Knowledge Centre : Society and Culture : Spirituality and Religion
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- Faith, Farming and the Environment
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Once-neglected land has been transformed into a productive area, where an artificial lake, crops and ancient trees are part of one of the most active civil society organizations in the city of Cardenas, Cuba. The Christian Centre for Reflection and Dialogue welcomes everyone, regardless of religion, to take part in its dreams of turning the fields green and of using the land -- now known as "El Retiro," or The Retreat -- to benefit the surrounding villages. (Dalia Acosta, IPS, 24 October 2006)
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/eJdkjugPnveChnCibulObEon
(Added: Thu Oct 26 2006 Hits: 100)
- Indigenous Ceremony at Bear Butte Faces Disruption, 'Desecration'
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A fight to keep a motorcycle rally from disturbing a native prayer site in South Dakota is shedding light on a history of spiritual oppression -- and stoking the movement to protect indigenous cultural rights. (Michelle Chen, The NewStandard News, Towards Freedom, 11 July 2006)
http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/853/
(Added: Tue Aug 08 2006 Hits: 85)
- Is There a GAPP in Community Development?
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The Glebe Assistance and Partnership Programme provides much needed support to an inner city Sydney community. (Elisabeth Ford, Glebe Assistance and Partnership Program, Just Change, July 2006)
http://www.dev-zone.org/downloads/jc6elizabeth.pdf
(Added: Tue Aug 01 2006 Hits: 79)
- Islamic Law and Criminal Justice in Aceh
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As a debate rages in Indonesia about the role of the state in enforcing Islamic law, all eyes are on Aceh, the only part of the Indonesian country allowed to apply Shari'a in full. Practical problems have arisen as the province, emerging from a long civil conflict, tries to enforce the first three Shari'a regulations passed by the district government. While Shari'a officials there deeply believe that strict enforcement will facilitate broader goals like peace, reconstruction and reconciliation, the religious bureaucracy also has a vested interest in its own expansion, and women and the poor have become the primary targets of enforcement. (International Crisis Group, 31 July 2006)
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4295&l=1
(Added: Tue Aug 01 2006 Modified: Thu Jan 18 2007 Hits: 163)
- What Would the Buddha Do?
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Maybe every modern generation feels confronted by some crisis that will determine the fate of the future. But unless your head is buried in the sand, or some Buddhist equivalent, it's not possible to be ignorant of the extraordinary planetary crisis that confronts all of us today. Environmental collapse no longer merely threatens: we are well into it and it's already apparent that civilization as we know it is going to be transformed in some very uncomfortable ways by the mutually-reinforcing breakdown of ecological systems, especially global climate change, ozone depletion, rapid disappearance of many species, and various types of pollution including some we don't know about yet. This article gives a Buddhist perspective on facing up to this critical situation. (David Loy, Adbusters, July/August 2006)
http://www.engaged-zen.org/articles/David_Loy-What_Would_the_Buddha_Do.html
(Added: Wed Sep 20 2006 Hits: 140)
- A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Home
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Author: I. A. Ibrahim General Editors: Dr. William (Daoud) Peachy, Michael (Abdul-Hakim) Thomas, Tony (Abu-Khaliyl) Sylvester, Idris Palmer, Jamaal Zarabozo, Ali AlTimimi Science Editors: Professor Harold Stewart Kuofi, Professor F. A. State Professor Mahjoub O. Taha, Professor Ahmad Allam, Professor Salman Sultan Associate Professor H. O. Sindi
(Added: Thu Jul 11 2002 Modified: Tue Nov 29 2005 Hits: 192)
- A Dangerous Mix: Religion & Development Aid
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After the war in Iraq and again in the wake of the tsunami, Christian aid organizations were among the first to set-up relief operations in devastated countries. Many described the faith-based organizations lining up at the Iraq-Jordan border as a second army, preparing to fight a "battle for the souls" of Iraqi people. With The Faith-Based Initiative launched by the US president, concerns are raised about government's alliance with and sponsorship of Christian values and missionaries. It also lends credibility to the critics who attest that the war on terrorism is really a religious crusade. Should faith-based organizations be allowed to proselytize while providing development and humanitarian aid? (Eman Ahmed, WHRnet, 2005)
http://www.whrnet.org/fundamentalisms/docs/issue-aid_religion0507.html
(Added: Mon May 15 2006 Modified: Fri Sep 01 2006 Hits: 221)
- Aid Initiatives Not to Be Taken on Faith
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This article compares the experiences of two foreign faith-based charitable organisations -World Vision and Dream for Africa - in Swaziland, whose differing attitudes towards local communities determined whether they would suceed or fail in their common mission of 'helping'. (James Hall, IPS News, 10 April 2006)
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32841
(Added: Fri Apr 21 2006 Modified: Mon Aug 21 2006 Hits: 374)
- Amnesty abortion rights proposal draws fire from religious groups
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Amnesty International is under siege from anti-abortion campaigners and Roman Catholic clerics in Canada and around the world, who are outraged by a proposal that would expand its mandate to include supporting access to abortion in cases such as sexual violence. Amnesty officials note that any decision is still more than a year away at the earliest, and defend their right to debate abortion and birth control within the context of women's rights. (Brian Murphy, The Canadian Press, July 29, 2006)
(Added: Mon Aug 14 2006 Hits: 68)
- Anglican Church In Aotearoa, New Zealand And Polynesia
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This is the official Web Site of the Three Tikanga (Cultural Streams) Church encompassing Maori - Aotearoa, Pakeha - New Zealand and Pasefika - Polynesia.
