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MUSLIM WOMEN CLERICS PLAY INDISPENSABLE ROLE ING News & Information, 7/3/08 In this Edition:
Latest News on ING Blog: ING Blog News relating to education on cultural diversity, interfaith relations, and separation of church and state Survey finds world’s top 10 intellectuals are Muslims http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/culture/?id=26662 WASHINGTON - The bimonthly US international affairs journal Foreign Policy has just published a survey of the world’s top 20 public intellectuals and the first 10 are all Muslims. Fethullah Gülen, who heads a network of schools and media that is probably the world’s largest moderate Muslim movement, came first. Other Muslim religious personalities made the top 10 — weekly preacher on al-Jazeera satellite television Youssef al-Qaradawi (3rd), popular Egyptian television preacher Amr Khaled (6th), Iranian reformist theologian Abdolkarim Soroush (7th), and Swiss-born scholar Tariq Ramadan (8th). Second was Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi economist who won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for the microcredit project run by his Grameen Bank. Teaching not preaching In CA Bible Belt http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/24/eveningnews/main4206426.shtml "We can't preach, but we can teach," teacher Yvonne Taylor said. Using "Teach Don't Preach" as her motto, Taylor guides the world religions course at Johansen High. "And now we're going to be looking at Judaism, Christianity, and Islam," Taylor said to her class. Most schools studiously avoid religion. In fact, Modesto is the only public school district in America where students have to study all major religions to graduate. "The United States is one of the most religious countries on Earth. And yet Americans know almost nothing about religion," said Stephen Prothero, author of a new book, "Religious Literacy." Prothero believes Modesto should be a model for the country, because America is paying a price for knowing so little about the world's religions. "Religious illiteracy imperils our Democracy at home and it puts to a huge test our ability to conduct foreign policy overseas," Prothero said. "What's going on now in Iraq and in Iran and in Burma - these are religious people acting for religious reasons." "In Islam, we'll be talking about the five pillars," Taylor said to her class.” Woman imams [clerics] play indispensable role in China's largest Muslim region http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/23/content_8424881.htm YINCHUAN, June 23 (Xinhua) – “At a tiny courtyard mosque in China's most populous Muslim region, Jin Meihua leads other women in prayer and chants. Every day, the 44-year-old dons a black robe and violet scarf and preaches to dozens of women at the Little White Mosque in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, where most of the country's Islam-faith Hui ethnic minority live. She is a female imam or "ahong," pronounced ah-hung, from the Persian word "akhund" for "the learned." In China, a female imam is an innovation, despite being rare in Arab countries. ‘Many female Muslims do not have the benefit of a school education. Although they are Muslims, they know nothing about the Qu'ran. I want to teach them the holy scriptures and hope they can be inspired and think independently,’ she said. ‘Women ahong are the best qualified to do this because they can communicate with the female faithful in ways the male ahongs can't.’ As early as the late Ming dynasty (around the 17th century), the faithful had set up female Muslim schools around the country. These turned into female mosques operated by women imams in late Qing dynasty (around the 19th century). The practice of female imams then spread to all the Chinese Muslim societies, said Shui Jingjun, a Henan Provincial Academy of Social Sciences researcher. Currently, Ningxia has more than 80 female imams. There are more than 3,600 registered mosques and 6,000 ahongs in the region, he said. Health care report 2008: Cultural training helps health care groups better serve their patients http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/article.asp?aID=66679 Susan Heffner, a registered nurse, admitted she hadn't been exposed to many cultures. That is, until she began her nursing career at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Now the clinical nurse educator is training others to recognize and work successfully with the variety of people who come to the medical center as patients or staff. She credits Deborah Davis, who holds a doctorate in social work, with introducing her to the program that educates staff on the importance of understanding cultures, beliefs and backgrounds unlike her own. Davis manages the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Employment Equity for the medical center. The department began its Achieving Cultural Competency in Healthcare workshops in fall 2005, offering the program to the medical center's more than 7,200 employees. Approximately one-third of the employees have attended so far, Davis said. Students in their first year at the medical school at Hershey take an eight-session course in