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Religion Interfaith and Universalism

• May 08, 2012
• 14:06

  PII Intercultural Trip to Turkey April 9-19, 2012

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Peace Islands Institute (PII)  intercultural trip to Turkey took place between April 9-19th 2012. The group, who were African American clergy, had the opportunity to see many historical sites as well as get to know the Turkish culture very closely. In addition to visiting important sites like Hagia Sophia, Ephesus, Blue Mosque, House of Virgin Mary, underground city and carved chapels in Cappadocia, the group enjoyed dinners with local families. The group also visited a newspaper, a dialogue foundation, a university and a private school in Turkey. The cities that were visited on the trip were Istanbul, Izmir, Konya, Antalya, Cappadocia and Bursa.

• May 01, 2012
• 16:34

  Friendship Gathering at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Holy Spirit Lutheran Church hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gathering on April 29th 2012. Fatma Demirbas a PII volunteer spoke about PII programs and events held in NJ. It was a wonderful day for everyone and Fatma's presentation was very informative, lot's of questions were asked. We thank PII volunteer's for the wonderful food that everyone enjoyed and a special thanks to Pastor Peggy Niederer for making this event possible.

• 16:12

  PII Hosts Dr. Ellis-Williams to Celebrate "African-American Heritage Month"

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Feb 25, 2012 the Peace Islands Institute hosted Dr. Ellis-Williams for Black History Month on a PII Women Gatherings. Dr. Ellis-Williams explored some of the historical lynchpin ideas and resistance strategies (these include but not limited to Runaway, Music, Education- Intellectual Curiosity, Spirituality, Euthanasia, Wearing “Masks”, Writing, Oral history, Poetry/Dance/Art, Secret Societies, Coalition Building, and Quilting) that have shaped an African survivors paradigm. These powerful tools along with imagination helped position African Americans and African people in the role of active agents in social transformation within their own communities and also have set a standard for other oppressed groups across the globe.

• April 03, 2012
• 13:37

  Abraham's Table: Caldwell College

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Caldwell College hosted the Peace Islands Institute (PII) in an Abraham's Table on Wednesday March 28, 2012,. The theme was “Faith and Culture” from Christian, Jewish and Muslim Perspectives.

  Speakers:

  Father Anthony Randazzo

  Rabbi Allen Silverstein

  Fatma Demirbas

  We thank the PII volunteers for the wonderful food they prepared and convey a big thanks to Father Albert Berner for making this beautiful event possible.

  

  Father Anthony Randazzo:

  On this topic of faith in culture and example that has been given to all of us recently because we live in a high-powered sports culture, is the example of Tebow coming to the New York Jets.  If you have followed that to any degree with Tebow, you realize that he is someone who is sought after he has a personality, he has charisma, he got up the other day in front of press conference and said on a number of occasions how many times he’s excited about being with the Jets organization and the point of Tebow is that he has manifested his faith openly and publicly on the gridiron.

• March 20, 2012
• 14:53

  Peace In Islam

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  PII attended the United Methodist Church in Park Ridge, to deliver a speech on "Peace in Islam" on Thursday March 15, 2012. Dr. Mesut Sahin, a PII Volunteer Member and a Professor at NJIT made his presentation on the topic.

  Dr. Sahin started his speech with the meaning of Islam, which means "submission"; submission of desires to the will of God, "to surrender" or "resign oneself" and "Peace"; personal peace attained by utterly submitting to God (Allah). He then proceeded the greeting of "Salam" which means "Peace be upon you."

  Furthermore Dr Sahin talked about the life of Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) and other Prophets mentioned in the Holy Qur'an. He gave examples of struggles and challenges of Prophets with their communities, talked about the Islamic belief of common characteristics of all Prophets being trustworthy, reliable and fatanet [extra ordinary intelligence and understanding, creativity]. He mentioned the belief of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) being the Seal of the Prophets, the last of the Messengers.
  

  In major misconceptions part Dr. Sahin said every religion had some extremists throughout the history, who had interpreted the holy book out of concept and put those as reasoning behind their wild activities.

  Q&A session followed the speech.

  It was a very educational experience. We thank Pastor Dr. Sudhama Ananda for the invitation.

• 14:37

  Friendship Gathering at Reformed Church of Highland Park

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  On March 11, 2012, The Reformed Church of Highland Park in New Jersey, opened their doors and hearts to the volunteers of the Peace Islands Institute. They ate and shared personal stories of their journeys in faith.

  Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale then invited everyone to a discussion about lent and the history of Christianity. He asked his people about their sacrifices during the 40-day holy period before Easter. People spoke about focus groups that helped them deepen their faith during this time of penance and self-deprivation.

  Sam Tuna, from the Turkish American community, in turn, spoke about Ramadan. He spoke about the meaning of "Assalaimu Alaikum” and the spiritual importance of 40 days in all religions. He said “most religions used this 40 day period as a break to quit something they regret, or start something they aspire to”. Ramadan was explained, using the activities of eating and drinking as the essential source to life. Tuna said Ramadan fasting, helps Muslims realize the purpose of all life- to meet the Creator who sustains everything.

  All the participants in the discussion related to the inter-personal similarities and differences and the ultimate realization that everyone ultimately believes in One God.

  Ferhan Tunagur, a Professor at Rutgers University talked about the purpose of dialogue to deal with similarities and differences. The catastrophic events of 9/11 polarized the U.S population and many looked at Muslims with suspicion. Inter-faith dialogue was the only way to bridge the gap and now the Peace Islands Institute is working hard to foster that relationship between followers of the Abrahamic religions.

  It was a wonderful event well spent together.

• March 15, 2012
• 20:43

  New book by Alan Brill: Judaism and World Religions: Encountering Christianity, Islam, and Eastern Traditions

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  “In this major new contribution, Brill builds upon his earlier path breaking work on Jewish views of other religions. With expertise in both comparative theology and in traditional Jewish texts—a rare combination indeed—he again demonstrates his impressive ability to tackle this vital topic. The work is methodologically sophisticated, as Brill critically engages with key thinkers on interreligious relations. It is also stunningly wide-ranging. He not only delves deeply into Jewish reflections on Christianity and Islam but assembles enlightening but little-known texts on Eastern religions as well. Thanks to Brill’s valuable work, scholars of Judaism and of religion are well-equipped to deal with a topic of great importance in the modern world.” -- Adam Gregerman, Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies, Baltimore, MD

  “Alan Brill examines the attitudes found in Jewish classical literature and contemporary writings towards western and eastern religions. Brill understands various writers inherently express a wide range of views ranging from rejecting to welcoming. The perspective is designed to argue for a more inclusive and tolerant stance based on modern mind-sets and deeper understandings of Christianity and Islam and even Judaism itself. His wide knowledge of world religions from the perspectives of inside practitioners and outside academic scholars of religion allows him to present original and thought provoking arguments for greater religious recognition of the other.” -- Herbert Basser, Queen’s School of Religion, Queen’s University, Kingston Canada

  “In presenting the urgency, the possibility, but also the complexity of a Jewish engagement with other religious traditions, Brill works consistently with concrete texts and particular contexts.  Doing so, he not only speaks appropriately to Jews but challengingly to Christians.  By being uniquely Jewish, Brill’s book is a distinctive contribution to the general discussion on how to make religious sense out of religious diversity.”-- Paul Knitter, Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture, Union Theological Seminary, New York

  "Alan Brill’s work is an encyclopedic contribution to the literature on religious pluralism. It is at once a guide to the spectrum of Jewish interpretations of other faiths, an insightful analysis of the contemporary interreligious landscape and a sampler of Brill’s own comparative thinking in regard to some major traditions. Through argument and by example, this book encourages a new depth of Jewish engagement in the theological discussion of diversity."-- S. Mark Heim,  Samuel Abbot Professor of Christian Theology, Andover Newton Theological School

  Judaism and World Religions is essential for a Jewish theological understanding of the various issues in encounters with the other major religions. With passion and clarity, Brill argues that in today’s world of strong religious passions and intolerance, it is necessary to go beyond secular tolerance toward moderate religious positions. Brill outlines strategies for Jews who want to remain true to traditional sources while interacting with the diversity of the world’s religions.

  This companion volume to Judaism and Other Religions provides the first extensive collection of traditional and academic Jewish approaches to the religions of the world. In the majority of volume, he presents an excellent survey of the possibilities contained in the texts useful for discussing Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism from a Jewish point for view.

  Alan Brill is the Cooperman/Ross Endowed Professor in honor of Sister Rose Thering at Seton Hall University, where he teaches Jewish Studies in the Graduate Department of Jewish-Christian Studies. He is active in interfaith encounter. Brill is the author of Thinking God: The Mysticism of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin and Judaism and Other Religions: Models of Understanding (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2010).

• March 13, 2012
• 14:31

  Faith Practices of Islam

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  PII attended the Trinity United Church family in Warren, to deliver a speech on Faith Practices of Islam on Sunday, March 11, 2012.

  Dr. Mesut Sahin, a PII Volunteer Member and a Professor at NJIT made his presentation on the topic.

  In his speech, Dr. Sahin talked about the social frame and historical background of people in Arabian Peninsula when Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) was born. He spoke about the expansion of Islam chronologically since the first revelation to Prop. Mohammed(PBUH).
  
  He gave examples of tolerance and living together in Prophet's life, as being the first one to move to Medina and founding a City State with Jews, and Christians. Futhermore, Dr. Sahin mentioned the status of the people of the book (followers of Abrahamic religions, Christians and Jews) in Islam, talked about the five pillars of Islam, and the basics of Islamic faith.

  A brief, but engaging Q&A session followed the speech.

  It was a very educational experience. We thank Heather Harris-Galgoci, Adult Education Coordinator of Trinity United Church for the invitation.

   

• March 09, 2012
• 19:30

  Islam in Brief at First United Methodist Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  PII attended the First United Methodist Church family in Westfield to deliver a speech on Islam in Brief and Major Misconceptions on Wednesday, March 7, 2012

  Ferhan Tunagur, a PII Volunteer Member and Professor at Rutgers University made his presentation on "Same Message since Adam through different messengers; Peace, Salvation, Submission to God. Islam in Brief and Major Misconceptions"

• March 07, 2012
• 15:34

  PII Lucheon hosts Cornell Brooks "Black History Month"

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Thursday February 23rd 2012, the Peace Islands Institute hosted Mr. Cornell Brooks to celebrate "African-American Heritage Month." He said, "This afternoon's celebration commemoration of African-American history month occurs at a peculiar moment in our civic history. It occurs at a particular and peculiar hour in the history of our democracy. It occurs at a particular date in the history of our post-racial democracy. It occurs at such a time where we have an African-American in the White House. We have African-Americans at the helm of some of America's most prestigious law firms. We have African-Americans leading some of our most prominent and prominent cities. We have such a mayor here today. We have such a mayor in this city of Newark."

• 15:24

  Abraham's Table at Calvary Episocopal Chruch

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Calvary Episcopal Church, Summit, hosted the Peace Islands Institute (PII) in an Abraham's Table event on Wednesday February 29, 2012,. The theme was “Violence and Religion” from Christian, Jewish and Muslim Perspectives.

  

  Speakers:

  Rev. Charles Rush

  Rabbi Avi Friedman

  Dr. Mesut Sahin

  Rabbi Avi Friedman:

  I think that we need to be mindful as we discuss this issue. We were challenged or we were asked to discuss this issue from a sort of national perspective: violence, war, and peace.

  But really this is not just a national issue, it’s an interpersonal issue. I was certainly reminded of that, and I think we were all reminded of that as we heard the news out of Ohio this week, when another disaffected young man walked into a high school and started shooting other high school students. So, this is not just about the way nations interact with one another, it’s the way we as individual human beings interact with one another.

• 15:09

  Book Conversation: The Political Trials and Times of Fethullah Gulen

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Peace Islands Institute hosted Dr. James Harrington at Ant Bookstore in Clifton on March 1st 2012. Journalist/Writer Aydogan Vatandas interviewed Dr. James Harrington on his book titled "Wrestling with Free Speech, Religious Freedom, and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trials and Times of Fethullah Gulen". Following the interview, Dr. James Harrington did a book signing of his book. We thank him for his presence.

• March 02, 2012
• 16:28

  Friendship Gathering at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Feb 26th 2012, the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Beverly NJ, hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gatering. Turkish-Americans from the area brought the homemade traditional refreshments with them. The Friendship gathering started with Reverend Legnani welcome speech and the introduction of PII.

  Murat Bayram, South Jersey Representative of PII extended his thanks to the Reverend and to the members of the church for allowing PII to have the opportunity to organize such friendship event. Then, he continued his words with stating that PII values these friendship meetings because of its influence and great impact on mutual understanding that builds long-lasting friendship. He stated that the success of these types of events lies in the sincerity.
  
