Page 54 - Religion Belief
Pope: My UAE trip wrote new page in Christian-Islam history
Pope Francis says his pilgrimage this week to the United Arab Emirates wrote a "new page in history of the dialogue between Christianity and Islam" and in promoting world peace based on brotherhood. Telling pilgrims at the Vatican Wednesday about making the first-ever papal trip to the Arabian Peninsula, Francis described his encounter with leaders of Islam as a counterpoint to the "strong temptation" to contend there's a current clash between Christian and Islamic civilisations. While in Abu Dhabi, Francis signed a document with the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the ancient seat of learning in Sunni Islam, condemning religiously motivated and other violence. The pope said the two religious leaders wanted to give a "clear and decisive sign" that respect and dialogue is possible between the Christian and Islamic worlds.
Government starts appointing priests in MP temples
The newly formed Spirituality Department in Madhya Pradesh has started appointing priests to government-controlled temples.
City of Qom: Iranian blend of revolution and modernity
In the religious capital of Iran, the Islamic revolution still holds a powerful sway even as once-unthinkable signs of modernity creep into the city of Qom to challenge the faithful. Qom, a couple of hours drive south of Tehran, is one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites, home to dozens of seminaries and many of its most prominent clerics, known as "sources of emulation". It was here that the first tremors of the Islamic revolution were felt, back in 1963, when a rising star of the clerical establishment, Ruhollah Khomeini, made a fiery speech attacking the shah over his US-backed reform programme. A year later, Ayatollah Khomeini gave another speech from his home against the granting of diplomatic immunity to US military personnel -- which he said reduced "the Iranian people to a level lower than that of an American dog". Khomeini was sent into exile, but the uprising he set in motion would lead to his triumphant return in February 1979, the toppling of the shah and the establishment of .
Sabarimala: SC reserves judgment on review petition, Temple board now says it supports entry of all women
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved the judgment on a batch of review petitions over the entry of women into Sabarimala temple even as the Kerala state-controlled temple board took an about turn and told the court that it supports the entry of all women into the hill shrine.The Travancore Devaswom Board had opposed any review of the apex court's September order that opened the temple doors to women between the ages of 10 and 50 and set off a huge backlash.After the day's proceeding in the apex court, Travancore Devaswom Board Counsel Rakesh Dwivedi said that the board has decided to honour the top court's judgment and has appealed the Supreme Court to dismiss the review petitions.TDB counsel Dwivedi told ANI, "The board has taken a conscious decision to support and respect the judgment of the Supreme Court and implement it. The board thinks that is right judgment in the right direction and it grants equality to women in the matters of worship."The Sabarimala Temple is under the ...
Exclusion of women from temples not essential to Hindu religion: Kerala govt on Sabarimala
Exclusion of women from temples is not essential to the Hindu religion, the Kerala government said Wednesday vehemently opposing in the Supreme Court a batch of petitions seeking review of its verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi was told by the counsel for the Kerala government that no ground was made out in any of the petitions seeking review of the apex court's September 28, 2018 verdict. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta appearing for the Kerala government told the bench, also comprising justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra, that there was a consensus among the four judges who delivered the majority judgment on three aspects -- Article 26, 25 (2) and rule 3 (b) of the Kerala Act. Gupta said in none of the review petitions questions have been raised regarding these three points and therefore other aspects "raised in the review ...
Ensure safety of nuns who protested against rape-accused bishop: NCW to Pinarayi Vijayan
The National Commission For Women has written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, urging prompt action in ensuring safety of two nuns who are witnesses in a rape case against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, and were issued transfer orders by their congregation. The complainants alleged that the transfer orders were aimed to split them and "to sabotage the case" against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, the NCW said in the letter. The letter said that the two nuns, who approached the women's panel, alleged the transfer orders issued last year were to pressurise and threaten them as they were prominent witnesses in the case. "The complainants also apprehend danger to their lives, if transferred to distant regions," the letter said. "As you are aware of the seriousness of the issue, the National Commission for Women urges your personal intervention into the matter to ensure safety of the complainants, victim (of the case under trial) and the fellow nuns," the letter added. The Commission requested .
Kerala govt opposes pleas seeking review of SC's Sabarimala verdict
The Kerala government Wednesday vehemently opposed in the Supreme Court a batch of petitions seeking review of the verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala shrine, even as several organisations argued that the judgement be reconsidered. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi was told by the counsel for the Kerala government that no ground was made out in any of the petitions seeking review of its September 28, 2018 verdict. Several organisations including the Nair Service Society (NSS) and the Thantri of the shrine, have advanced arguments before the bench and sought reconsideration of the verdict. Former attorney general and senior advocate K Parasaran, appearing for the NSS, assailed the majority verdict, saying Article 15 of the Constitution throws open for all public the secular institutions of the country but it doesn't deal with religious institutions. The article "throws open all public institutions of ...