health care diversity. New medical center employees are introduced to the topic during their orientation. The purpose of the workshop is "to teach people to become culturally astute," Davis said. "We want them to be more knowledgeable of different cultures, and also to ask the right questions that may impact their health care." To read other related articles, visit: http://ingjournal.blogspot.com/ Cultural Diversity Workshop for Teachers at UC Santa Cruz Extension, 6/28/08 ING speaker Reema Qadry addressed a class of ESL teachers at UC Santa Cruz Extension in Cupertino on Saturday, June 28th. These are future teachers of English as a second language. The instructor wanted to familiarize them with the diversity that may be in their classes, or in case they teach abroad. After providing them with an overview of what it means to be a Muslim, and the basic tenets of the faith, she explained some of the issues that might impact their Muslim students, before responding to their questions. The future teachers were grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the Muslim culture, which they had many of their personal questions about, as well as gaining a better understanding of how to interact with their future Muslim students. Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations Committee, National General Assembly, Presbyterian Church USA, 6/23/08 ING’s president, Maha Elgenaidi represented ING at the national General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on Monday, June 23rd in San Jose. She spoke about Islamic perspectives on pluralism with an emphasis on Muslim-Christian relations and shared beliefs and values. The Presbyterians gather each year at a weeklong conference to discuss and debate important issues, and pass resolutions that impact policy for the entire denomination in the U.S. Maha was one of the few religious leaders of other faiths invited to address issues relating to their individual traditions, and answer questions about resolutions that address issues of commonality with their faiths. Passed by the General Assembly this year were resolutions that called for Tolerance and Peaceful Relations between the Christian and Muslim Communities, and an affirmative response to an invitation to interfaith dialogue by 138 Muslim clerics in a document titled “A Common Word Between Us and You.“ For more information on this historic document, visit this site: http://www.acommonword.com/ ING Finishes the Spring Semester, 6/13/08 ING completed another busy academic semester as schools across the Bay Area closed for the summer. The spring semester was packed with presentations to a wide variety of venues, ranging from the usual middle and high schools to colleges, universities, churches and other interfaith groups, clubs, police departments, and other venues. While the audiences were diverse, and the topics varied, the feedback was the same: “appreciation for challenging common stereotypes and helping overcome prejudices.” Thanks to all of ING supporters for making this work possible. Some highlights of last semester include: High Schools:
Colleges and Universities:
Faith organizations and Interfaith Events:
Healthcare Providers:
Community Organizations and Events:
Thank You for Your Support! To continue to support ING’s outreach programs, or would like to increase your level of existing support, consider donating to one of ING’s many programs, or providing ongoing support by signing up for monthly automatic donations through your credit or debit card. Help increase religious literacy and mutual respect by donating online at: ING Blog Community Releases Archive . . .  Shana Tova and Eid Mubarak! ING Interfaith Statement for One America A Call to Action: Join ‘Muslim Serve’ National Campaign for Service & Understanding on 9/11 “Muslim Serve”/ING Improves Perceptions of Islam and Muslims Preventing Bullying & Harassment, Back to School and Park51 NYC Mosque ING President participates in meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan Responding to 'Draw Muhammad Day' ING Participates in Federal Government Meetings ING Condemns NYC Plot and Supports Efforts against Extremism A Conversation about Education Reform with the U.S. Department of Education Can you have religious freedom without limiting free speech? ING Statements on Religious Expression in American Public Life/Church Attacks in Malaysia ING Statement on Church Attacks in Malaysia Thank you for your continuing support! Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and New Year ING Statement on Religious Extremism Guide to Preventing Hate Crimes and Reporting Harassment ING Condemns Deadly Attack at Ft. Hood Thank You for Making ING's Annual Supporters Dinner a Success ING Breaks Fast with Secretary Clinton ING Accredited by the Better Business Bureau ING Participates in ISNA July 4th Weekend in D.C. ING Reaches Over 20,000 People in 2008-2009 Academic Year ING Welcomes President Obama's Speech in Cairo ING Statement on Alleged Terrorist Plot in NYC ING Hosting Faiths Act Fellows Become an ING Intern or Join ING Team of Volunteers American Muslims Call for Swift Action Against Domestic Violence Silcon Valley Interfaith Leaders Endorse Declaration for Peace on M.E. Crisis Celebrating a Historic Inauguration and Martin Luther King's Legacy Humanitarian Aid in Gaza Blessed Eid, and Interfaith Forums American Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai Thank you to our friends and supporters! Action-Alert: Anti-Muslim Film Obsession Mailed to California Residents Back to School at ING & Ramadan Kit ING's Cultural Competency Programming for Law Enforcement ING "Interfaith Speakers Bureau" Panels Muslim Scholars Back Call for Interfaith Dialogue In Qatar, Muslim, Jewish Clerics Meet New ING Blog ING Recognition Awards for Educators Responding to and Preventing Hate in Public Schools The Bible in Islam: Stories of Shared Prophets Global Warming: Muslim American Responsibility & Response Muslim Professionals & the Not-For-Profit Sector Feminism in Islam Intergroup Muslim and Jewish Conflict Transformation Program Roots of Islam in America through Enslaved West Africans Afghan American Muslim Outreach Saturday, Feb 16th Speakers Bureau Training ING's Outstanding Pen Award for Inter-Religious Understanding ING's Healthcare Cultural Competency Presentations Speakers Training & Women in Religion Dialogue Professional Teacher Staff Development Interfaith Speakers Bureau Training Tonight - 1/23/07 Upcoming Speakers Training Workshops Highlights of Fall Semester Educating for Religious Literacy & Mutual Respect Islam & HIV/AIDS ING Statement on the British Teacher in Sudan Islamophobia and its Affects Coexistence through Art Power of One: How One Person Can Affect Change Thank You to All Our Supporters! Answering Frequently Asked Questions About Islam Feminism & Women in Islam Islamic Contributions to Civilization Responding to "Islamo-Fascism Week" on College Campuses Call for Unity from Muslim Religious Leaders "Outstanding Philanthropist" Awards Keep the Diversity, Seek the Harmony ING Speaks at Antioch Mosque Vandalism March Interfaith Prayer for Darfur & World Leaders Marching Together Against Hate and Violence in East Contra Costa County ING Joins Albany's Peace Day ING Guidelines for Hosting an Interfaith Holiday Event Illumemedia.org Interview with ING's Founder & President ING Presents to Homeland Security ING's Participation in ISNA Convention 2007 10% Increase in Presentations from Previous Year Statement from the Association of Muslim Health Professionals on Events Unfolding in the UK New Hires at ING Cultural Competency Serving Arab and Muslim American Families Preserving the First Amendment Healthcare for Muslim Patients A Call for Moral Leadership: Imagining a New Heroism Advocating Against Violence and For One Nation "Muslim Americans: Mostly Middle Class and Mainstream" Islamic Contributions to Civilization Religion in the Workplace Could Genocide Happen Here? & FBI Meeting Happy Earth Day! An Interfaith Response to a Controversial Speaker Happy Holidays from ING New Speakers Bureau in Columbus, Ohio Interfaith Dialogue Among Laity The Mosque as an American Institution ING Presentations at Bay Area Universities ING and High School Presentations in Spring 2007 Inter-Religious Dialogue in the Bay Area Conflict in the Muslim World ING Adopts an Environmental Policy ING Initiates and Participates in Interfaith Dialogues ING Reaches 25,000 Americans of Other Faiths in Bay Area ING Perspective on Holocaust Conference in Iran Thank You to All Our Supporters! ING's Muslim Mental Health Training Muslim Group Deflates Stereotypes ING Trains Police Officers in Milpitas Share in ING’s Promotion of Interfaith Dialogue and Education ING Founder Invited to U.S. State Department For Annual Iftaar ING Participates in Meaning of Ramadan Open Houses ING Featured in 9/11 Specials on PBS and KGO ING Perspective on Pope's Remarks ING Gears Up for a New School Year After ISNA Convention Organization Aims to Educate Others About Religion End of Year Totals for ING, 7/25/06 ING Responds to Arrests in Miami Spike in Requests for Presentations About Islam & Muslims from High Schools ING Summer Interns Muslim-Jewish Relations in the Bay Area ING Presentations on College Campuses ING Joins "Day of Conscience for Darfur" ING President Meets with Dalai Lama Apostasy in Islam ING Training for UCSF Nursing Department Muslim Scholars' Statement on Danish Cartoons Controversy Opinion on Danish Cartoons Published in San Jose Mercury News ING Training for Healthcare & Hospitals ING Statement Regarding Danish Cartoons Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King's Day Eid Mubarak & ING Updates in the Bay Area ING President Message to ISNA 2005 Conventioneers ING President Message to ISNA 2005 Conventioneers Role of Nationals in Terrorist Bombings National US Muslim Organizations Condemn Terrorism ING Condemns Terror Attacks in London Celebrating the Fourth of July Mukhtaran Mai's Case Opinion on Danish Cartoons Published in San Jose Mercury News - Frequently Asked Questions on Terrorism ING's Annual Community Support Dinner ING's Response to the War in Iraq ING Parent-Child Workshops: Yaseen Foundation ING Press Conference: Impact of War in Our Schools ING Parent-Child Workshops: SBIA, San Jose ING Commemorates "Day of Remembrance" ING Affiliates Conference |
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