(Added: Mon May 15 2006 Modified: Thu Jun 08 2006 Hits: 269)
- Asian Reflection
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Advances understanding of the spiritual message at the heart of Asian religions through thoughtful and at times unique analysis. In addition to its more intellectual offerings, it also features prize-winning images and mystical passages from the region's spiritual traditions.
http://www.asianreflection.com
(Added: Thu May 23 2002 Modified: Tue Nov 29 2005 Hits: 270)
- Auroville
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Auroville wants to be the first realisation of human unity based on the teaching of Sri Aurobindo, where people of all countries would be at home. It has a population of over 35,000 people. Their activities include afforestation, organic agriculture, educational research, health care, village development, appropriate technology, and building construction, information technology, small and medium scale businesses, town planning, water table management, cultural activities and community services.
(Added: Tue Jun 11 2002 Modified: Tue Nov 29 2005 Hits: 228)
- Bacha Khan in Afghanistan
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Written by a former member of the Pakistani Intelligence Services in Afghanistan, this memoir recounts details of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan's life in Afghanistan after the partition of India. In addition to its historic significance, it also contains an incisive introduction outlining Khan's remarkable achievements in rising out of a stagnant society to be a leader of rare spiritual depth. By Dr. Sher Zaman Taizi, June 2002.
http://www.asianreflection.com/khanafghanistan.shtml
(Added: Fri Jul 18 2003 Modified: Fri Dec 16 2005 Hits: 216)
- Baha'i International Community - Statement Library
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The Bahá'í International Community is a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations that both encompasses and represents the world-wide membership of the Bahá'í Faith. This library includes statements related to fostering grass-roots participation in sustainable development initiatives, advancing the status of women, educating children, preventing drug abuse, eliminating racism, and promoting human rights education.
(Added: Mon Nov 18 2002 Modified: Tue Nov 29 2005 Hits: 164)
- BELIEFNET
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This is a highly acclaimed, large, and diverse multifaith site about religion in general, with information, news, and forums on major religions. Beliefnet is independent and not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement. Their agenda is simply to help you meet your spiritual needs.
