America.gov-Diversity: At Worship

Religious Freedom Day Marks American Tradition of Good Will

Michael Jay Friedman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:49:12 -0400

Americans are a religious people, but — consistent with principles in the Constitution — they view faith as a freedom reserved to individuals, regardless of their particular beliefs, and one protected from government interference. Each year, the president proclaims January 16 as Religious Freedom Day.

Building a Life in America

Michael Jay Friedman — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:08:49 -0400

Muslims in America participate fully and freely in every aspect of American civic and cultural life. They hail originally from many parts of the world, and each individual embraces his or her own blend of traditional Islamic and contemporary American customs. Their stories are both remarkable and quintessentially American.

Exhibit Showcases Crèches from Around the World

Meghan Loftus — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:51:13 -0400

Visitors to the National Cathedral in Washington will find a display of 500 Nativity sets from around the globe, including from Kenya, Finland, Israel, Panama, Sri Lanka, Portugal and Burkina-Faso. The exhibit shows that the materials used for the crèches are as diverse as the styles.

Navajo Healers, Sand Paintings Keep Tribal Traditions Alive

Lauren Monsen — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:54:22 -0400

The Navajo people of the southwestern United States follow the Navajo Way, a spiritual code that relies on traditional healers, chants and sand paintings to emphasize the importance of restoring balance and harmony with nature. Navajo medicine people serve not only as healers but as historians for the tribe.

Young Muslim Sees Running Family Business as His “Life’s Journey”

Louise Fenner — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:22:17 -0400

Imran Uddin, 31, left a career in advertising five years ago to take over Madani Halal Lamb, Goat & Poultry, the business founded by his father, Riaz, 73, in Queens, New York. Imran discusses his struggles to take over the family business in 2003 and forge his own identity as an American Muslim.

U.S. Muslims Observe Ramadan in Supportive Environment

Lauren Monsen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:17:38 -0400

Muslims in the United States typically observe Ramadan and fulfill their other religious obligations with the encouragement and support of non-Muslim friends, colleagues and neighbors.

Religious Rites of Passage Are Steps Toward Adulthood

Sonya Weakley — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:55:38 -0400

Religious rites of passage, such as Jewish bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, Protestant baptisms, and Catholic first communions and confirmations, are important milestones in people’s lives that indicate something has changed. They also bring together family and friends who otherwise might not see each other.

Religious Freedom Laws Help Create Culture of Tolerance

Louise Fenner — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:17:16 -0400

An openness to immigration and laws protecting religious freedom helped create the conditions for religious tolerance in the United States, according to R. Scott Hanson, an expert on immigration, religion and urban issues in America who has researched religious diversity in Flushing, New York.

Interfaith Marriages Fairly Common in United States

Sonya Weakley — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:40:33 -0400

According to one recent study, 37 percent of American adults are married to someone of a different religious affiliation. One interfaith couple discusses some of the choices they have made regarding religious observances and family traditions as well as religious education for their children.

Many Americans Change Religious Beliefs

Sonya Weakley — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:47:10 -0400

In the United States, one study found that 28 percent of American adults have left the faiths in which they were raised. America.gov speaks with some adults who have experienced this religious change.

America’s Eastern Orthodox Communities Show Tolerance, Diversity

Jaroslaw Anders — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:38:39 -0400

According to a survey, U.S. Eastern Orthodox Christians fall within the American mainstream in their religious, political and social attitudes. Despite attempts to create a single, multiethnic American orthodox church, many worship in parishes affiliated with churches in countries of their ancestry.

One New York City Neighborhood Is a World of Religious Diversity

Carrie Loewenthal — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:00:37 -0400

Flushing, New York, is home to more than 200 places of worship. Members of this diverse community make great efforts to bridge gaps between culture and religion, and support the American tradition of religious diversity.

Religious Groups Offer Wide-Ranging Services to New Immigrants

Ralph Dannheisser — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:33:50 -0400

Religious congregations, determined to meet new immigrants’ needs, provide a range of social and religious services to new members of U.S. society. This includes English classes, access to health care and legal aid. Some churches even recruit clergy from overseas.

U.S. Religious Freedom Owes Debt to Colonists’ Radical Document

Judy Aita — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:30:02 -0400

The Flushing Remonstrance, the earliest known document in America to argue for religious tolerance, was created in 1657 by a group of citizens who petitioned the Dutch colonial government to permit religious pluralism. It is considered to be a precursor of religious freedom guarantees in the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. Megachurches Thrive in Climate of Faith, Tolerance, Bigness

Ralph Dannheisser — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:58:40 -0400

The United States is fertile ground for questing, experimental religious congregations. One of the most striking trends of recent decades has been the emergence of so-called megachurches that serve the needs of an increasingly suburban culture, offering a broad range of religious and social services.

Religious Organizations Go High-Tech

Jessica Hilberman — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:51:48 -0400

Some religious groups are looking to high-tech solutions like podcasts, text messaging and social networks to increase their outreach and encourage new membership. Groups also are incorporating new technology into their programs, including broadcasting services to multiple facilities over fiber optic networks.

Amish Free to Maintain Traditions in Modern World

Sonya Weakley — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:50:54 -0400

The Amish have maintained their traditions of honoring community, church and family while becoming adept at selectively adopting modern technology. In one Pennsylvania county where 20,000 Amish are settled, tradition and modernity coexist on a daily basis.

Different Faiths Team Up to Bridge Differences in New York

Carrie Loewenthal — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:49:22 -0400

From concerts to mental health clinics, faith communities team up to help their neighbors and bridge cultures in diverse Flushing, New York. Although language may be a barrier, many groups find similarities between their faith and that of others through interfaith and cultural activities.

Survey Finds Americans Are Religious, Tolerant, Nondogmatic

Jeffrey Thomas — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:01:06 -0400

The typical American believes in God (92 percent), believes in absolute standards of right and wrong (78 percent), prays at least weekly (75 percent), believes in life after death (74 percent) and believes in sacred scripture as the word of God (63 percent), according to the findings of a new study.

Muslim Chaplaincy Student Wants to Help the Poor, Homeless

Jeffrey Thomas — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:37:32 -0400

Ra’ufa Tuell, an American convert to Islam, has enrolled in a Muslim chaplaincy program with the aim of helping the poor, the homeless and the battered. Learning about Islam and Muslim culture and getting to know other Muslims have been the most important aspects of the seminary experience for her.

Sada Cumber Discusses New Role as U.S. Special Envoy to OIC

Amor Safi — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:09:27 -0400

Sada Cumber, U.S. special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, authors an op-ed for the pan-Arab newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat on the United States, Islam and the future of the American and Muslim communities. Cumber, an American Muslim investor and entrepreneur based in Texas, was appointed by President Bush in February.

Pope Benedict’s First U.S. Visit Draws Large, Lively Crowds

Louise Fenner — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:08:33 -0400

President Bush welcomes Pope Benedict XVI on the South Lawn of the White House April 16 in one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House, saying Americans are “open to your message of hope.” The pontiff’s April 15-20 visit to Washington and New York is his first trip to the United States as pope.

Fans Eager to Glimpse Pope Benedict During His U.S. Visit

Louise Fenner — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:56:41 -0400

Catholics await the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Washington and New York April 15-20. The pope will celebrate Mass, speak with Catholic and non-Catholic religious leaders, meet with President Bush and address the U.N. General Assembly. He will also visit Ground Zero, site of the World Trade Center destroyed by terrorists in 2001.

Main Religious Affiliations in the United States

Jaroslaw Anders — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:01:47 -0400

Most of the world’s religions are practiced in the United States. The tradition of religious tolerance and constitutional safeguards for freedom of worship have made religious life in the United States one of most diverse and vibrant in the world. This is seen in a new study by the Pew Forum.

U.S. Religious Landscape Is Marked by Diversity and Change

Melody Merin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:24:35 -0400

Religious affiliation in the United States is “diverse and extremely fluid,” according to a new poll. While more than three-fourths of those surveyed classify themselves as Christian, the survey also finds that more than 28 percent of American adults leave the faith of their childhoods to practice another religion -- or no religion.

Students from Muslim-Majority Countries Discuss Islam in America

Jaroslaw Anders — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:54:06 -0400

During an Ask America webchat on Islam in the United States, hosted by America.gov, a number of questions come from high school students in the West Bank, Afghanistan and Tajikistan involved in Internet learning programs made possible by the U.S. State Department’s Global Connections and Exchange Program.

Bangladeshi American Is First Muslim Chaplain in Marine Corps

Phillip Kurata — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:50:52 -0400

A man who once was a student in the United States from Bangladesh is the first Muslim chaplain in the U.S. Marine Corps. Abuhena Saifulislam represents America as Muslim military chaplain abroad and at home, helping U.S. service people understand Islam and counseling individuals, most of whom are not Muslim.

Interfaith Festival Joins Muslim, Jewish, Christian Communities

Carolee Walker — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:38:09 -0400

More than 250 members of the Jewish, Islamic and Christian communities in Frederick, Maryland, share a meal together at the second annual Hanukah, Christmas and Hajj Festival. Dinner was served potluck style -- families contributed their favorite dishes of the season.

American Muslims Travel to Mecca for Annual Pilgrimage

Carolee Walker — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:08:43 -0400

Young American Muslims, many professionals in their 20s, are traveling to the Middle East to perform the Hajj, according to travel industry experts in the United States. This is a new trend, according to one Seattle tour operator. “The Hajj is an arduous undertaking that requires physical strength, endurance and stamina,” says award-winning documentary filmmaker Anisa Mehdi, who follows three pilgrims in her film Inside Mecca. “Traditionally, older people do it because there is great motivation to complete the transcendental journey, but it is easier for people in good health and strong,” Mehdi says.

U.S. House Recognizes South Asian Festival of Lights

Lea Terhune — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:47:38 -0400

As South Asian Americans prepared for one of their biggest traditional holidays, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution recognizing the significance of Diwali, the “festival of lights.” Representative Joe Wilson, who sponsored the resolution, says it marks “the international, religious and historical importance of the festival of Diwali as well as the religious diversity in India and throughout the world” and “recognizes the importance of Indian Americans -- a strong and vibrant immigrant community.”

Non-Muslim, Muslim Students Fast Together To End Hunger

Jeffrey Thomas — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:39:15 -0400

Each year during Ramadan, more than 250 Muslim student associations in the U.S. sponsor Fast-a-thons, welcoming non-Muslims to join them in their fast for one day to raise money for charity. The Fast-a-thons also increase awareness about the millions of people who go hungry every day, foster understanding of the traditional Islamic observance of Ramadan, and bring Muslims and non-Muslims together to support a good cause.

Bush Says Islam Is a “Great Religion that Preaches Peace”

Stephen Kaufman — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:44:28 -0400

Ahead of hosting an iftar celebration at the White House, President Bush says the Islamic religion “is a great religion that preaches peace,” and that Americans are free “to worship any way they see fit.” Bush tells Al Arabiya television that Muslim extremists have “done a good job of propagandizing” the idea that Americans do not like the Islamic faith, and states his own belief that the global community, regardless of individual faiths, “prays to the same God.”

U.S. House Passes Historic Ramadan Resolution

Lea Terhune — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:40:33 -0400

A U.S. House of Representatives resolution recognizing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is the first of its kind. It was adopted October 2, 2007. “We are a nation of religious tolerance and religious inclusion," says Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to Congress.

For U.S. Muslims, Ramadan Is Reminder To Help Local Communities

Lauren Monsen — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:31:23 -0400

The sacred month of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is a time of spiritual renewal, with a strong focus on performing good deeds and deepening ties with neighbors and local communities. Two Muslim leaders in the Washington area describe the charitable activities conducted year-round and during Ramadan to help the needy.

Muslim Students Observe Ramadan Away from Home

Carolee Walker — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:32:47 -0400

Many Muslim students at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., are observing Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of refection and fasting, on their own for the first time, away from the support of parents, siblings and community. Imam Yahya Hendi, Georgetown’s Muslim chaplain, says the initial days of Ramadan are the most difficult for the 450 Muslim students on campus, but “Georgetown makes Muslims feel at home.”

U.S. Respects Religious Diversity, Muslim Publisher Says

Louise Fenner — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:39:06 -0400

Muslim women living in the United States are finding that religious and cultural differences are widely tolerated and respected, says Tayyibah Taylor, the editor of Azizah magazine, a glossy quarterly written by and for Muslim women in North America. “I think America is the most religiously diverse country in the world,” says Taylor, who was born in Trinidad of Barbadian parents. “You learn how to get along with people who are very different from you. Your differences don’t really become an issue.”

U.S. Community Offers Help When Mosque Suffers Fire Damage

Lauren Monsen — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:24:15 -0400

When the mosque serving the Islamic Society of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, was damaged by fire in April 2007, Muslim families were offered a space for prayer services by the Jewish community in the nearby town of Pottsville.

U.S. Swearing-in Ceremonies Highlight Religious Freedom Legacy

Lea Terhune — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:35:19 -0400

Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison’s declaration that he would swear his oath of office on the Quran, the Muslim holy book, leads to new interest in the protocol for swearing in members of Congress. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress, and it is the first time that the use of the Quran in oath-taking has drawn national attention. Although historically oaths often have been taken with one hand on the Bible, the Constitution of the United States prohibits linking an individual’s ability to serve with religion.

Religious Architecture Celebrates Pluralism in the United States

Lauren Monsen — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:34:14 -0400

The United States is home to adherents of practically every religious faith, and the multiplicity of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other shrines across the nation is a testament to the principle of religious freedom that enjoys broad protection under the U.S. Constitution. USINFO examines the architectural diversity of U.S. houses of worship that reflects the nation’s religious pluralism.

Youth Interfaith Movement Thrives in United States

Carolee Walker — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:33:52 -0400

At U.S. universities with religiously diverse student bodies, students of different faiths connect with each other because each has a strong belief in something, even if that something varies, say young people involved in interdenominational dialogue. Students at Chicago’s DePaul University hold an online discussion about youth and religion.

U.S. Muslims a Bridge Between Islam and the West

Lauren Monsen — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:33:31 -0400

Religious and Community Leaders Experience U.S. Diversity

Phyllis McIntosh — Mon, 12 May 2003 15:46:18 -0400

Twenty religious and community leaders from the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan -- an area struggling to reconnect with its pre-Soviet Muslim traditions -- had an opportunity to see how people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds coexist peacefully in the United States, thanks to the Community Connections Program of the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.