Hindus have welcomed the groundbreaking three-day dialogue between Christianity and Islam, starting today at Vatican City, whose theme is “"Love of God, Love of Neighbor”.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was wonderful to watch the world’s two major religions coming together and opening a new chapter of understanding, trust, cooperation, mutual respect, and love, and highlighting the common ground.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

Those of us who have wondered why there is such a ridiculous excess of religion on the BBC now have the answer. It is because Mark Thompson, an enthusiastic Catholic, wants it.

Mr Thompson is a great proselytiser for his faith in the mould of Lord Reith, who thought the BBC was “the nation’s church”. And, of course, the BBC gives him a very big pulpit to preach from – one that reaches into just about every home in the country and which we all have to pay for.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

The European Union said Friday it is "very worried" about what it sees as a deterioration of religious freedom in Iran.

A statement from the French Foreign Ministry on behalf of the EU says pressure has increased on religious minorities in the Islamic Republic in recent months, with arrests in the Christian and Baha'i communities. France currently holds the EU presidency.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

An Atheist subjected a devout Christian woman to a “relentless” campaign of harassment in which he smeared dog faeces on her car and urinated on her doorstep.

Timothy Brown, of Edwin Avenue, Woodbridge, may seek medical help after a year-long bid to change Helen Watson's religious beliefs.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

Religion has returned to the public sphere in proudly secularist France and Islam, religious ignorance and the late Pope John Paul all had something to do with it.

And, although he is twice-divorced and only goes to church occasionally, President Nicolas Sarkozy is also doing his part to keep it there.

The separation of church and state is deep in the political DNA in this traditionally Catholic country. Regular Sunday Mass attendance is down in the single figures. Priests almost never wear a Roman collar outside of their churches.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

Tens of thousands of pilgrims from Lithuania and beyond have descended on this tiny town to celebrate the "apparition" of the Virgin Mary 400 years ago, predating even the better-known miracles at Lourdes and Fatima.

Historically, Siluva in central Lithuania has been a focal point not only for Roman Catholics but also for Lithuanian national and cultural identity during decades of brutal Russian and Soviet domination.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

Questions have been raised over using sniffer dogs to search Muslim passengers at train stations following complaints that it is against their religion.

Some Muslims had raised objections over being searched by the explosive-detecting animals, but British Transport Police have said they will continue to use the specially trained animals.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the moves towards greater equality set out in the government’s Equality Bill White Paper - and has called for more action against discrimination by religious groups.

It urges caution against the potential of the measures unveiled yesterday by Harriet Harman to create unintended consequences, in particular in increased disadvantage for individuals while "groups" are being favoured.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

In the backlash that followed the London bombings, there has been a steep rise in incidents of hate crime against Hindus and Sikhs, with most of them perpetrated because of mistaken identity, the Hindu Forum of Britain said in London.

There were as many as 932 instances of such hate crimes against Indians, who are predominantly Hindus or Sikhs, as opposed to approximately 600 instances of faith-related hate crime against Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims, Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Forum said on Wednesday evening.   FULL ARTICLE LINK