(Added: Fri May 12 2006 Hits: 87)
- Better off without Him
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Are religious societies better than secular ones? It should be an easy question for athiests to answer. Most of those now seeking to blow people up - whether with tanks and missiles or rucksacks and passenger planes - do so in the name of God. But we also know that few religious governments have committed atrocities on the scale of Hitler's, Mao's or Stalin's . So the question which troubles almost everyone who has stopped to think about it is: if our lives have no purpose, why should we care about other people's? (Monbiot, 2005)
http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2005/10/11/better-off-without-him/
(Added: Mon May 22 2006 Modified: Wed Jul 12 2006 Hits: 215)
- Beware of Secular Intolerance
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This article explains how radical secularism and radical 'celebrating diversity' are incompatible and will damage community relations by undermining moderation and creating aggrieved, militant minorities who will demand, what they will rightly see as being encouraged for all other minorities, a share of the public space. (Women Against Fundamentalism Journal, 1995)
http://waf.gn.apc.org/articles.htm
(Added: Mon May 15 2006 Modified: Thu Jul 13 2006 Hits: 108)
- Buddha's Light Universal Welfare Society, Bangladesh
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Carries out various development activites in their area centered around their Buddhist worldview
(Added: Tue Jun 11 2002 Modified: Tue Nov 29 2005 Hits: 185)
- Cartoons As Weapons Of Mass Provocation
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Is the global row over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad the beginning of a "clash of civilizations"? Author and scholar Paul Tiyambe Zeleza argues not, locating the controversy firmly in the realm of politics. In this context, Muslims are challenged to find ways of defending their faith in a way that advances human freedom and decency. Those in the West, he argues, must not support aggression that hides behind freedom of speech. (Pambazuka News, 2006-02-16)
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/32049
(Added: Mon May 15 2006 Modified: Thu Jan 18 2007 Hits: 282)
- Christian charities' uneasy role in the Muslim world
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Christian groups are providing health care, education and disaster relief in many Muslim nations, and the U.S. Agency for International Development has awarded about $53 million from 2001 to 2005 to fund projects by Christians in Pakistan, Indonesia and Afghanistan. Both the aid organizations and the U.S. government hope the projects will sow good will in a region growing increasingly wary of the West. But the war in Iraq and the detention of Muslims at Guantánamo Bay have greatly angered some residents, who are finding it hard to separate the policies they vehemently oppose from the activities of Christian aid groups. (Susan Milligan, The Boston Globe, 12 October 2006)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/12/news/hospital.php
(Added: Fri Oct 13 2006 Hits: 118)
- Christian Groups Find New Allies At USAID
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The AIDS pandemic in Africa has provided an entry point for U.S.-based Christian evangelical organisations that view some of the small countries in that continent as an opportunity for religious, political and social transformation. Working in concert with these groups is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It is believed that "there's a huge role", for Christian groups because AIDS is an issue that fits with the Christian message. And the prevention of AIDS fits with the righteous living and moral standpoint of Christianity. (Bill Berkowitz, IPS News Agency, Jan 17, 2006)
http://ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=31801
(Added: Tue May 16 2006 Modified: Mon Jun 26 2006 Hits: 258)
- Christians In Afghanistan: A Community Of Faith And Fear
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Afghan converts to Christianity lead dangerous lives and must keep their faith secret to avoid persecution by police, Islamists or even their own neighbors. Members of this secret society have to constantly keep looking over their shoulders. Afghanistan's 2004 constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, is of little use to Christians. (Matthias Gebauer, 2006)
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,408781,00.html
(Added: Mon May 15 2006 Modified: Thu Jan 18 2007 Hits: 174)
- Coke and Conquistadors: Religious syncretism in Latin America
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This article looks at how Mayan beliefs have blended with the Catholic faith to become a vehicle for the perpetuation and preservation of cultural traditions. (Monica Evans, Just Change, July 2006)
http://www.dev-zone.org/downloads/jc6evans.pdf
(Added: Mon Aug 07 2006 Hits: 87)
- Development Revealed: Including the Spiritual Dimension in the Study and Practice of Development
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This essay uses the example of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Khudai Khidmitgars to explore the inclusion of the spiritual dimension in the teaching and practice of development. Selfless service, revolutionary organisation, and cultural change are examined in the context of drawing together love, power, and the intellect as a force for development. It concludes by calling for the use of a spiritual imagination as complementary approach to that of C. Wright Mills' well-known sociological imagination. By Damon Lynch, July 2003.
http://www.asianreflection.com/developmentrevealed.shtml
(Added: Fri Jul 18 2003 Modified: Wed Dec 14 2005 Hits: 357)
- Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM)
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Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) is a leading non-government organization (NGO) in Bangladesh working at the grassroots level as well as national and international levels with the aim to develop social and spiritual life of the human community. It works to render all possible help to the suffering humanity at large with basic thrust on poverty alleviation and socio-economic empowerment of the poor, specially women. DAM is the first to provide innovative services in different fields of education bringing sustainable impact for improvement of quality of life of the target beneficiaries. Recipient of the UNESCO International Literacy Award 2003.
(Added: Mon Sep 15 2003 Modified: Wed Dec 14 2005 Hits: 224)