Pope admits priests, bishops sexually abused nuns
Pope Francis admitted Tuesday that priests and bishops in the Catholic Church had sexually abused nuns. "There are some priests and also bishops who have done it," the pontiff said in response to a journalist's question on the abuse of nuns, speaking on the return flight from his trip to the United Arab Emirates. The papal admission followed a rare outcry last week from the Vatican's women's magazine over the sexual abuse of nuns by priests and religious sisters feeling forced to have abortions or raise children not recognised by their fathers. The issue hit the headlines last year after a nun accused an Indian bishop of repeatedly raping her in a case that triggered rare dissent within the country's Catholic Church. Francis said the problem could be found "anywhere" but was prevalent in "some new congregations and in some regions". "I think it's still going on, because it's not something that just goes away like that. On the contrary," he added. He said the Church has "suspended ...
Mizoram church body to pray for defeat of Citizenship Bill in
An umbrella organisation major churches in Christian-majority Mizoram has urged its members to organise mass prayers next week so that the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is defeated in Parliament. In a statement on Tuesday, the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC) made the appeal to its 16 constituent churches to offer mass prayer during the night service on February 16 so that the Bill is not introduced in the Rajya Sabha or, even if taken up, is not passed. The bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, even if they do not possess any document. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 and has been awaiting nod from the Rajya Sabha. There has been strong opposition in Northeastern states against the Bill. The protesters claim that if the Bill is implemented, it will endanger the lives and identity of indigenous people of the region. The MKHC statement said Bill would be harmful for the survival
Pope Francis holds open air Mass in Abu Dhabi
Pope Francis held an open air Mass in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as part of his historic trip as the first head of the Catholic Church to the Arabian Peninsula and called on Christians to promote peace in the region.
Gadkari calls for removal of misconceptions about Sanskrit
Union minister Nitin Gadkari Tuesday said those who love Sanskrit should try to remove the misconceptions prevailing in the society about this ancient language. Gadkari was speaking at the inauguration of the New Academic Complex and Guruji Golwalkar Gurukulam at Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Ramtek. "Even today, there are misconceptions about Sanskrit among many people. Sanskrit lovers should work towards removing these misconceptions," he said. Gadkari also said that during his visit to Iran and Germany, he realised how popular Sanskrit was in these countries. "During my visit to Iran, the president of Iran had apprised me that Persian language came from Sanskrit...When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I went to Tehran, we came to know about the 'Sanskrit chair' in Tehran University...Also how much research is being done on Sanskrit and Ayurveda in Germany as compared to India," the minister added. "It is a special responsibility of Sanskrit lovers to
Is something recited in Sanskrit not secular? asks BJD MP
BJD leader B Mahtab on Tuesday wondered whether reciting something in Sanskrit is not secular as he raised in Lok Sabha the issue of certain entities not agreeing with the decision for compulsory recitation of common prayers in Sanskrit by students in all Kendriya Vidyalayas. A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the revised education code for Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) Sangathan schools comprising compulsory recitation of common prayers in Sanskrit by students. During the Zero Hour, Mahtab asked the government to put forth its view on the matter in the House as well as in the Supreme Court. He said some parents, children and organisations from certain communities do not agree with this common prayer in KVs, which are run by the central government. Mahtab said it was a common fact that the common prayers that are being sung in Kendriya Vidyalayas are from Upanishads, which are widely acclaimed by one and all in this world. "Our original Constitution
Dutch former anti-Islam MP says he's become a Muslim
A Dutch former far-right MP and right-hand man of anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has set tongues wagging in the Netherlands after revealing he has converted and become a Muslim, news reports said Tuesday. For seven years Joram van Klaveren fought a relentless campaign in the Lower House against Islam in the Netherlands as a lawmaker for Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV). At the time, the "hardliner pleaded for banning the burkha and minarets, saying 'we don't want any Islam, or at least as little as possible in the Netherlands'," the daily tabloid Algemeen Dagblad (AD) said. But the 40-year-old Van Klaveren said he had changed his mind halfway through writing an anti-Islam book, which he told the respected NRC daily "became a refutation of objections non-Muslims have" against the religion. "If everything I wrote up to that point is true, and I believe that, then I am a de facto Muslim," he told the NRC. Van Klaveren converted to Islam on October 26 last year, the NRC added in the ...
Pope Francis delivers historic mass in UAE
Pope Francis became the first pontiff to deliver a mass in the Arabian Peninsula, where he addressed a gathering of around 1,35,000 people at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.The Pope is on a historic three-day visit to the Gulf nation, as part of his outreach to Muslims.The papal mass ceremony began as a large crucifix, which is a rare sight in a Gulf country, emerged above the makeshift steeple. Pope Francis made his way to the stadium in his specially designed "popemobile."Pope Francis' plane landed in Abu Dhabi airport on Sunday and an official delegation welcomed the pontiff. He kicked off his official engagements on Monday, arriving at the city's lavish presidential palace in a Kia Soul, a small black car.Upon arrival, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome with artillery salute and aircraft leaving a yellow and white smoke through the sky, which are the colours of the Vatican flag.Delivering his first public speech in the region at the Founder's Memorial comprising ...
