Source: www.nytimes.com BANTA, INDIA, June 28, 2010: India may be the world’s largest democracy, but a vast and powerful bureaucracy governs. It is an imperial edifice built on feudal foundations, and for much of independent India’s history the bureaucracy has been largely unaccountable. Citizens had few means to demand to know what their government was doing for them. But it…
Source: www.nytimes.com UNITED STATES, June 25, 2010: Gordon Brown’s rant about a “bigoted” voter sped his exit from the British prime minister’s post. What punctured his cool? Her complaint about immigrants. When an earthquake shattered Haiti, Dominicans sent soldiers and Americans sent ships — to discourage potential immigrants. The congressman who shouted “You lie!” at President Obama was upset about…
Source: www.hinduismtoday.com The leaders of three religions A, B and C decided to convene a meeting to bring about peace. God was so pleased with their efforts that He sent an angel to them during the meeting. The angel asked the leaders what they wished. The leader of religion A said, Religion B is responsible for all the problems. So…
Source: www.news.bbc.co.uk GHANA, July 2, 2010: The air is filled with the sweet smell of incense burning in a corner of the huge hall. Wrapped in shiny bright clothes, statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses smile benevolently from the elevated platform. Sitting on the white marble floor a group of more than 50 men, women and children sing devotional Hindu…
Source: news.bbc.co.uk BIHAR, INDIA, June 15, 2010: In India, where traditionally boys have been preferred over girls, a village in Bihar state has been setting an example by planting trees to celebrate the birth of a girl child. In Dharhara village, Bhagalpur district, families plant a minimum of 10 trees whenever a girl child is born. And this practice is…
Source: www.sciencedaily.com UNITED SATES, July 13, 2010: A total of 136 adults diagnosed with major depression or bipolar depression at inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care facilities in Chicago participated in the study. In patients diagnosed with clinical depression, belief in a concerned God can improve response to medical treatment, according to a paper in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Response…
Source: www.nytimes.com NEW YORK, U.S., July 2, 2010: Publishers of Christian material have begun producing iPhone applications that can bring up quick comebacks and rhetorical strategies for believers who want to fight back against what they view as a new strain of strident atheism. And a competing crop of apps is arming nonbelievers for battle, with many new apps to…
Source: www.religionnews.com UNITED STATES, June 8, 2010: When seventh-grader Raymond Hosier was suspended for wearing rosary beads to school late last month, civil rights groups rushed to his defense. “Without question, the continuing action taken by the school district in punishing Raymond for wearing a rosary to school violates the constitutional rights of our client,” argued Jay Sekulow of the…
Source: www.hinduismtoday.com He who has millions in money but no character will soon turn his cash into trash. His Divine Holiness, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Puroshottam Swaminarayan Sanstha
Source: www.washingtonpost.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 13, 2010: Nestled between the wedding sari boutiques and hipster jean shops, there’s a store in the city’s most popular shopping mall that’s playing with the Gods. The fashion, art and design store has cool pillows depicting a Sri Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music and the creative arts. She’s lounging on her…