  We thank Rev Robert Legnani for making this gathering possible

• February 21, 2012
• 15:18

  9/11 and its impacts on international relations and domestic politics

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  

  Peace Islands Institute organized a conference in cooperation with Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy titled "9/11 and its impacts on international relations and domestic politics" on March 23rd, 2012 between 9am and 1 pm.

• February 17, 2012
• 6:36

  “Mary Astell’s Unlikely Feminist Revolution: Lessons on the Role of Religion in Fighting for Gender Rights in 18th Century England,” by Brandon Withrow

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  

  The Christian philosopher and theologian Mary Astell (1666-1731) called for a counter-intuitive feminist revolution, which included the education of, and Protestant monastic community for, women (as an alternative to marriage), while simultaneously affirming a wife’s submission to her husband. This thinker argued that the Bible does not discuss gender equality, while simultaneously basing a large portion of her case for equality on Trinitarian theology. Astell’s religious nuances are reminders that the modus operandi of change is relative to the cultural and religious expectations of the world one is working in and the future one is seeking.

• 6:35

  “Notes on a Maya Apocalypse: Eschatology in the Guatemalan Civil War,” by Eric Hoenes del Pinal

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  

  The second half of the Twentieth Century saw much of Latin America undergoing intense periods of political instability and violence resulting in major social and political changes. Responding both to this uncertain political climate and the call to openness initiated by the Second Vatican Council, several theological movements began to take shape within Latin American Catholicism that sought to re-imagine the present and future of the Catholic Church. Critical to these projects was a re-figuration of salvation history that could better account for the social and political inequalities faced by many Latin American Catholics and that could respond to the immediate needs of marginalized peoples. This paper examines how Liberation Theology can be said to have proposed an eschatology that was responsive to social and cultural experiences of marginalized groups in Latin America and explores the legacy of this movement in the light of the extreme violence of the Guatemalan Civil War.

• 6:35

  “Jewish-Christian Encounter Through Text: an Interfaith Course for Seminarians,” by Melissa Heller

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  

  What happens when rabbinical students partner with Protestant seminarians and commit to a sustained and in-depth study of biblical text?

  A lot.

  They seek commonality. They tell stories.  They bring their vulnerabilities. They are offered a new lens through which to view their sacred texts.  They are challenged to articulate their beliefs and explain aspects of their tradition to their study partners, often helping them to clarify their relationship to their own tradition, to their sacred literature and to God.  As a semester progresses and trust develops, they share their challenges.  They question their partners.  They come to appreciate their differences, and to respect them.

  As the interactions deepen between the pairs, and among the group, so too does understanding. What results is a broadening of their definitions of “Jew” and “Christian” to include nuance, narrative and diversity.

• 6:35

  “Prophetic Courage and the Will of God: Comparative Ethics Through the Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Nishida Kitaro,” by Brendan R. Ozawa-de Silva

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  

  This article focuses on two concepts, each charged with a distinct ethical valence and ambiguity, namely “courage” and “the will of God,” and approaches them from a comparative perspective. A discussion of either concept by itself could involve the interplay between the philosophical, ethical, mystical, and religious; here, I bring them together in the hope that each may shed light on the other, focusing especially on their conjuncture in what I call “prophetic courage.” There are many ways in which the word courage is used, and in some of them, a courageous act can at the same time be called an unethical act. When we speak of truly great courage, however, we tend to associate it with the ethical and the good. Here I will be concentrating on prophetic courage as a type of great courage, and hence one that is profoundly connected to the question of the ethical.

• 6:34

  “Is Jesus on the Side of the Non-Christian?” by Aimee Upjohn Light

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  In his Journal of Ecumenical Studies response to my piece Hick, Harris and the Demise of the Pluralist Hypothesis, John Hick continues to advocate a meta-approach to religious multiplicity which ignores the problems inherent in such a quest.  Condemning tradition-bound approaches as “dogmatic theology,” Hick remains unaware of the promise of progress which is yet unmined within the religions themselves.  Specifically, this article proposes that by returning to Christianity as a rebellious religion of liberation—with a founder who witnessed to God’s absolute commitment to the oppressed and marginalized—we avoid the problems which undermine the pluralist hypothesis and the abstract, ontologically based positions which follow it.  Further, we reap the good which pluralism was meant to accomplish, specifically the affirmation of multiple religions and the status of their members.  The return to confessionally-based approaches is already taking place within inter-religious dialogue and theology of religions. Making sure that this return is not a return to abstract Christian dogmatism and instead serves the aims of Hick’s pluralism should be the work of this generation of scholars.  This article begins to point at how, for Christians, we can radicalize the current methodological paradigm shift to confessional, tradition-bound approaches and at the same time save this work from suffering the same problems as pluralism.  We need to give our confessional return the content of liberation theology.

• 6:34

  Special Section: Modeling Dialogue

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  

• 6:34

  “Poor Jesus: No Place to Stand,” by Lawrence C. Whitney

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  

  In this response I aim to introduce some distinctions in order to render a more complex view of the sector of theology in which interreligious dialogue resides at present and to raise some concerns about Dr. Light’s theological position.

• 6:34

  Call for Submissions for Issue 10

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  
  

  

• February 16, 2012
• 21:20

  Issue 8

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  

• 18:50

  Cookbook Benefits NJ Soup Kitchens

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Peace Islands Institute's Women Association published a cookbook that contains recipes from three Abrahamic traditions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The idea of publishing a book came about when women of three Abrahamic faiths collected traditional recipes from their respective cuisines and publish them in a book to generate revenues for soup kitchens in the area. Revenue from sales of the first editions were donated to Cumoc Echo in Paterson and Faith Kitchen in Dover, NJ. Directors of Cumoc and Faith Kitchen were pleased with donations, who expressed that publishing a cookbook that was prepared by members of three faiths demonstrates an exemplary activity aimed at fighting Poverty. Peace Islands Institute thanks to Lynn Webb, Nuray Sonmez, Stephanie Carbone, Rukiye Koc, Barbara Osborne and Nesrin Yilmaz for their hard work and dedication in carrying out such an excellent project.

  We thank all of the volunteers for sharing their delicious recipes with everyone.

• 15:12

  New Web Address

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  

  As you all know, we have recently changed our name to "Peace Islands Institute" and have been in the process of transition. Another step in this process is a new web address. We will soon move to www.PEACEISLANDS.org. You can visit our new web site and send us feedback. Your feedback is valuabale. You may contact us at infonj@peaceislands.org.

  Peace Islands Team

• February 15, 2012
• 15:40

  Friendship Gathering at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Our Lady of Mount Virgin Roman Catholic Church in Middlesex hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gathering on Sunday, February 12th, 2012.
  
  Sister James Xavier started the program by an interfaith prayer; thanking the Lord for uniting all children of Adam under one roof. She talked about how she learned and attended previous Peace Islands Institute programs in the region. How she is effected by the beauty of these interfaith gatherings of people from all walks of life. She mentioned the objectives of Friendship Gatherings, being to breakdown barriers between communities by visiting them in their faith-houses. And she welcomed the Peace Islands Institute volunteers and members by saying "they come as family and friends to engage in friendly conversations".

• February 13, 2012
• 15:35

  Friendship Gathering at Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville hosted the Peace Islands Institute and Temple Micah in a Friendship Gathering on January 15^th 2012. The main highlight of the gathering was a presentation on the peaceful co-existence of three faiths during the Ottoman rule at large and multi-ethnic and religious lands for centuries.

  The presentation started by introducing the Islamic perspective on how Muslims should deal with other faiths, especially Christianity and Judaism, in different levels of society and state by pointing to the Quranic statements as well as practises of Prophet Muhammed (PbuH) and his close successors. Then, the presentation portrayed how those Islamic teachings were used to build a peaceful society by Ottomans despite the high ethnic and religious diversity present on their lands. Finally, Ottomans’ decline and dispersion and how nationalist movement influenced this process and formation of modern day Turkey was discussed. Q&A followed the presentation.

  Food and refreshments were provided by the Church, Temple Micah, and Peace Island Institute. New friends were made and new thoughts were provoked. It was a wonderful afternoon well spent.

• February 06, 2012
• 15:44

  Friendship Gathering at Temple Sholom

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  the Temple Sholom in River Edge hosted the Peace Islands Institute (formerly the Interfaith Dialog Center) in a Friendship Gathering on January 29th 2012. Dr. Levent Koç, Executive Director, informed the guests about PII and its programs as well as discuss the religon of Islam. There was Q&A followinging the discussion, many questions were asked.

  This and such programs are vital to promote Jewish Muslim dialogue.

  Rabbi Borowitz showed the PII volunteers Torahs and made explanations at the end of the program. There was another Q&A time here. Lunch was also served at this event provided by PII volunteers.

  We thank Rabbi Neal Borrovitz for making this event possible. We also thank Joy Kurland, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey, for her contribution and for her presence at the program.

• January 27, 2012
• 14:23

  Venerated Women in Abrahamic Religons

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute hosted a "PII Women Gathering" to celebrate interfaith unity and strengthen communication between the Abrahamic religions at the Turkish Cultural Center in Ridgefield on on January 15^th 2012.

  Speakers Rabbi Debra Hachen, Sister Antonella Chunka, and Dr. Zuleyha Colak discussed from their own perspectives of how women are venerated in the Abrahamic religions.

  Rabbi Debra Hachen of Temple Beth-El in Jersey City talked about Ruth from the Hebrew Scriptures and particularly focused on Ruth's inspirational journey. She said she selected Ruth for her discussion because she believes Ruth to be a great example of a righteous, virtuous woman. Rabbi Hachen described how Ruth demonstrated courage and passion by following her mother-in-law, Naomi, after the death of her husband, Mahlon, and how this act earned Ruth acceptance from society.

  Sister Antonella Chunka of Felician College told of the life of the venerable Mother Mary Angela Truszkowka, who lived in Poland of the 19th century. Sister Chunka noted the reason she chose to speak of Truszkowka was because this blessed woman could be an inspiration for women from all religions to bring spiritual renewal to the world.

  Dr. Züleyha Çolak is a lecturer with The Middle East Institute at Columbia University described the life of Zuleikha (Züleyha), the wife of Egyptian statesman Potiphar, who tried and failed to seduce the Prophet Joseph. Çolak explained she selected this woman because she is a perfect example of a heroin who followed her passion and demonstrated great courage by confessing to society. Zuleikha transformed herself by accepting the message of Joseph and acknowledging him as a Prophet. Çolak cited Islamic resources and concluded that Zuleikha demonstrates the possibility of salvation.

• January 25, 2012
• 1:26

  PII Art & Essay Contest 2012

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  

  The deadline of the contest has been extended to May 11th due to the demand by schools and teachers. Please send us your essays and art works by then.

  Peace Islands Institute (formerly the Interfaith Dialog Center) announces the 3rd Annual Art&Essay Contest for the middle and high school students in the State of New Jersey. PII’s Art & Essay contest for grades 6-12 was held first time in 2010. Wiinners will be awarded more than $10,000 cash in total.

• January 24, 2012
• 15:07

  Meaning and Practices of Prayer

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Caldwell Methodist Church in Caldwell hosted the Peace Islands Institute (PII) on its first Abraham's Table of the New Year on January 10, 2012. The theme was "The Meaning and Practices of Prayer from Christian, Jewish and Muslim Perspectives". We thank the PII volunteers for the wonderful food they prepared and convey a big thanks to Rev. Jeff Markay for making this beautiful event possible.

  Speakers:

  The Rev. Mara Joy Norden, Chaplain at Craine's Mill in West Caldwell.

  Karen Frank,Congregational Nurse at Agudath Israel,also certified in spiritual direction.

  Dr. Levent Koç, Executive Director of the Peace Islands Institute(formerly known as the Interfaith Dialogue Center)

  (All disscussed the topic from they're own perspectives.)

• January 05, 2012
• 15:54

  Acts of Racism towards Synagogues

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  As the Peace Islands Institute we have been a part of the support for the Jewish Community and spoken against the recent racist violence against the 3 synagogues in New Jersey. We condemn this hatred and violence in the strongest terms. We condemn anti-Semitism and acts of any violence or hatred directed at any religious and ethnic community.

• 15:15

  Robert Carter, civil rights pioneer from NJ passes away

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  We at the Peace Islands Institute were deeply saddened to hear about the death of Judge Robert Carter who passed away on January 3rd, 2012 at the age of 94. He was a federal judge for the Southern District of New York nominated by President Richard Nixon. Judge Robert Carter's mission was to expand the law against discrimination of blacks as much as possible. He was such a kind, gentle soul.