Pope Francis holds open-air Mass in Abu Dhabi
Pope Francis held an open-air Mass in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as part of his historic trip as the first head of the Catholic Church to the Arabian Peninsula and called on Christians to promote peace in the region.
RSS most secular and inclusive organisation: Maha governor
RSS is one of the most secular and inclusive organisations as it has always respected the right of individuals to practice their own faith, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao said Tuesday. Speaking at the inauguration of the New Academic Complex and a gurukulam named after late RSS sarsanghchalak Golwalkar guruji at Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya (KKSV) at Ramtek near here, the governor said the journey of the Sangh has been spectacular as well as tough. M S Golwalkar, popularly known as guruji, was the second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). "The sapling planted by (RSS founder) Dr KB Hedgewar in the form of Sangh has grown into a large banyan tree having its branches all over the world," an official release quoted Rao as saying. "This journey (of RSS) has been both spectacular and tough. The toughest challenge to the Sangh came soon after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, when it was banned by the government on February ..
Are prayers recited in Sanskrit not secular?, asks BJD MP
BJD leader B Mahtab Tuesday wondered whether reciting prayers in Sanskrit is not secular as he sought to raise in the Lok Sabha the issue of a petition in the Supreme Court against Kendriya Vidyalaya students being asked to recite prayers in Sanskrit. He also asked the government to put forth its view on the matter in the House as well as in the Supreme Court. A petition has been moved in the apex court against the revised education code for Kendriya Vidyalayas wherein recitation of common prayers in Sanskrit has been made compulsory for students. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Mahtab said that common prayers are from the Upanishads. Is something recited in Sanskrit not secular and why should someone go to the Supreme Court, he wondered. BJP member Nishikant Dubey alleged that the West Bengal government was protecting corrupt people and illegal immigrants from Bangladesh for vote bank politics. Dharmendra Yadav (SP) raised the issue of change in roster system for
Pope Francis celebrates historic Mass in Arabian Peninsula
Pope Francis ministered on Tuesday to the thriving Catholic community in the United Arab Emirates as he concluded his historic visit to the Arabian Peninsula with the first-ever papal Mass here and a call for his flock to remain meek in following God. A day after making a broad appeal for Christian and Muslim leaders to work together to promote peace and reject war, Francis celebrated what some considered the largest show of public Christian worship on the peninsula, the birthplace of Islam. For the Gulf Arab region where public displays of non-Islamic faith are restricted, the hymns of "Halleluja" booming out from speakers marked a milestone and evidence of the Emirates' much touted assertions of its tolerance for other faiths. Cheers erupted inside and outside the Zayed Sports City Stadium as Francis arrived and looped through the crowd in his open-sided popemobile, as chants of "Viva il Papa" and "We love you!" echoed from the crowd, estimated to be around 135,000. Organizers said .
Pak: Hindu temple vandalised, holy books, idols burnt
A Hindu temple was vandalised in Pakistan's southern Sindh province after miscreants set fire to holy books and idols inside the premises, leading to shock and fear among the community.The arson attack took place in the Sham Sundar Shewa Mandli Temple situated in Kumb, a town in Khairpur district of Sindh province on Sunday evening, Samaa TV reported.The suspects entered the temple at around 6 pm (local time) and set fire to idols and three sacred books, including Bhagwad Gita and Guru Granth Sahib, which were kept in separate rooms. The fire destroyed the books and the idols. The miscreants fled from the scene.An FIR has been registered against the unidentified persons.According to the TV report, children sounded the alarm about the fire and quoted a resident who said the miscreants vandalised the temple within 15 minutes.The police found fingerprints from the window of temple and have taken three persons into custody, said Vijay Kumar, in-charge of the temple, according to the ...
Pope and top Muslim cleric in joint call for freedom of belief
Pope Francis and a top Muslim cleric have issued a joint call for freedom of belief during the first visit by the head of the Catholic church to the birthplace of Islam - the Arabian Peninsula. Francis, who has made outreach to Muslim communities a cornerstone of his papacy, is on an historic three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates. He is due to hold an open-air mass on Tuesday for 135,000 of the Muslim country's million Catholic residents, set to be the largest ever public gathering in the Gulf state. On Monday, the pope held talks in Abu Dhabi with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb - imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's prestigious seat of learning. The two religious leaders signed a document on "human fraternity for world peace and living together", described by the Vatican as an "important step forward in the dialogue between Christians and Muslims". They called for "freedom of belief", the "promotion of a culture of tolerance", the "protection of places of worship" and "full ...