Category Archives: religion

On Christmas eve, a time to ask: Did Jesus resemble bin Laden?

Posted on December 24, 2009 by

In April, a man named Craig went onto Yahoo’s “Answers” page and posed a provocative question: Did Jesus look like Osama bin Laden? One reader denounced the idea, calling Craig “racist,” and asking, “Are you saying that just because (Jesus) … Continue reading →

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Who speaks for Islam? Meet an actor, L.A. writer, and other smart (and funny) Muslims

Posted on October 25, 2009 by

Muslim people don’t laugh – at least not on most American TV shows, movies, and news programs, which focus excessively on Muslims who plot violence, talk about violence, or are somehow touched by the threat of violence. Maz Jobrani, the … Continue reading →

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Did the Founding Fathers hate Muslims?

Posted on July 4, 2009 by

What better time than July 4 to be reminded that some Americans – a fanatical fringe, really – distrust Muslims, want them to leave the United States, feel they don’t belong here. In the last 24 hours, we’ve seen a … Continue reading →

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The Jews (and Sikhs and Christians) of Pakistan

Posted on May 14, 2009 by

They are a visible minority in Pakistan, one of many non-Muslim groups who’ve lived in the country for centuries. This week, though, because of fighting between the Taliban and Pakistan’s military, the Sikhs of Pakistan are fleeing their longtime homes … Continue reading →

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Seinfeld and the changing face of Judaism

Posted on April 27, 2009 by

It goes something like this: “You’re Jewish?” The disbelief – accompanied by furrowed eyebrows – is often aimed at darker-skinned Jews with roots in Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Senegal or another country that’s geographically disconnected from Europe. The impression that … Continue reading →

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Obama comes out as a Muslim sympathizer

Posted on April 13, 2009 by

Even as Barack Obama attended Easter services at a church across from the White House, a new attack was made on the president’s religious identity – and whether he really is a cypto-Muslim. Andy Martin, the controversial executive editor for … Continue reading →

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The War of Words Over Muslim Head Scarves

Posted on March 30, 2009 by

     The pattern is always the same: A media outlet profiles a woman in a Muslim head scarf, prompting scorn from readers/viewers/listeners who say the woman is (select one) oppressed; depressed; betraying Western values by wearing her covered hair … Continue reading →

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Bill Maher Joins a Dubious List

Posted on March 16, 2009 by

       We all walk around with lists in our head. Daily to-do list. Top-10-songs list. Things-I-want-to-do-before-I-die list. (Mine features “Visit Kathmandu,” “Lose 15 pounds” and “Be world’s best-paid blogger.”) We can’t have everything, but the great thing about … Continue reading →

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