  We are thankful for his advancements in the Civil Rights Movement. In recognition of his civil rights achievements, Fordham University School of Law gave Carter an honorary Juris Doctor degree in November 2004. Our prayers are with him, his family and those who love and respect him.

• December 14, 2011
• 5:00

  Mary in Islam

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  PII Women Association Director Nuray Sonmez delivered a speech on Mary in the Qur'an at Felician College on Saturday Dec. 10, 2011. A brief Q&A followed the speech. We thank Sister Maryann Mueller for the invitation.

• 5:00

  Mary in Islam

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  PII Women Association Director Nuray Sonmez delivered a speech on Mary in the Qur'an at Felician College on Saturday Dec. 10, 2011. A brief Q&A followed the speech. We thank Sister Maryann Mueller for the invitation.

• December 12, 2011
• 17:13

  Friendship Gathering at First Presbyterian Church, Carlstadt

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The First Presbyterian Church in Carlstadt hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gathering on Sunday, November 20^th 2011. Rev Donald Pitches introduced Dr. Levent Koc, Executive Director the Peace Islands Institute for New Jersey. He discussed PII programs and event that are held throughout the year. Dr, Koc also told the story of his friendship with Rev. Pitches and especially stressed upon that Rev. Pitches had introduced him to many clergy anf community leaders thereby helping him expand PII's network and programs portfolio. Rev. Pitches serves on the Advisory Board of PII.

  Many community members attended this event, including Mayor William Roseman who too serves on PII's Advisory Board. PII volunteers prepared home cooked meals that all the guests enjoyed. It was unforgettable day, new friends were made. We thank Rev. Donald Pitches for hosting us at his  Church.

• December 07, 2011
• 7:00

  What Does Holy Land Mean to Me?

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Temple Neve Shalom in Metuchen hosted the Peace Islands Institute in an Abraham's Table on December 6th 2011 in the evening. The topic discussed was "What Does the Holy Land Mean to Me", which is a topic that may bring members of three faiths togerther rather than alienate them. Each speaker shared their own perspective on the topic. Q&A followed the discussion. It was a wonderful evening well spent, we thank Rabbi Gerald Zelizer for making this wonderful event possible. Food and refresments were also provided by Temple Neve Shalom. New friends were made on this unforgettable evening

  Speakers:

  Rabbi Gerald Zelizer, Temple Neve Shalom in Metuchen

  Rev. Jeff Markay, United Methodist Church, Caldwell

  Dr. Levent Koc, Peace Islands Institute

  Below is very brief summary of the speeches. Two newspapers made a lengthy stroy of the program. Please click the following links to read them: "Toward Understanding" on The Courier News, "Three faiths consider connection to singular land" on New Jersey Jewish News.

• 5:00

  Abraham's Table: Peace and Poverty

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Bergen Community College hosted the Peace Islands Institute in an Abraham's Table Luncheon on December 6th 2011. The theme of the event was "Peace and Poverty". Speakers from three Abrahamic Religions spoke about the topic from their own perspectives. Rev. Donald Pitches, Rabbi Neal Borovitz, and Prof. Farhan Tanagur took the podium and disscussed the the topic. Lunch was also served which was prepared by the volunteers of the PII.

  We thank the people at Bergen Community College for making this event possible. Below is the very brief summary of the speeches.

• November 22, 2011
• 5:00

  Diversity Contest Exhibition

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute was invited to share its Diversity Art & Essay winning pieces on a display on November 21, 2011 at Bergen Community College.  The college hosted its annual Asian Heritage Week. Ambassador Sichan Siv, the first Asian American to serve in an Ambassadorial capacity to the United Nations, visited the school and gave a lecture to all of the individuals as well as some staff. Our exhition took place before and during this wonderful luncheon. We thank Prof. Win Win Kyi for the invite.

• 5:00

  Diversity Contest Exhibition

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute was invited to share its Diversity Art & Essay winning pieces on a display on November 21, 2011 at Bergen Community College.  The college hosted its annual Asian Heritage Week. Ambassador Sichan Siv, the first Asian American to serve in an Ambassadorial capacity to the United Nations, visited the school and gave a lecture to all of the individuals as well as some staff. Our exhition took place before and during this wonderful luncheon. We thank Prof. Win Win Kyi for the invite.

• November 18, 2011
• 5:00

  Dialogue and Unity Dinner, North Jersey

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute, formerly the IDC, hosted its annual “Dialog and Unity Dinner” for North Jersey at the Teaneck Marriot on November 17, 201. The theme of the night was “Poverty: Time to Act Together”. This was third dinner organized this year: fist was in Burlington County on Oct. 20th and the second was in Middlesex County on Nov. 3rd. Peace Islands is hoping to reach out to more of the society by organizing these dinners in different locations and times.

• November 14, 2011
• 5:00

  Friendship Gathering at St John's Episcopal Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The St John's Episcopal Church, Montclair, hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gathering on November 13,  2011. This gathering like other PII initiatives provided opportunity to build bridge between two communities, Turkish American Muslims and Christians.

  Rev Andrew G. Butler spoke on behalf of St. John’s saying “I want to thank you and all who attended the recent Friendship Gathering at our church. I was delighted by the number of people from the Turkish Muslim community who made the commitment to be with us and share their time and delicious food.

  In speaking with several of our parishioners who were in attendance, it was felt that this was a wonderful event and that our new friends were warm and gracious. The more I have been in contact with you and your friends; the more I am convinced that this must be a characteristic of the Turkish Muslim people. For this, and for you, I give thanks and count it as a blessing.

  May you continue to be strengthened in your work to bring peace and understanding to a world desperately in need of healing”

  The Peace Islands Institute brought in some home cooked food prepared by PII volunteers that everyone enjoyed very much. New friends were made on this wonderful event throughout more than an hour.

  We thank Rev. Andrew G. Butler for inviting PII volunteers to his his church and making this event possible.

• 5:00

  Friendship Gathering at St John's Episcopal Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The St John's Episcopal Church, Montclair, hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gathering on November 13,  2011. This gathering like other PII initiatives provided opportunity to build bridge between two communities, Turkish American Muslims and Christians.

  Rev Andrew G. Butler spoke on behalf of St. John’s saying “I want to thank you and all who attended the recent Friendship Gathering at our church. I was delighted by the number of people from the Turkish Muslim community who made the commitment to be with us and share their time and delicious food.

  In speaking with several of our parishioners who were in attendance, it was felt that this was a wonderful event and that our new friends were warm and gracious. The more I have been in contact with you and your friends; the more I am convinced that this must be a characteristic of the Turkish Muslim people. For this, and for you, I give thanks and count it as a blessing.

  May you continue to be strengthened in your work to bring peace and understanding to a world desperately in need of healing”

  The Peace Islands Institute brought in some home cooked food prepared by PII volunteers that everyone enjoyed very much. New friends were made on this wonderful event throughout more than an hour.

  We thank Rev. Andrew G. Butler for inviting PII volunteers to his his church and making this event possible.

• November 12, 2011
• 3:20

  “When Art Takes Over Faith and Conflict,” by Salima Amer

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  The shocking brutality of Anders Breivik’s terrorist acts in Norway makes one wonder if there was anything that could have been done to prevent him from doing it. Was it possible that a work of art with a poignant message of living together in harmony in this globalized world would have neutralized his extremist thoughts? After all, his entire so-called manifesto, later discovered, has given evidence of his hatred for multi-culturalism and Islamphobia as the real reason behind his acts.

  In our modern world we are crammed with images fed through electronic media and it is often violence that has an immediate impact on us. Suspicion and fear flare up when individuals are seen committing insane acts of terrorism to carry out a dogmatic proof of a belief or set of ideologies. This always gives rise to an environment where conflict and unpredictability prevails. And images and iconography which we encounter do play up with emotions and feelings; they work by either creating a desire to express a message or simply to reveal the darker side of mankind.

  There are many creative minds putting up their works on internet to prove that art has some healing potency to erase tensions and hatred culminating from intolerance and lack of spirituality. There are entire communities on Facebook and YouTube dedicated to creating digital works of art and imagery to show that art can be about peace and shunning aside differences. There are societies and communities set up solely to share pictures to prove that our planet earth is Eden-like despite the destruction of the forests and global warming. Some are producing works of the ethereal and celestial worlds to give a glimpse of the visual conception and the mysteriousness of the other reality. Some seek to transform spirituality as an attainment of non-violence and developing a love for a cosmic feeling of one-ness with the universe, which is why Buddha regularly appears in these images. With scores of posters, wall art, and sculptures dedicated to him, the Buddha has attained a Hollywood star status.

  Whether all this is going to make everyone put aside differences, and especially set aside conflict between different faiths, is yet to be proven. But art can certainly quell growing doubts that we are unaware of the need to create bridges to fill the gaps arising from lack of knowledge about other faiths. Many charities working to promote interfaith dialogue are utilizing art as a tool to raise awareness about the cause. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation has created a filmmaking competition for youth are encouraged to show how faith inspires them.

  Heaven on Earth Creations is another charity that makes documentaries on interfaith dialogue. Their recent documentary Globalized Soul was filmed all over the globe and describes the emergent universal spirituality that is transforming our world and thus forming a unity from the diversity that the human family generates through art, music and literature. This all could be an indication that we are interested in seeing religion not merely dominated by politics and scholarly debate, and that art is relevant for us to understand the controversies and issues we are facing in today’s world.

  I set out to explore how three artists have used faith as a backdrop in their paintings. When humans practice ideologies and beliefs that preach a sense of exclusion, art has an essential transforming effect on those practices because it can be surreal and elusive.

  Jane Monica Tvedt, a self-taught Norwegian artist, believes this transforming potential is possible; she says, "[Art] can make human beings think differently, and through paintings we can create thoughts that have never been there before."

  Surprised by the scale of the tragedy in her home country, Tvedt has worked out a mission for herself to reach out to people through Facebook and give them a glimmer of the hope of unity and love. Her hazy and romantic paintings seem to have layers of emotions, some brimming with gayety and a celebration of life and others giving expression to more mystical thoughts. Ethereal and delicate characters float in circles and dots of colors. Certainly the viewer experiences a light feeling of being transformed into a nirvana of blissful scenery and people from her paintings. Tvedt draws inspiration from her readings of Quran, Bible, Hindu and Bhuddist scriptures.

  If attainment of mystical power can be accomplished from the study of the Holy Scriptures, artist Faiza Shaikh has worked out another medium to reflect her inner thoughts about what faith should generate. She left Pakistan in the early eighties and has been based in London--a city brimming with diversity. Over the years, coming into contact with people belonging to different faiths has enriched Shaikh's own knowledge and outlook, and she likes to believe that her paintings are generating a message that all faiths essentially uphold the same moral principles. Her canvases include raw and bold colors schemes in rich patterns creating a baroquee tapestry. Amidst tension, the viewer finds drama infused with a lyrical vivacity that is neither too subtle nor too direct by use of  gold leaf  etched with the Holy texts that take centre place in her compositions.

  Anoma Wijewardene’s work breathes a new meaning to human suffering and the desperate need for peace. She has been drawn to the strife between humans and the environment, between faiths and people. The political strife and civil war of her home country of Sri Lanka leaves haunting traces in the symbolism she creates. Wijewardene's work appears to be a place of the soul; she evoke a sense of divine inspiration and the beauty of form, which comes across in fossil-like figures and icicles of collages or cutout surfaces. In 2002, she showed a collection of her paintings in Delhi seeking to reflect the incidence of the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas. It was her cumulative desire to create a tension in bringing together images from diverse faiths like Buddhism and Islam and so mirror the concept of irreconcilable differences which are only generated by human intolerance.

  Modern art has become a global medium, but it is much more than merely an extension of an individual story from the painter. Many artists want to do away with borders and boundaries of intolerance and hate, and seek to share this message in their work.

• November 09, 2011
• 18:01

  Annual Dialog and Unity Dinner, Central Jersey

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Peace Islands Institute (PII), formerly IDC, hosted its  annual “Dialog and Unity Dinner” at the Hyatt Regency, in New Brunswick, November 3rd, 2011. The theme of the night was “Poverty: Time to Act Together”. The program started with the reception at 5:30 p.m. Guests enjoyed the refreshments and PII Art & Essay Contest Exhibit while they had opportunity to meet and socialize with each other.

  Keynote speakers were Dr. Jon Pahl from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Rev. Lisanne Finston Executive Director of Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen at New Brunswick. U.S Attorney Paul J. Fishman sent his regrets not being able to attend the program.

• November 05, 2011
• 20:32

  “Understanding the Lessons of The Feast,” By Amjad Mohamed-Saleem

   » ‎ Inter-Religious Dialogue

  In a few days, it will be The Great Feast of Islam and Muslims (Eid al Adha) symbolizing the culmination of the pilgrimage to Mecca; a few days of light, fraternity, and love are intended to  symbolize meditation, a return back to the Creator, blessings and prayers for peace.

  Yet, even as we are observing that this noblest of occasion, we find that it has seen custom transform into duty and practice descend into commercialization and waste: waste of money, waste of meat, waste of food.

  In preparation for the feast, over the last three weeks, you would have been bombarded with emails, text messages, and adverts on who offers the better deal on doing one’s Qurbani at a competitive price.  The hadith of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to “compete to outdo one another for the good things” has become symbolized by market forces as "charities" outbid each other to offer the best price to slaughter a cow, sheep, or goat around the world.

  And so, the most noblest and holiest of acts of worship has been denigrated to shopping around like buying a car: "Where is the best price for a cow, goat, or sheep, so that I can get a happier recipient and thus a better reward in the Hereafter?"

  And so like in any market system, there are problems such as the manipulation of prices, corruption, and abuse as suppliers try to meet the demands for slaughter.

  In the essence of rushing to seek that instant satisfaction of redemption, we trivialize the essence of the need on the ground.  No--the poor, vulnerable and needy do not have meat, but no one stops to ask whether giving them meat for a day would help improve their lives or if doing something else is needed.

  Therein lies the problem--the closure of  space for reasoning, debate, and rational thinking about faith, spirituality and practice. A symbolic and recommended (not obligatory) act of worship in remembrance of the Prophet Ibrahim’s (Peace be upon him) sacrifice becomes a literal obligation of animal sacrifice, so that the blood flows deep and the distribution of meat becomes the anchor for the duty.

  We have forgotten what the sacrifice is supposed to symbolize.  The story and lesson of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (Peace be upon them) deserve to be shared, remembered, and celebrated.  The conversation between father and son in this most hardest of scenarios bears serious contemplation.  In the height of challenging circumstance, the consultation of a parent with his child and the firm but soft acceptance of a parent’s wish by a child highlights a dying relationship in the world today.

  Very often, as older people, we neglect to pay those younger than us the respect of equal treatment, often speaking down to them or dismissing their views.  As younger people, we are often quick to rebel against the wishes of the older (and often wiser) generation.  Though such relationships can be open to abuse, this story reminds us of the delicate balance that is necessary in human relationships to ensure respect, understanding and acceptance.

  Through showing the ultimate sacrifice of a parent’s closest and beloved possession for the sake of the One to whom you will eventually return, we are taught that whatever we own and are close to pales in comparison to the ultimate possession that we have: Our relationship with The One Most High.  This sacrifice coming at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca is the very essence of the celebration. In our journey back to the beginning, how much will we be able to sacrifice?

  This sacrifice not only reminds us to be thankful for all the blessings that we have, but to be content with them.  We are asked to keep in check our greed as whatever excess we have we are encouraged to share with those who deserve special attention - the poor and needy people, as well as the orphans.  This is the true meaning of the sacrifice that we make so that those in need will benefit.  So the question becomes, is it the principle or the actual act of sacrifice that we need to be thinking about during this time?

  The significance of the hajj includes the principle of the sacrifice and the message: "To serve humanity, those in need; those without... To awaken your conscience in the proximity of the wounds and the injustices people face...To move away from your heart, your bad thoughts…To distance yourself from the darkest dimensions of your being, your violence, your jealousies, your superficialities."

  By not allowing space for discussion to examine these ideas and principles, we negate the very concept of our heritage and teachings.

  For the benefit of the voiceless, it is imperative that we not lose our way by being driven blindly by traditional practices or by commercialization, and to return to the very essence of the message that is part of all Abrahamic Faiths: respect and love of human beings (especially those who are vulnerable and have been unjustly treated). This is a manifestation of the love for the Almighty.

  So this festive season, let us return to the essential.  Let us remember that this is, more than anything, a feast of fraternal atmosphere that is shared by all.  Thus, in reaching out to address the true objective of spirituality through prayers and good deeds, let us remember the responsibility we have to the poor.  Let us avoid the waste and, more importantly, the wasted sacrifices.

  May the Almighty, who loves you, guide and protect you.  May there be peace and respite for all those who are suffering. May you spend time with your loved ones in an atmosphere of happiness; Happy Feast!

• October 31, 2011
• 5:00

  Peace Islands hosts Dr. Vince Parillo

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute hosted Dr. Vince Parrillo for a Book Conversations program at the Ant Bookstore in Clifton on October 27, 2011

  Dr. Vince Parillo discussed his recent novel “Guardians of the Gate” – which is a compelling historical novel about Ellis Island and the people who worked and/or emigrated through there in the 1890s and early 1900s. He read several passages from his novel as well as gave historical information about Ellis Island.

  There was Q&A after the discussion and also a book signing, we thank Dr. Vince Parrillo for his valuable presentation.

• October 27, 2011
• 16:05

  Persecution of Evangelical Christians intensifies in Iran

   » ‎ Interfaith

  There is growing concern that the harassment of Iranian Christians is reaching new levels, with Christian activities increasingly being classified as ‘actions against the security the state’.

  Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which works for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, has received reports that an official campaign to convert Christian prisoners to Islam is underway.

  Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was imprisoned for apostasy and evangelising Muslims in October last year, is believed to have been given religious Islamic literature by prison officials.

  Prisoners who respond to interrogation about the literature can leave themselves open to charges of blasphemy.

  It is feared that one prisoner, Mehdi Furutan, a member of the Church of Iran, was transferred to an underground cell at the notorious Adelabad Security Prison, after commenting on Islamic religious texts.

  Adelabad Security Prison is believed to be involved in torture.

  The US expressed concern today over the activities of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

  This was established after the 1979 Iranian revolution to defend the Islamic system in the country.

  It has developed into a major military force with an estimated 125,000 troops and links to the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

  Speaking to BBC Persia, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said: “We’re not quite sure who makes decisions anymore inside of Iran”.

  She expressed concern that the country was becoming a military dictatorship.

• 14:41

  Hispanic Heritage Month with Asw. Annette Quijano

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  On Saturday October 22nd, the Peace Islands Institute hosted Asw Annette Quijano to celebrate the "Hispanic Heritage Month". Guests had breakfast first. Following her speech there was a brief Q&A. Many attended, it was a wonderful morning.

• 14:10

  Growing in the spiritual life by turning inward towards prayer and contemplation

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Allwood Community Church hosted the Peace Islands Institute in an Abraham's Table event on October 25th, 2011. The topic discussed was "Growing in the spiritual life by turning inward towards prayer and contemplation". Three speakers shared their own perspectives on the topic. Q&A follwed after each speaker made their presentation.

  We thank the volunteers of the Peace Islands Institute for their delicous home cooked meals and a big thanks to Rev. Cari Keith for making this Abraham's Table possible.

  Speakers:
  Rabbi Randal Mark, Shomrei Torah The Wayne Conservative Congregation
  Rev Cari Keith, Allwood Community Church
  Mesut Sahin, NJIT

• October 26, 2011
• 20:42

  World population could reach 15 billion this century

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Sometime on 31 October the world’s seven-billionth person is expected to be born, on a planet where resources are already stretched to breaking point.

  However, the United Nations has warned that we are heading for a world population of 15 billion by the end of the century, even though population growth has slowed since the 1960s.

  This far outstrips earlier estimates of a world population of 10 billion by 2100.

  While the birth rate has dropped in developed countries, it is still rising in 58 countries, including 39 countries in Africa, nine in Asia, six in Oceania and four in Latin America.

  It has also grown because medical advances mean people are living longer and the mortality rate for infants has fallen.

  If it continues to grow we are heading for an unsustainable future in terms of food and water, according to environmentalists.

  The figures form part of a new study – The State of World Population 2011 – published by the United Nations Population Fund.

  While controlling the population should not be a problem with simple family planning measures available, governments worldwide need the political will and economic ability to ensure that education and health programmes are in place.

  However, cultural and religious factors can make this difficult.

  The United Nations Population Fund said that the Catholic Church’s ban on the use of contraception is not related to the massive growth in population.

  It claims that many of the church’s members ignore the ban and population growth is greatest in non-Catholic countries.

• October 25, 2011
• 17:33

  Church of Scientology denies investigating South Park creators

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The controversial Church of Scientology has vigorously denied claims that it investigated the creators of cartoon series South Park following the screening of episode called ‘Trapped in the Closet’.

  The episode, which poked fun at the Scientology belief system and lampooned its most prominent member, Tom Cruise, was aired in the USA in 2006 but was banned in the UK for several years.

  Marty Rathbun, a former member of the Church of Scientology, now claims that South Park creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, were targeted by investigators working for the religion after the episode aired in the USA.

  On his blog, Rathbun posted a document which he claims was written by the commanding officer from the Church of Scientology’s office of special affairs.

  He claims that Stone and Parker were investigated by private detectives in an attempt by the church to discredit their reputations.

  Last year South Park was criticised after an episode featured the prophet Muhammed.

  Any physical representation of the prophet is considered blasphemous by Muslims and the episode sparked warnings of violent retribution from Islamic groups.

  The Church of Scientology is expected to open The Super Power Building in Clearwater, Florida, shortly.

  The building houses a museum dedicated to the Church’s founder, L Ron Hubbard, and is said to contain high-tech equipment to help the church’s members unleash “superhuman powers”.

• October 24, 2011
• 14:19

  Earthquake in Turkey

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the devastating earthquake, which has caused such destruction and loss of life in Van, Turkey. 534 people were confirmed killed as of Wednesday Oct. 27 after the earthquake hit parts of southeast Turkey on Sunday with rescue teams working through the night to free trapped survivors. 2,300 were wounded, it is reported.  More were feared dead, as Turkey's most powerful quake in a decade toppled remote villages of mud brick houses.

• 9:37

  Bible burning disrupts Mass in St Peter’s Square

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Yesterday’s Mass in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square was disturbed by a man who shouted “Pope, where is Christ?” from the upper colonnade and then set fire to a bible.

  He was talked down by Vatican officials while Pope Benedict XVI continued the Sunday Mass seemingly unperturbed by the incident which occurred towards the end of the two-hour service.

  During the Mass, which took place on World Mission Sunday, the Pope canonized Monsignor Guido Maria Conforti, the Reverend Luigi Guanella and Sister Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro.

  Taking Matthew 22:34-40 as his Gospel message, regarding Jesus’s teaching to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ and to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’, the Pope said the new saints were an “eloquent sign” of “a passionate love for God…and neighbour.”

  Monsignor Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931), archbishop-bishop of Parma, founded the Xaverian Missionaries; the Reverend Louis Guanella (1842-1915), founded the Congregation of the Servants of Charity and the Institute of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence; and Sister Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro (1837-1905), founded of the Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph.

  World Mission Sunday is a day when Catholics are encouraged to renew their commitment to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice.

• October 21, 2011
• 18:22

  Annual Dialog and Unity Dinner, South Jersey

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Peace Islands Institute (PII), formerly IDC, hosted its first annual “Dialog and Friendship Dinner” at The Merion in South Jersey on October 20th, 2011. The theme of the night was “Poverty: Time to Act Together”. The program started with the reception at 5:30 p.m. Guests enjoyed the refreshments and PII Art & Essay Contest Exhibit while they had opportunity to meet and socialize with each other.

  Keynote speakers were Dr. Jon Pahl and Rev. Dr. Katie Day, both from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

• 10:34

  Government criticised for protecting gay people but not Christians

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The outspoken former Tory MP Anne Widdecombe is expected to accuse the government of ignoring the plight of Christians and yet threatening to cut aid to countries which persecute homosexuals.

  In a speech at the annual conference of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) tomorrow, Miss Widdecombe is expected to claim that hedgehogs stand a better chance of ‘earnest representation’ than persecuted Christians.

  According to International Christian Concern an estimated 200 million Christians have been murdered for their faith in the last century, making it the in human history for Christian persecution.

  The organisation lists the top 11 persecutors of Christians last year as: Eritrea, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, India, Iraq, Vietnam, Nigeria, China and Egypt.

  Earlier this month David Cameron said he would slash aid to poor African countries that persecute gay people, an act which Miss Widdecombe claims shows the government’s double-standards.

  UK aid to Malawi has already been cut after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years hard labour.

  Miss Widdecombe is expected to call on the general public to lobby Parliament to prioritise religious freedom in its foreign policy.

  Meanwhile the EU has confirmed that a €500 million food aid programme will be cut by three-quarters.

  The programme helps to feed 18 million of the world’s poorest citizens.

• October 20, 2011
• 21:19

  Protesters deterring visitors to St Paul’s Cathedral

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The previously supportive authorities at St Paul’s have finally asked anti-capitalist protesters to disband the camp they have set up outside the cathedral.

  Thousands of protesters, angry at the way the global economic crisis is being handled, marched on the London Stock Exchange on Saturday.

  When police cordoned off the building, the protesters set up camp outside St Paul’s and the number of tents is now estimated to have grown to 180.

  The size of the protest is making it difficult for worshippers and tourists to access the cathedral, its restaurant has been forced to close and donations from visitors has halved.

  Although the protesters are sympathetic to the loss of income they are planning to raise money to compensate the cathedral, rather than packing up and going home.

  The anti-capitalist protests started in New York but have now spread across major cities worldwide.

  Separately, an enormous model of the Taj Mahal made entirely from food has been unveiled outside St Paul’s.

  The model is made from rice, poppadoms, mango chutney, chillies and chapattis.

  It was made by artist Prudence Staite for Food Network UK, to mark the launch of ‘Reza, Spice Prince of India’ which chronicles the journey of restauranteur Reza Mahammad around Rajasthan’s regal residences.

  If the protesters feel a bit peckish at least they won’t have far to go for a tasty snack.

• October 19, 2011
• 10:45

  Physical abuse unchallenged in UK Islamic schools

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Up to 500,000 students a day attend British madrassas but the physical abuse of pupils at these institutions is slipping through a loophole in the law according to a BBC investigation.

  Figures obtained by Radio 4′s ‘File on 4’ programme show that in the last three years more than 400 allegations of physical abuse against pupils at madrassas were made, but just 10 cases came to court and there were only two convictions.

  Although corporal punishment is outlawed in UK schools it is still legal in part-time education settings in England if pupils attend lessons for fewer than 12.5 hours per week.

  The alarming figures uncovered by the BBC have led to calls for this anomaly in the law to be addressed urgently.

  A report by the Independent Safeguarding Authority’s chief adviser on child safety, Sir Roger Singleton, is being considered by the government.

  Published last year, it recommended that corporal punishment should be banned.

  Muslim children attend madrassas in the UK for around 10 hours each week learning to recite the Koran in Arabic.

  The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, which is responsible for improving standards in mosques, called the figures ‘very, very alarming and shocking’ and said it would address the issue urgently.

  Earlier this month scientist Richard Dawkins attacked Muslim schools for teaching creationism.

  He said the schools were filling pupils’ heads with ‘alien rubbish’.

• October 18, 2011
• 16:21

  War on Want slams UK government’s food policy

   » ‎ Interfaith

  In a new report, War on Want criticises governments in the developed world for food policies which destroy the livelihoods of small farmers and contribute to world hunger.

  2009 was the first year in which over a billion people were officially
  classified as living in hunger and this wasn’t caused by natural disasters but by a food system which is under the control of multinational companies.

  The report, ‘Food Sovereignty: Reclaiming the Food System’, focuses in on the UK’s food policy which prioritises food security through free markets and aid, and compares it with the concept of food sovereignty, which gives farmers control of the food system.

  War on Want claims that new technologies, developed with the help of funding from the Department for International Development (DFID), have increased reliance on highly priced seeds and agrochemicals, leading to an unprecedented level of hunger.

  The charity is calling for a new food system which puts small producers back in control of production and which encourages local communities to develop their own seed banks, reducing reliance on seeds developed by big business.

  In the report, John Hilary, Executive Director of War on Want, says: “The scandal of global hunger is testament to the failure of the capitalist food system.

  “The time for food sovereignty has come.”

• October 17, 2011
• 17:38

  Friendship Gathering at First Presbyterian Church, Rutherford

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The First Presbyterian Church of Rutherford hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gathering on November 15, 2011. We thank Stephen Adubato, DMD, for partnering with PII in organizing this wonderful gathering.

  Steve Adubato welcomed the guests and made a short speech in the beginning. Dr. Mesut Sahin presented on behalf of PII Steve Adubato and Linda Zinn hand-made Turkish mugs.

  Here is how Stephen Adubato, DMD, of the First Presbyterian Church described the program: "I would just like to send an email to thank you and the Interfaith Dialog Center for a warm and wonderful evening of fellowship and friendship. The participants attending through the First Presbyterian Church of Rutherford had an enjoyable evening of magnificent food, great conversation, and the exchanging of stories from life experiences. It was an evening of learning and respect between brothers and sisters of different backgrounds from which a greater understanding of each other's beliefs ensued. I thank you for giving us this opportunity".

  We thank the Volunteers of the Peace Islands Institute for preparing the food, and Stephen Adubato for making the event possible

• 14:23

  Man jailed after posting anti-Celtic Facebook comments

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Stephen Birrell, who posted abusive comments on a Facebook page called “Neil Lennon Should be Banned” has been jailed for eight months after a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

  Sheriff Bull Totten said he wanted to out “a clear message to deter others”.

  Birrell’s sectarian comments were posted earlier this year, shortly after he was released early from a 12-month custodial sentence.

  Shortly before a Celtic and Rangers match on 3 March he posted “Hope they (Celtic fans) all die. Simple. Catholic scumbags ha ha.”

  On 4 March he posted: “Proud to hate Fenian tattie farmers. Simple ha ha.”

  A few days later he wrote: “They’re all ploughing the fields the dirty scumbags.”

  His anti-Catholic campaign continued with abusive comments against the Pope.

  As well as a jail sentence, Birrell was banned from attending football matches for five years.

  Sentencing Birrell, the judge made it clear that using Facebook and other communications technology to spread abuse would not be tolerated.

  Earlier this month Celtic manager Neil Lennon said he would consider his position as Celtic manager unless he turns the club’s results around.

  However, despite lagging 3-0 behind to Kilmarnock on Saturday, Celtic fought back and the game ended in a draw with Celtic scoring three goals in just six minutes.

• October 14, 2011
• 9:41

  Catherine Tate is God in King James Bible celebration

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The 400th anniversary of the King James Bible is being celebrated with two 24-performances of ‘Sixty-six Books’, a cycle of plays written in response to each book of the Bible.

  The performances, today and on 28 October, mark the opening of London’s new Bush theatre which has relocated from above O’Neills pub, to the Shepherd’s Bush Library building just a short distance away.

  Sixty-sixty writers have each written a response to each book of the Bible and the impressive list includes Sir Andrew Motion, Carol Ann Duffy, Wole Soyinka, Billy Bragg and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

  The cast of the play is just as exciting, with Catherine Tate as God heading a cast of 130 actors including Juliet Stevenson, Arthur Darvill and Rafe Spall.

  Ms Tate makes a dramatic entrance as God, wearing high heels and accompanied by an angel bearing a laptop so that God can communicate via Twitter.

  Churches across the UK will also be celebrating the Bible’s anniversary this weekend, with coffee mornings, exhibitions and other, more adventurous events.

  Bromham Baptist church and St Owen’s church are jointly holding an eight-day Bible-reading marathon, in which they plan to read the entire book from start to finish.

  Around 150 readers will share 365 slots of around 15 minutes each.

  Dewsbury Minster is holding a multi-media ‘Rock Mass’ tomorrow, complete with spotlights, smoke generators and electric guitars.

  The mass is part of the Biblefresh project which aims to show how the King James Bible is just as relevant today as it was when it was writte in 1611.

• October 13, 2011
• 15:26

  Housing charity warns rent is unaffordable

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Shelter today warned that ordinary working families in 55 per cent of local authorities in England are facing unaffordable levels of rent.

  Rent costing more than 35% of the median average local take-home pay are classified as unaffordable by the housing and homelessness charity’s Private Rent Watch report.

  Living in high-rent areas leaves few options for families who are already priced out of buying their own home.

  Shelter is calling for the government to stem the rise in rent, which grew by one and a half times the rate of incomes between 1997 and 2007.

  Recent research by the charity found that 38 per cent of families with children, living in privately rented accommodation, have had to reduce their food or heating bills in order to pay their rent.

  In eight per cent of local authority areas, average rents cost a prohibitive 50% or more of full-time take-home pay, while less than a third (30 per cent) of local authority areas had ‘affordable’ rents of below 30 per cent of take-home pay.

  The situation was particularly severe in London, where the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom home was £1,360, compared with an average of £568 for the rest of England.

  With the Welfare Reform Bill making its way through Parliament, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that more than a million children and adults will be pushed into poverty by 2013.

  The Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded report said that while the introduction of universal credit would ease poverty by 2021, this would be offset by other proposed changes to the tax and benefit system.

• October 12, 2011
• 21:41

  Ban on non-EU young spouses declared unlawful

   » ‎ Interfaith

  A ban designed to deter forced marriages has been found to interfere with human rights, by the Supreme Court.

  The ban on non-EU foreign spouses under the age of 21 coming to the UK was introduced by the Labour government in 2008, in response to growing concern about British Asian girls being forced to marry men from overseas.

  However the rule was challenged by two couples who claimed that it interfered with their right to a private and family life and therefore contravened the European Convention on Human Rights.

  This view was upheld by Lord Wilson in the Supreme Court, who said: “What seems clear is that the number of unforced marriages which it obstructs from their intended development for up to three years vastly exceeds the number of forced marriages which it deters”.

  Four of five law lords rejected an appeal by Theresa May, the Home Secretary, against scrapping the law, saying the ban was arbitrary and disruptive.

  However, Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood spoke out against the ruling, and said that the ban was needed to combat forced marriage, a practice which he said was “appalling evil”.

  On Monday, in a speech on immigration rules, David Cameron laid out plans to address forced and bogus marriages.

  He announced a consultation into making it a criminal offence to force a person to marry against their will and said that forced marriage was “little more than slavery”.

• 16:52

  Hopes and concerns in the threshold of second decade of 9/11

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  

  Peace Islands Institute (PII) hosted Mr. Michael Ward, SAC, FBI Newark Division, at the latest luncheon. His speech was entitled “Hopes and Concerns in the Threshold of Second Decade of 9/11: A Law Enforcement Perspective”. The program started off with reception where guests had an opportunity to meet each other and enjoy the fellowship. Mr. Ward started his presentation showing a video on terrorism. He speech was followed by Q&A session. Below is a summary of Mr. Ward’s speech:

• October 11, 2011
• 15:35

  79 New Free Schools and UTCs approved

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The government has approved applications for 55 free schools and 13 university technical colleges (UTCs).

  The new educational establishments will be able to open from September next year.

  They include a new Jewish free school in Golders Green, which will become the third Jewish free school in London.

  The Golders Green Jewish Primary School will open with a reception class of 28 children, but will eventually be able to teach up to 196 children, half of whom will be Jewish.

  The school will be run by Rabbi Harvey Belovski from Golders Green Synagogue.

  The Greenwich Free School has also been approved and could open in 2012.

  The school is the brainchild of Greenwich teacher Sarah Jones and will have a ‘no excuses policy’ when it comes to results.

  Students will have personalised timetables with an emphasis on English, maths and science.

  The school day will extend from 8am to 5.30pm and will include tutor-led homework time and extra-curricular activities.

  Other schools securing approval include a Steiner free school in Frome, the Frome Steiner Academy, and the first free school in Oxfordshire.

  The Oxfordshire based Europa School will teach lessons in English, French and German and pupils will take European Baccalaureate exams rather than GCSEs.

• October 10, 2011
• 14:06

  Archbishop calls for national debate over NHS changes

   » ‎ Interfaith

  With peers due to vote on the Government’s controversial Health and Social Care Bill on Wednesday, The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has warned of the dangers of introducing a commercial culture into the NHS.

  Dr Sentamu is calling for a national debate on healthcare, amid opposition to the Bill from both patients and medical professionals.

  He made the comments following the Archbishop of York’s symposium which was created in the wake of the credit crunch, to bring together academics and practitioners to discuss economic and social policies and the values underpinning them.

  “Let us as a nation protect the principles of Bevan that allow each man, woman and child access to health care whenever they need it,” he said.

  The Department of Health “welcomed” Dr Sentamu’s comments and said: “Our bill puts clear safeguards in place against any abuse from the private sector and ensures that all provision of services to NHS patients will be based on the quality of the service to patients, not the cost.”

  Dr Sentamu has also called on the Government to buy more Typhoon jets from BAE Systems after visiting the company’s base in Samlesbury, Lancashire, where 500 jobs are at risk.

  The Archbishop said that Royal Air Force is the UK’s ‘shop window’.

  “I mean the Harrier jump jet sold a lot, because it was seen as a state-of -the-art for the air force. The same was for the Nimrod and the Tornado,” he said.

• October 07, 2011
• 16:40

  Catholics pray for 100 Days of Peace for 2012 Olympics

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Catholic schoolchildren in London have been asked to pray for 100 Days of Peace for the Olympics, as part of their training in the classical virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice.

  The Archbishop of Westminster made the call for prayer at a mass at Westminster Cathedral today, which was attended by around 1,400 children from the Catholic dioceses of Westminster, Southwark and Brentwood.

  The idea is based on the Sacred Truce, or “Ekecheiria” of the ancient Greek Olympics.

  The Truce, which was believed to have been established in the 9th century BC, allowed people, including athletes, to travel in safety to and from the Olympic games.

  The modern ‘truce’ will commence on 8 June, 50 days before the opening ceremony of the main 2012 games, and will end on 28 October, 50 days after the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

  The schoolchildren will also take part in projects designed to help bring peace to local communities in the spirit of the ancient Olympian aim of ‘Peace through Sport’.

  Controversy has already clouded the games, after the BBC’s Newsnight programme claimed that bribes had been accepted to ensure that boxers from Azerbaijan win gold medals.

  The claims have been denied by the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) which has asked the BBC to provide evidence.

  An investigation by the AIBA Special Investigation Committee into the allegations commenced yesterday.

• October 06, 2011
• 21:37

  Ethiopian tribespeople arrested over dam protest

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Around one hundred members of the Mursi and Bodi tribes are believed to have been arrested for opposing the construction of the Gibe III dam in Ethiopia.

  Damning the Omo River will provide water to irrigate sugar cane and biofuel grown on tribal lands in the South Omo region, which are being leased to foreign and state run companies.

  However, the Omo River, feeds Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake, which forms part of a fragile ecosystem relied upon by around 500,000 indigenous people.

  Survival International has received reports that tribespeople living on the land are being intimidated by Ethiopian security forces.

  It is believed that anyone speaking out against the dam is at risk of being threatened with prison, or beaten up, while women are at risk of being raped.

  Herds of cattle have also been stolen.

  Survival International’s Director, Stephen Corry, said: “They want to reduce self-sufficient tribes to a state of dependency, throw all who disagree into prison, and pretend this is something to do with ‘progress’ and ‘development’.

  “It’s shameless, criminal, and should be vigorously opposed by any who care about fundamental human rights.”

• 1:30

  Reflections on Ramadan Dinners held at Churches/Synagogues

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute (PII) was active throughout Ramadan, August 2011, with Iftar organizations at various churches and synagogues (friendship gatherings), and home dinners (neighborliness project) where Turkish-American families hosted their non-Muslim friends at their homes.

  As PII, we believe by breaking bread together we will have a stronger dialogue and better understanding of each other’s values and ethnicity. This will set an example for our children to follow and make our and future communities a better place to live in. Below you will find reflections on Ramadan dinners.

• October 05, 2011
• 15:30

  Vatican condemns BBC’s advice on BC/AD usage

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The BBC’s decision to allow producers to use the religiously neutral terms BCE and CE (Before Common Era and Common Era), instead of BC and AD (Before Christ and Anno Domini), has been condemned in the Vatican’s semi-official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

  Although the BBC said that it was not official policy to use BCE and CE, the paper said that guidance was “enormous nonsense”.

  It also said that the BBC was guilty of “senseless hypocrisy” over the move and that the birth of Jesus was a historically revolutionary moment accepted by Christians, Muslims and Jews.

  The BBC suggested that new terms could be used to avoid offending non-Christians, in line with its commitment to impartiality.

  However the start of the Common Era is dated at the same point as Anno Domini, which translates as ‘Year of the Lord’ so the new term is still based chronologically on the birth of Jesus, even though the explicit reference to his birth has been removed.

  L’Osservatore Romano suggested that the change of terms was part of a wider trend to eradicate Christianity from Western culture.

  Meanwhile the BBC is seeking support from the UK government over the intimidation of relatives and friends of ten BBC staff by police and officials in Iran.

  It wants the government to challenge Iran’s anti-BBC rhetoric, which has increased substantially since the channel aired a documentary on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

• October 04, 2011
• 13:49

  Friendship Gathering at First Reformed Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  September 25 2011, The First Reformed Church in New Brunswick, hosted the Peace Islands Institute in a Friendship Gathering.

  Topics that were discussed were "The current cultural / political developments in Turkey and its increasing role in international relations and How does the understanding of Islam as represented by IDC fit into the wider picture - inside Turkey"

  Dr. Levent Koc, CEO of the Peace Islands Institue disscussed each topic while the guests listened.

  New friends were made on this beautiful morning, people who attended enjoyed a great conversatoin over some food and refresments brought in by the Peace Islands Institute volunteers.

  We thank the Frist Reformed Church for making this event possible.

• 11:20

  Women bishops could help to humanise priesthood

   » ‎ Interfaith

  As the full inclusion of women in the Church of England draws closer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said that this could help to ‘humanise’ the ordained ministry.

  Dr Rowan Williams has advised the Church to prepare for a culture change when the bar to women’s ordination as bishops is eventually removed.

  Before the ordination of women as bishops passes into Church law, there has to be a ballot to ascertain the views of members of the 44 individual dioceses’ local synods or assemblies.

  So far, 19 dioceses have voted and all of them have backed the reforms wholeheartedly.

  This means that four more ‘yes’ votes would achieve a majority, allowing the proposal to be considered by the General Synod.

  Fourteen more dioceses are due to vote this month and if a majority is achieved, final approval could be given in July 2012.

  At a private meeting, Dr Williams emphasised the need for bishops to reflect the full human community, and highlighted a trend for some priests to embrace a bureaucratic approach to priesthood instead of a faith-based approach.

  It was recently reported that Dr Williams is planning to step down as Archbishop of Canterbury in 2012, after holding the position for 10 years.

  Dr Williams plans to take up an academic post at Trinity College, Cambridge.

• October 03, 2011
• 20:55

  Prison separates 17,000 children from mothers

   » ‎ Interfaith

  According to a report from the Howard League for Penal Reform, ‘Voice of the Child’, around 17,240 children in England and Wales were separated from their mothers in 2010, because the mothers were serving a prison sentence.

  This includes 11,000 children of non-violent offenders, who could have remained with their mothers if they served sentences in the community rather than in jail.

  The report was produced to coincide with a discussion on the rights of prisoners’ children by the United Nations.

  The Howard League believes that children suffer severe distress when their mothers are imprisoned, and that this leaves the child emotionally, socially and psychologically scarred.

  It is believed that 65 per cent of children with a convicted parent will become offenders themselves.

  Earlier this week it was reported that the prison population in England and Wales increased by 300 in just one week, to 87,501.

  This was the fourth consecutive week of increase, taking prisoner numbers to just 1,000 fewer than the usable operational capacity of 88,533.

  The figures were inflated by tough sentences being given to people involved it the riots which spread across the UK during the summer.

  Rioters have received sentences of 10.4 months on average for violent disorder, compared with an average of 5.3 months in 2010, while people convicted of burglary received an average sentence of 14.1 months, compared with 8.8 months in 2010.

• October 02, 2011
• 2:25

  A Decade After 9/11: Incitement to Hatred and Violence On the Basis of Religion or Belief

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Peace Islands Institute New York organized a conference on the 10th anniversary in partnership with the Turkish Cultural Center at the Times Center on Sept. 28, 2011. Distinguished speakers discussed the theme "A Decade After 9/11: Incitement to Hatred and Violence On the Basis of Religion or Belief".

• September 30, 2011
• 16:47

  Rector bans Goths from posing for photos in graveyard

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Twice a year Goths flock to the seaside town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, but the rector of St Mary’s Church has banned photography around the graves.

  It is believed that the rector found dozens of Goths sitting or lying on the graves and was concerned that this was disrespectful to the families of the people buried there.

  John Hemson, the church’s warden said: “There are people in Whitby who had families there even though it closed in 1861 and they object to it very much”.

  The churchyard features in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, and is where the vampire Count attacks his victim, Lucy Westenra.

  St. Mary’s Church sits on top of a hill above the town and is reached by 199 stone steps.

  The graveyard contains memorials to sailors, fishermen, Royal Navy seamen and lifeboatmen among others.

  The rector’s decision has caused concern that it could jeopardise the future of the festival, which has been held in Whitby since 1994.

  The event attracts thousands of Goths and generates welcome revenue for the town.

  The next Goth weekend will be held from the 3rd to the 7th of November and is organised by Jo Hampshire who runs Top Mum Promotions.

• September 29, 2011
• 11:17

  William Hague asks Iran to spare pastor’s life

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Foreign secretary William Hague has added his voice to calls for Iran to spare the life of Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been sentenced to death for apostasy.

  Mr Nadarkhani, a member of the Protestant evangelical Church of Iran, was arrested in October 2009 after he defied rules requiring non-Muslim students to read the Quran in school.

  His insistence that his decision to raise his children under his own faith rather than Islam, was allowed under the Iranian constitution, led to his imprisonment.

  He was sentenced to death in September 2010 for apostasy, on the grounds that he had converted to Christianity and incited the conversions of other Muslims to Christianity, despite the fact that had never been a Muslim.

  Mr Hague said: “I deplore reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith.

  “This demonstrates the Iranian regime’s continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom.”

  A similar case is being heard in Algeria, where Siagh Krimo was arrested in April for giving a CD about Christianity to his neighbor.

  In May, he was given a custodial sentence of five years for blasphemy.

  His case has been re-examined and a final verdict is expected imminently.

  Earlier this month www.digitaljournal.com reported a increase in executions in Iran, with 18 hangings taking place in just one week.

• September 28, 2011
• 16:29

  9/11 Commemoration Dinner

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute (formerly The Interfaith Dialog Center) organized a dinner on Wednesday September 21, 2011 in honor of the victims of 9/11 attacks. Close to 150 guests attended the dinner, including law enforcement officers, elected officers, academics from various fields, clergy and businessmen.

• 10:48

  Court of Protection rejects right-to-die case

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The Court of Protection has ruled that life-support treatment cannot be withdrawn from a woman in a ‘minimally-conscious’.

  The 52 year-old woman suffered profound brain damage in early 2003 after contracting viral encephalitis.

  Her family pleaded for nutrition to be withdrawn because of their conviction that their relative would not want to live a life dependent on others.

  Mr Justice Baker, who heard the case, said it raised “very important issues of principle”.

  It is believed to be the first ‘right-to-die’ case concerning a person in a minimally-conscious state, although such cases have been heard over people in persistent vegetative states.

  A minimally-conscious state is just above a persistent vegetative state.

  A ‘minimally-conscious’ person may show occasional signs of consciousness, such as opening their eyes and tracking a person around the room.

  They may be unable to communicate at all or may be able to give inconsistent yes/no responses, verbalisation and gestures.

  The relatives’ request for the woman to be allowed to die was opposed by the local health authority, who said her life was “not without positive elements”.

  The lawyer appointed to represent the woman argued that she was “otherwise clinically stable”.

  In a separate case, Michelle Clements has called for assisted suicide to be allowed in the UK, after her husband, Tony Clements, ended his life at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland in August.

  Mr Clements’ health deteriorated substantially over the last six months’ of his life, due to Parkinson’s disease.

  Assisted suicide is illegal in the UK and carries a custodial sentence of up to 14 years.

• September 27, 2011
• 10:29

  BBC in AD/BC controversy

   » ‎ Interfaith

  A report in the Mail on Sunday that the BBC has stopped using the terms BC and AD in case they offend non-Christians, has caused an almighty kerfuffle, with Boris Johnson the latest to wade into the fray.

  The Mail on Sunday reported that the BBC has replaced ‘Anno Domini’ (the year of Our Lord) and ‘Before Christ’ with ‘Common Era’ and ‘Before Common Era’, which are commonly used in historical research.

  According to Guardian blogger Polly Curtis, the BBC has denied that the terms have been dropped, although programme and website editors can use the ‘religiously-neutral’ terms if they so wish.

  However, the use of the new terms on some programmes led to the BBC being accused of ‘absurd political correctness’.

  Christians have spoken out against the alternative terms, which are being used on programmes such as University Challenge and The BBC’s Learning and GCSE Bitesize websites.

  However, Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys said he would continue to use BC and AD.

  Commenting on the adoption of ‘Common Era’ and ‘Before Common Era’, The Rev Peter Mullen, Anglican chaplain to the London Stock Exchange, said: ‘I think it’s an example of the BBC trying to undermine Christianity by pushing an aggressive secularism.”

  Adopting a more neutral tone, a spokesman for the Church of England said that BC and AD ‘more clearly reflect Britain’s Christian heritage’.

  Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, pointed out that both sets of terms used the birth of Christ as their reference point.

  Writing in The Daily Telegraph this morning, London’s mayor, Boris Johonson said: “This decision by the BBC is not only puerile and absurd. It is also deeply anti-democratic, and I urge all those who are fed up with the advance of pointless political correctness to fight back.”

  Whatever the outcome of the debate one thing is certain, no matter what the BBC decides, it isn’t going to please everyone.

• September 26, 2011
• 19:37

  Dead Sea Scrolls now online

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Parts of the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known biblical texts, have been digitised and made available online, so that anyone in the world can view them.

  The 1,200 megapixel images show the 2,000-year-old scrolls in minute detail and scrolling over the image of the Great Isaiah Scroll generates an instant translation into English.

  Only fragments remain of some of the scrolls, which are written on papyrus or parchment in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.

  Five scrolls were scanned at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with expert help from Google, including the Temple Scroll, the War Scroll, The Community Rule Scroll and The Commentary of Habakkuk Scroll, as well as the Great Isaiah Scroll, which is the most famous of the artefacts.

  The images were taken by photographer Ardon Bar-Hama, using ultraviolet-protected flash tubes in order to prevent further damage to the fragile documents.

  The scrolls, which were discovered in caves near the Dead Sea, East of Jerusalem, contain secular writings as well as biblical texts.

  It is believed that they were written by a Jewish sect from Qumran in the Judean Desert.

  When the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem in 70AD, the artefacts were taken to the caves for safe-keeping.

  And if viewing the scrolls online isn’t quite enough, 20 of them will be part of an exhibition of more than 500 ancient artefacts from Israel at Discovery Times Square in Manhattan.

  It will be the first time that four of the scrolls have been made available for public viewing.

  The exhibition will make its world premiere on 28 October.

• September 23, 2011
• 14:24

  Majority opposed to gay marriage

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Following last week’s revelation that the government plans to make the marriage of same-sex couples legal by 2015, new figures from the Office for National Statistics show that more than half of Britons believe this should not be allowed.

  The figures also show that two thirds of Britons are opposed to the adoption of children by same-sex couples, even though this was legalised by the 2002 Adoption Act.

  The ONS based its figures on a variety of sources including the annual British Social Attitudes survey and research by the European Commission.

  Civil partnerships between same-sex couples have been legal since 2005, when they were introduced to legally recognise same-sex relationships and ensure equality with married couples.

  Speaking at the Liberal Democrat Conference 2011 in Birmingham Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said: “We are a world leader for gay rights, but as this conference made clear last year with your call for equal marriage, there is still more that we must do.

  “That is why I am delighted to announce today that in March, this Government will begin a formal consultation on how to implement equal civil marriage for same sex couples.

  “And this would allow us to make any legislative changes necessary by the end of this Parliament.”

  The change in legislation is backed by David Cameron who is believed to have pushed for progress to be speeded up.

  The news was welcomed by Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall, who said: ‘This change will make a difference to a number of gay people who are concerned at the differing status of civil partnerships and marriage”.

  However, Christian groups spoke out against the move amid concerns that it will redefine the concept of marriage and could put people who are unable to accept the validity of same-sex marriages in a very difficult position.

  The latest figures from the ONS suggest that the introduction of same-sex marriages will be unpopular not only with Christian groups, but with the majority of the UK’s population.

• September 22, 2011
• 17:36

  Into The Light: A Multifaith Conversation on 9/11

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  The Peace Islands Institute organized a panel discussion to honor the 10th anniversary of September 11th. The discussion, which was titled "Into The Light: A Multifaith Conversation on 9/11", was held at Princeton University on September 8th 2011. The program was co-sponsored by Fellowship In Prayer and Princeton University Muslim Life Program in the Office of Religious Life. Matthew Weiner, Associate Dean of Religious Life at Princeton University, and former Director for the Interfaith Center of New York, moderated the panel.

• 14:47

  Pope Benedict visits his homeland

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Pope Benedict XVI today, who was born in Bavaria, today began a four day visit to his home country, with the aim of strengthening good relations between Germany and the Holy See.

  At the welcoming ceremony, which was held at Bellevue Castle in Berlin, the Pope said: “I have not come here primarily to pursue particular political or economic goals, as other statesmen rightly do, but rather to meet people and to speak about God”.

  As part of the itinerary for the first day of his visit, the Pope is meeting Jewish leaders at the historic Reichstag parliament.

  Prior to the start of World War II, Berlin’s Jewish community was the largest in Germany, but many Jews left the city due to Nazi persecution and more than 60,000 Jews were deported.

  Today’s meeting is therefore considered by many to be of great historical significance.

  Dieter Graumann, the head of Germany’s Central Council of Jews, told the Associated Press: “I think it is a wonderful sign that the pope is taking time right at the beginning of his busy schedule for us”.

  “It is a signal of friendship, of big-heartedness and underlines that the relationship between the Roman Catholic church and Judaism has improved considerably in the past few decades,” he said.

  Tomorrow the Pope will meet with the Muslim community.

  Prior to his visit the Germany, Pope Benedict sent a telegram to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, calling for an “ethical renewal” in the country where Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is currently embroiled in a scandal.

  He was allegedly entertained by lapdancers dressed as nuns at one of his “bunga bunga” parties.

  There is growing unease Italy over austerity measures being imposed on citizens by a political class which is increasingly seen as corrupt.

• September 21, 2011
• 10:47

  Jewish news network launches today

   » ‎ Interfaith

  A brand new 24-hour news network, Jewish News 1, is being launched in Israel today by Mediaset.

  The satellite channel will broadcast round-the-clock news from a Jewish perspective to Europe, North America and the Middle East, from studios in Tel Aviv, Brussels and Kyiv.

  Initially broadcasts will be in English but there are plans to launch Hebrew, French, Italian, Russian and German services at a later date.

  Additional studios are expected to open in Washington, Paris and London shortly.

  The channel will compete with Al Jazeera’s English-language channel, as well as major news networks such as CNN and Sky.

  Alexander Zanzer, the channel’s editor-in-chief, said: “We’ll broadcast everything that is newsworthy.

  “Alongside general news, we’ll offer economic and cultural items, as well as a peek into educational projects. Everything you can see on other global news channels, you’ll be able to see on our channel as well.”

  Closer to home, the UK’s first Jewish heritage centre for children has held its first English Heritage open day.

  Visitors to the centre, in Moortown, Leeds, learned how Jewish traditions, heritage and culture have survived through the years, during the even on 11 September.

  The centre, which opened last year, features a kosher supermarket and a 19th Century East European village.

• September 20, 2011
• 15:56

  Australian play offends Hindus

   » ‎ Interfaith

  A play featuring the Hindu god Ganesh has already caused offence to followers of Hinduism, even though it has not yet been staged.

  ‘Ganesh Versus the Third Reich’ will premiere at the Melbourne Festival on 29 September.

  Ganesh, who is revered as the remover of obstacles, is traditionally represented with the head of an elephant and is revered by Jains and Buddhists as well as by Hindus.

  In the comedy play he travels through Germany to reclaim the swastika, the symbol of the sun and a sacred symbol of good luck to Hindus.

  Yadu Singh, president of the Council of Indian Australians, claims the play’s storyline pokes fun at the Hindu system of belief.

  However the play’s producers claim they have been careful to depict Ganesh and the Hindu culture respectfully.

  “It is not right to use religious symbols, from any religion, in comedy or as a joke, it’s offensive, insulting and inappropriate,” Mr Singh said.

  Rajan Zed, the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, has also expressed concern that Lord Ganesh was being made a ‘laughing stock’ for the purposes of theatre.

  The controversy follows the use of an image of the goddess Laksmi on swimwear in May.

  The image was used by fashion designer Lisa Burke at Australian Fashion Week, appearing across the front and along the rear of a Lisa Blue bikini.

  The swimsuit design was subsequently withdrawn from production and sale.

• September 19, 2011
• 15:31

  Atheism’s ‘cool’ image hampering message of Christianity

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Speaking “In Conversation” to comedian Frank Skinner at Canterbury Cathedral on Friday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said that a perception of atheism as ‘cool’ was hindering the church’s efforts to convey the message of Christianity.

  Dr Rowan Williams laid some of the blame for this on the popularity of books by atheist Richard Dawkins and antitheist Christopher Hitchens.

  Richard Dawkins is the author of ‘The God Delusion’, which attacks God “in all his forms” and claims that religious fundamentalism is dividing people around the world.

  “I’d want to know how many atheists The God Delusion created,” Dr Williams said to Frank Skinner.

  “The book sold, but did it make a difference to the number of people who were actually committed one way or the other?”

  “I’m not avoiding the point that the coolness of atheism is very much in evidence.

  “The problem is it’s become a bit of a vicious circle. Atheism is cool, so books about atheism are cool,” he continued.

  Dr Williams told Mr Skinner that the Church is trying new ways of boosting attendance, including holding prayer groups in cafés and pubs, but he does not believe there is a ‘quick fix’ to the problem.

  Richard Dawkins is part of a campaign against the teaching of creationism in schools.

  A new campaign website has been launched and Dawkins is one of 30 signatories to a joint statement titled ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’

  Naturalist Sir David Attenborough has also joined the campaign, which is demanding that creationism and intelligent design should be banned outright from the science curriculum.

  Mr Dawkins is also calling for evolution to be a compulsory part of the primary curriculum.

• September 16, 2011
• 16:15

  Ramadan Dinner at Christ Episcopal Church

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  Christ Episcopal Church in Riverton hosted the IDC in a Ramadan Dinner on August 25th 2011. Everyone came together on this evening to break fast as a family. Fahrettin Kahraman recited the Adhan -Call to prayer- before breaking the fast. After the dinner prepared by the volunteers of the IDC, Erhan Yilmaz gave a brief speech on the month of “Ramadan”

  It was a wonderful evening well spent together, we Thank Rev. Richard C Wrede for making this event possible.

• 10:43

  Government accused of avoiding scrutiny of Welfare Reform Bill

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The level of scrutiny which peers will be able to give to the Government’s controversial Welfare Reform Bill has been severely reduced by a decision to refer it to a Grand Committee.

  This means that instead of a ‘Committee of the Whole House’ considering the bill and voting on amendments to each clause, it will now be considered by a much smaller number of peers and the committee will not be able to vote on amendments.

  The bill has been brought into question by the public accounts committee which is concerned that plans to cut £2.7 billion from the Department of Work and Pensions’ budget will make it difficult to implement the proposed welfare reforms.

  There is also a high level of concern over plans to replace Disability Living Allowance with a Personal Independence Payment. It is believed that the number of people eligible to receive the pay may fall by 20 per cent.

  The bill also proposed the introduction of a universal credit which would replace many existing benefits.

  Given the level of public concern over the bill, the decision to refer it to a Grand Committee has been seen as an attempt by the Government to minimise opposition and avoid scrutiny, in an attempt to ease the bill’s way through Parliament.

  The logistics of moving the debate to a much smaller room also means that the number of members of the public who can be admitted will be restricted and there will be little room for wheelchair users or those with assistance dogs.

  The leader of Labour peers Baroness Royall of Blaisdon said: “This is a bad day for consensus, a bad day for democracy – and most importantly, a bad day for disabled and vulnerable people. This Government should be ashamed of itself.”

• September 15, 2011
• 21:03

  Police investigate anti-Semitic Facebook page

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Facebook has taken down a page which poked fun at a Jewish community in Giffnock, part of the Greater Glasgow metropolitan area

  Several Facebook users reported the page to the police, who are now investigating the matter.

  Called “Welcome to Israel, only kidding you’re in Giffnock”, the page contained a profile picture of the late Rev Ernest Levy, a Holocaust survivor who was cantor of the Giffnock and Newlands Synagogue

  A humanist and teacher, who wanted to ensure the holocaust was never forgotten, Mr Levy wrote two books – Just One More Dance (1998) and The Single Light (2007) about his war time experience.

  His photograph appeared on the same Facebook page as comments such as “F*** the Jewish Zionist” and “They have a Gaelic translation in the train station, Hebrew would have been more appropriate.”

  Worryingly, nearly 1,000 Facebook users indicated their approval of the page by clicking the like button.

  In related news, an Internet ‘troll’ has been jailed for 18 weeks for posting abusive comments on Facebook pages set up as memorials to children who have died.

  Sean Duffy left obscene messages and videos on a memorial site dedicated to a 15-year-old girl who committed suicide.

• September 14, 2011
• 21:19

  Schools break Christian assembly rules

   » ‎ Interfaith

  A BBC survey has found that most state schools in England ignore a law requiring them to hold broadly Christian collective worship on a daily basis.

  The Comres survey for BBC local radio asked 500 parents if their children attended daily religious assemblies at school and 64 per cent said they didn’t.

  However, the majority of parents don’t seem concerned about this, as of the 1,743 adults questioned about the law, 60 percent said that it should not be enforced.

  ComRes believes that the results of the survey indicate that support for Christian worship in schools is declining.

  In response to the survey, the Church of England said that most primary schools hold either collective worship or a time of reflection, on a daily bases.

  However, whether ‘reflection’ is a substitute for ‘collective worship, is debatable.

  While most primary schools still adhere to the law, around 80 per cent of secondary schools are believed to ignore it, and there are growing calls for the requirement to be dropped.

  Following the recent riots in cities across England, the Archbishop of Caterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, laid some of the blame on schools for failing to teach children “virtue, character and citizenship”.

  Dr Williams said that education was too focused on teaching children to be “consumers” and “cogs” in an economic wheel.

  Perhaps enforcing the daily assembly rule could provide an ideal platform to teach children about moral, social and religious values.

  Schools have also been criticised for failing to organising practical science experiments and trips, because of concerns over health and safety.

  According to a report by the Commons science and technology committee, these concerns are unfounded and are causing pupils to miss out.

• September 13, 2011
• 14:50

  Libya embraces “moderate Islam” under NTC

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The National Transitional Council (NTC) has promised that Libya will become a democratic Islamic state where extremism will not be tolerated.

  Speaking to a crowd of around 10,000 people in Tripoli, the head of the NTC, Mustafa Abdul Jaili, also promised that women will be able to play a part in politics, under the new regime.

  It was Mr Jalil’s first official speech since the NTC took over leadership of the newly-named Libyan Republic, and followed news that Colonel Gaddafi’s son, Saadi Gaddafi, has crossed the border into Niger.

  The location of Colonel Gadafi himself is still not known.

  The NTC was established in Benghazi, the second-largest city in Libya, after Colonel Gadafi met peaceful pro-democracy protests with military force in February, using thousands of sub-Saharan African mercenaries, ground attack jet fighters and helicopter gunships against the protestors.

  Agostino Miozzo, the EU’s international crisis manager, told the Guardian that the leaders of the NTC are determined to decide Libya’s fate themselves, and will not be pressured by International communities into holding early elections.

  The NTC’s first priority is to stabilise the country by securing its borders, and there are some locations where it still faces opposition from Gaddafi loyalist forces.

  However, optimism is high that Libya will have a brighter future under its new leadership.

• September 12, 2011
• 14:25

  9/11 Commemorations

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  

  When Peace Islands Institute’s honorary president, Turkish Muslim scholar Fethullah Gulen, foresaw the importance of interfaith dialog among communities as well as among nations and initiated it in Turkey, it was 1994. It was the same year that he said 'there is no return from democracy’ when Muslims were questioned regarding their opinions about democracy. He was successful in his efforts to direct people’s attention, time, energy and money into education and dialog. While Gulen, and those inspired by him worked hard for implementing seeds of dialog, understanding and respect in Turkey; the catastrophic attacks of 9/11 took place in the US. The tragic events of 9/11 shifted the focus of interfaith dialog efforts from bringing people together in Turkey to repairing, at the community level, the damaged state of interfaith, interethnic, and inter-cultural relations in the US and in the global arena.

• 14:23

  Archbishop of Canterbury may stand down

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is believed to have told friends that he plans to stand down from the role next year in order to take up an academic position at Trinity College, Cambridge.

  Earlier in his career Dr Williams was a chaplain at Cambridge University.

  Dr Williams, who is now 61, was expected to remain as Archbishop of Canterbury until he retired, potentially allowing him to remain in the role for another nine years.

  He has already held the Church of England’s highest office for nine years and has faced pressure from senior clergy to step aside in order to give someone else the opportunity to take up the position.

  He has made a number of controversial moves during his time as Archbishop, including the appointment of a gay bishop in 2003 and his suggestion in 2008 that Britain should legalise Islamic sharia rules.

  Lambeth Palace has deigned to comment on the news of Dr Williams’ possible early departure.

  He is expected to leave after the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012, when legislation will be in place to allow women to become bishops.

  The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres are considered potential successors to Dr Williams.

  Dr Sentamu has decided not to support Dr Williams’ recent decision to meet with Robert Mugabe on a visit to Zimbabwe.

  There is also concern that Mugabe may refuse to meet with the Archbishop, who hoped his visit to the country would provide support to Anglicans facing persecution there.

• September 10, 2011
• 1:43

  9/11 - A Decade Later

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  As we approach the tenth anniversary of September 11th, we, The Peace Islands Institute and its volunteers (formerly The Interfaith Dialog Center) would like to reflect upon and honor the loss of that tragic day and recognize tremendous acts of resilience and compassion that prevented even further disaster on 9/11 and since.

  Once again, we condemn the brutal terrorist attacks in the strongest terms. We believe that our nation must stand united against those who are involved with terrorism by any means, and plant seeds of fear and hatred in the community. As the Peace Islands Institute, we believe we must summon the spirit of dialogue, understanding, and respect, on an everyday basis, firmly and consistently, to grapple with extremists’ and terrorists’ vision of a world of fear and hatred.

  The events of September 11th were extremely tragic for many of us on a personal level as we lost our loved ones. While the 10th anniversary is a time of sorrow, we cannot disregard how communities around the nation and in New Jersey in particular, came together as one, demonstrating the strength of the human spirit after experiencing unimaginable loss.

  Peace Islands Institute took upon itself to be a leading force, organizing communities to come together, and getting to know and support each other at a time of fear, distress, and estrangement following the tragic events of 9/11. Communities from diverse religious, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds responded with tremendous enthusiasm, diligence and hard work to the Peace Islands’ mission and call. From the hospitality and ingenuity of New Jersey’s Law Enforcement members, to the selfless and understanding service of religious and educational communities, time and again we have seen our nation and State meet head-on the gravest of challenges. Once again, we have experienced that our ability to bounce back better and stronger from adversity comes down to our communities’ and civil society’s strength which can only be established through dialogue, understanding, and respect for each other. It is this resilience that we wish to honor and celebrate during the 10th anniversary.

  Resilient and compassionate communities are the foundation for a strong, wise, and vibrant nation. They are also our strongest assets when faced with further tragedy, ranging from economic, social, natural and man-made disasters. We must strengthen our relationships across communities to withstand, respond, and recover from catastrophic events, especially the ones that threaten the harmonious co-existence of our diverse backgrounds.

  As we mark this solemn anniversary, let us once again call upon the spirit of dialogue, understanding, and respect – necessary characteristics of resilient and compssioante communities. And let us show that dialogue and understanding are enduring virtues – not just for one day, but for every day.

  Levent Koç
  The Peace Islands Institute
  (formerly The Interfaith Dialog Center)

• September 09, 2011
• 10:29

  Roving Rabbis reach out to isolated Jewish communities

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Jewish teenagers have spent the summer bringing Yiddishkeit, or the Jewish Way of life, to small communities of Jews in northern England, who may have become isolated from Judaism.

  The boys, from Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester, a higher education centre in Salford, are part of the ‘Roving Rabbis’ programme, which involves hundreds of rabbinical students reaching out to small Jewish communities around the world.

  The students, who are chosen for their rabbinic skills and ability to relate well to people, gain experience in outreach work while reuniting Jews with their faith.

  The group visited Jewish homes in York, a city where 150 Jews were killed in a pogrom in Clifford’s Tower in 1190.

  Although Jews were absent from York for hundreds of years after the massacre, the group managed to locate 25 homes with a Jewish resident.

  Many had lost contact with Judaism, but were given a Mezuzah to place on their doorposts – a small case which acts as a reminder of God’s present and his commandments.

  Another group of Roving Rabbis visited the Isle of Man last month, where they showed members of the Jewish community how to put on tefillin and light Shabbat candles.

  It was the first time that one 60-year old man had put on Tefillin, small black boxes containing hand-written biblical verses, which Jewish men strap onto their heads and their arms each weekday morning.

  The Roving Rabbis programme is organised by Chabad-Lunbavitch, the largest Jewish outreach arm of Judaism.

• September 08, 2011
• 13:03

  Archbishop of Canterbury seeks talks with Mugabe

   » ‎ Interfaith

  In an effort to support persecuted Anglicans in Zimbabwe, Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is visiting Harare on 9 October, the country’s capital city.

  During his visit, which is said to be pastoral, not political, he hopes to meet Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

  He is visiting the country amid the ongoing harassment of Anglicans, but the violence has not deterred Dr Williams, who will be the first prominent British official to visit Harare in ten years.

  He will also visit Malawi and Zambia during his visit to southern Africa.

  Anglicans in Zimbabwe are facing persecution from security forces, including violence and exclusion from churches.

  Anglican Church property was recently seized by the former bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, after he was granted legal custody of the property.

  Kunonga was excommunicated in 2007 and now heads a breakaway organisation known as the new Anglican Province of Zimbabwe.

  He has served eviction notices on around 30 Anglican clerics including Reverend Dzikamai Mudenda who has been driven from his home in Mabvuku, along with his family.

  On the 24 August, Reverend Jonah Mudowaya was beaten around the head after he refused to leave a church house.

  Speaking to the New York Times, Kunonga said he wanted to take control of all Anglican properties in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Malawi, including churches, schools and hospitals.

• September 07, 2011
• 18:38

  Ramadan Dinner at Notre Dame Church, North Caldwell

   » ‎ IDC Interfaith Dialog Center

  August 25th, 2011 the Notre Dame Church in North Caldwell, hosted the IDC in a memorable Ramadan Dinner. Guests from two faiths came together and broke their fast with a dinner brought in by the IDC. The guests enjoyed a beautiful dinner with friendly conversations, new friends were made.

  Dr. Levent Koc, gave a brief speech about the month of Ramadan before initially breaking the fast.

  We thank Fr. Anthony Randazzo the people at the Notre Dame Church for making this event possible.

• 8:59

  Mobile phone ad mocked Christianity

   » ‎ Interfaith

  Phones4U has been banned from using a mobile phone ad featuring a cartoon-like image of Jesus with the sacred heart on his chest, by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

  Nearly one hundred people complained to the ASA after the image of Jesus winking and giving a thumbs-up sign appeared in a national ad campaign for Samsung Android phones.

  The ASA banned the ad after ruling that it ‘mocked and belittled’ the Christian faith.

  The ad ran during Easter, the most important festival in the Christian calendar, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, three days after he was crucified.

  It displayed the slogan “Miraculous deals on Samsung Galaxy Android phones”.

  Phones4U said it had hoped to create a “light-hearted, positive and contemporary image of Christianity relevant to the Easter weekend”, but it requires little imagination to realise that comparing a phone deal to the miracle of the resurrection is at the very least insensitive and potentially very offensive indeed.

  Following the ruling Phones4U said it was sorry for any offence caused and would not be running any similar ads.

  Meanwhile the ASA has ruled that an Aldi television advert, in which a woman says her husband likes both Aldi tea and PG Tips, but prefers gin, does not break the advertising code.

  The ASA received 24 complaints that the advert made light of alcoholism and was irresponsible because it suggested gin as an alternative to non-alcoholic drinks.

  Aldi said that this was not the intention of the ad, which was meant to be humorous, a view supported by the ASA which decided that the ad did not encourage irresponsible drinking or take alcoholism lightly.

• September 06, 2011
• 8:44

  Faith-based services perceived as ‘sinister’

   » ‎ Interfaith

  The London-based Christian Legal Centre claims that the expulsion of a Christian debt counselling charity from the Advice UK network highlights a growing perception that there is something sinister about being motivated by faith.

  Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which offers free debt-counselling services from centres based in local churches, left Advice UK, a support network for such centres, following a disagreement over prayer.

  Steve Johnson, the chief executive of AdviceUK, is reported to have claimed CAP placed an ‘emotional fee’ on its service, because CAP’s debt-counsellors invite their clients to pray with them.

  By doing so, the counsellors are imposing their own values, according to Advice UK.

  CAP vigorously denies that willingness to pray is a condition of the service it offers.

  In a statement on its website CAP said: “Whilst CAP is committed to provide impartial help and advice to all members of society, as an expression of our care for clients we do offer to pray with people.

  “We also have the furtherance of the Christian faith as a charitable objective.

  “In order to protect the integrity of both organisations it was amicably agreed that CAP would not continue to be an AdviceUK member.”

  Andrea Williams, director of the Christian Legal Centre, said:
  “This is a very sad development and further highlights how intolerant our society has become to the Christian faith.

  “There is increasingly a chilling notion prevailing that there is something wrong, something sinister, about being motivated by faith.”

TOP Gregarius 0.6.0 Last Update: Fri 18 May 2012 05:40:57 PM UTC