Pottering said that religions can make contributions towards tackling major challenges such as the Balkans. The president of the EU parliament credited churches with EU integration.

"The power of religious authorities to make a significant contribution, through wise leadership, to tackling some of today's major challenges should not be underestimated," Pöttering told the Jewish, Islamic and Christian leaders at the Brussels meeting.

clipped from www.newindpress.com

Advani calls for intensified inter-faith dialogue

KOTTAYAM: LOK Sabha Opposition leader L K Advani has called for expanding and intensifying inter-faith dialogue in the country. He said that freedom of faith and cultural unity can co-exist.

However, it is the bounden duty of all diverse sections of the society to continually strengthen India’s unity, he said.

In his presidential address, reigning Metropolitan Rev Dr Joseph Mar Thoma emphasised the relevance of religious pluralism and a harmonious living, based on proper understanding and cooperation.

Reform Jews open Israel's first state-funded non-Orthodox synagogue

A highly important and largely neglected area for "interfaith" and "interreligious" relations is the pursuit of harmonious and cooperative relations WITHIN religions. In fact peace among religions and across the boundaries of entire faith traditions cannot be pursued effectively nor sustained in the presence of the internal strife and divisions that plague every world religion.

This Israeli supreme court decision represents and extremely important development in the world of religion, as well as in the potential for the development of a wider arena of peace in the region.
Frank Kaufmann

Reform Jews open Israel's first state-funded non-Orthodox synagogue

Israel's Reform Jews dedicated the first non-Orthodox synagogue to receive state funding on Monday, after a long court battle that accented the rift among streams of Judaism in Israel...

Leader of the Reform Yozma congregation in Modi'in, Kinneret Shiryon

"This is a substantial step in recognizing different streams of Judaism in the state of Israel," said Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon, who leads the 240-family congregation...

"Religion in Israel has traditionally been an either-or proposition," said Rabbi Uri Regev, president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. "Most Israelis consider themselves religious or secular and don't accept the liberal streams."
Groups like Regev's want to change that. "There's more than one way to be

Islamic seminary's plea against cow slaughter receives praise

It is continued good news each time we find leaders, institutions or communities standing up and fighting for the rights of believers from different faiths.

In the article just below, we read of a Jewish rabbi calling for protests to protect the sensibilities of Hindus

In this article, we read of a Muslim seminary calling for the end to cow slaughter and consumption, not because it is a matter of Muslim dietary law, but rather as a gesture to care for the religious life and sensibilities of Hindus.

There is no better way to forge the steady advance of interreligious harmony and cooperation, than to take solid action on behalf of the religious concerns of others.
Frank Kaufmann

clipped from www.gulfnews.com

Islamic seminary's plea against cow slaughter receives praise

New Delhi: The Deoband-based Islamic seminary's plea to refrain from cow slaughter and beef eating has been warmly received with people saying the gesture will go a long way in further cementing Hindu-Muslim brotherhood.

"The appeal to refrain from cow slaughter and beef eating is in tandem with India's secular ethos and sentiments. It is a welcome move that will go a long way in bridging the gap between Hindus and Muslims," Harcharan Singh Josh, a member of the National Commission for Minorities, said.

"In India, where unity thrives in diversity, the people should learn to respect each other's religious sentiments. Such gestures should be replicated in our behaviour as well and, if possible, reciprocated as well. Thus, we can contribute to the country's peace and harmony."

Jewish leader calls for boycott of the movie "The Love Guru"

I have not seen this movie. I do not know first hand the degree to which its content is offensive.

What is positive to note in this article is the cross defense of a religious community, by a leader from a different religion.

This is an example of what must be done in all dimensions of religion so that religious leaders can transcend our own rootedness in separation, and insodoing rise to hold the lead in peacemaking that not only is proper to true religious leadership, but requisite to any hopes for peace in the world.
Frank Kaufmann

clipped from feeds.bignewsnetwork.com

Jewish leader calls for boycott of the movie "The Love Guru"

Washington, May 6 : A prominent Jewish Rabbi has called for boycott of upcoming movie "The Love Guru" because it "lampoons Hinduism, mocks Ashram life and Hindu philosophy" and asking "who laughs at religious practices".

Rabbi Elizabeth W. Beyer of Nevada, in a statement, said, " 'The Love Guru' lampoons Hinduism, mocks Ashram life and Hindu philosophy. While 'Guru Pitka' states that he endorses no particular religion, the movie clearly portrays him as a guru - religious leader of Hindus."

Meetings with Hamas

This article describes the sensitive, challenging, and often rewarding work in the efforts to negotiate peace in the Holy Land.

Click on the image to read the entire article: