This report was compiled by the U.S. Department of State for 2012. The study found that the government increased its targeting and surveillance of members of faith groups it deemed a "threat," including members of the country's Sunni majority. This occurred concurrently with the escalation of the civil conflict that resulted in the regime killing 35,000 civilians between the start of the uprising in 2011 and year's end. Such targeting included killing, detention, and harassment. There were credible reports that the regime targeted citizens based on religious affiliation in mixed neighborhoods in Homs and rural Aleppo. The government outlawed groups it claimed were "Muslim extremist groups," as well as Jehovah's Witnesses. It continued to monitor the activities of all religious groups and to discourage proselytizing, which it deemed a threat to relations among and within different faiths.

This is an updated and expanded 2015 edition of a classic text on Muslim thinking about war and peace. The new edition includes a new introduction and translations of selected revelatory excerpts from ISIS texts about the treatment of POWs, guidelines on the "management of barbarity," fatwas in opposition to ISIS, and other key topics.

Rutilio Grande, SJ, was the first Jesuit to be assassinated in El Salvador. He was killed on March 12, 1977, for having done the works that Jesus commands with regard to one's neighbor as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. This volume of his writings and homilies illustrates how he applied the social and ecclesial teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) in his ministry with the poor and marginalized of El Salvador. His use of the social sciences to understand the problems in his context, his prophetic denunciation of power and wealth, and his ministry to empower laypeople to lead their faith communities all speak to the Holy Spirit working through the courage of a true servant leader.

This work, Radical Islam and Civil Conflict in Africa, is written by a two-time Fulbright-Hays Fellow who currently serves as course director of global and world history courses within the University of Maryland University College system. The author, Norman C. Rothman, Ph.D., has written numerous published works related to Islam. This work serves to highlight recent and continuous struggles between Islamic militant forces and civil societies in North Africa, West Africa, and East Africa. The countries that will represent these regions are Libya, Nigeria, and Somalia. These countries are currently witnessing conflicts with no end in sight. The book examines the roots of these conflicts and analyses the reasons for their continuance. It goes on to assess possible outcomes for these internecine struggles, which appear to have become endemic to these countries. This work also delves into the causes of the growth of radical movements and provides insight as to why they have attracted and continue to attract support. It concludes with recommendations for resolving these conflicts, which at present appear to be permanent and intractable. The book is directed to those who have both a general and specific interest in comparative religion, recent history, international relations, Africa, and Islam.

Are you living a lifestyle that God hates? Abominations are things that are hated by God.... Did you know that things that God hates have a smell that is not pleasing to Him? Lets dive into Abomination Anonymous....

In this volume, Maleak and Jaeqwan stumble upon a tent revival where they learn for the first time that "same sex" relationships are considered inappropriate from a religious perspective. Maleak shows anger as he refuses to blindly accept the demise of his family who demonstrate nothing but love for all. Understanding that people have different beliefs, the adults decide to meet a spiritual guru to address the matter. While gaining information about religion and spirituality, one of the adults shocks everyone with a surprising request. Read on to learn what happened with Maleak, Jaeqwan and the surprise request. Maleak Goes to Church is the third book of the "My Mom's a Stud" series created and written by Sonorra McMath. The series was designed to address adult topics from a child's perspective. It is designed for anyone seeking a non-threatening way to facilitate discussions surrounding civil rights challenges including racism, sexual harassment, bullying, oppression, and hate crimes. The series was specifically created for those seeking a better understanding of the LGBTQ community. The writing segment is a great start for anyone interested in becoming an author. Improving upon writing skills, exercising creativity, and increasing knowledge and acceptance of others also increases a sense of self-worth. Open dialogue is important and encouraged. Develop the story line using the words and cultural experiences of those involved. Share your knowledge, write a segment, or assist in whatever way that is most comfortable for you, your family, or your client/group. Send your completed version of the workbook to the Sonorra with an additional fee, and she will create an edited version of the book. Your name will show as a co-author of the book, and your friends will be able to purchase the book directly from the distributor (see details inside). These books are well received by male and female children and adults from all backgrounds and cultures. Enjoy your experience.

A prominent rabbi and imam, each raised in orthodoxy, overcome the temptations of bigotry and work to bridge the chasm between Muslims and Jews
Rabbi Marc Schneier, the eighteenth generation of a distinguished rabbinical dynasty, grew up deeply suspicious of Muslims, believing them all to be anti-Semitic. Imam Shamsi Ali, who grew up in a small Indonesian village and studied in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, believed that all Jews wanted to destroy Muslims. Coming from positions of mutual mistrust, it seems unthinkable that these orthodox religious leaders would ever see eye to eye. Yet in the aftermath of 9/11, amid increasing acrimony between Jews and Muslims, the two men overcame their prejudices and bonded over a shared belief in the importance of opening up a dialogue and finding mutual respect. In doing so, they became not only friends but also defenders of each other's religion, denouncing the twin threats of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and promoting interfaith cooperation.
In "Sons of Abraham," Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali tell the story of how they became friends and offer a candid look at the contentious theological and political issues that frequently divide Jews and Muslims, clarifying erroneous ideas that extremists in each religion use to justify harmful behavior. Rabbi Schneier dispels misconceptions about chosenness in Judaism, while Imam Ali explains the truth behind concepts like jihad and Shari'a. And on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the two speak forthrightly on the importance of having a civil discussion and the urgency of reaching a peaceful solution.
As Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali show, by reaching a fuller understanding of one another's faith traditions, Jews and Muslims can realize that they are actually more united than divided in their core beliefs. Both traditions promote kindness, service, and responsibility for the less fortunate--and both religions call on their members to extend compassion to those outside the faith. In this sorely needed book, Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali challenge Jews and Muslims to step out of their comfort zones, find common ground in their shared Abrahamic traditions, and stand together and fight for a better world for all.

Secularism, Theology and Islam offers a uniquely theological analysis of the historic Danish cartoon crisis of 2005-2006, in which the publication of twelve images of the Prophet Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten ignited violent global protests. The crisis represents a politically, culturally, and religiously important event of the early 21st century, and Jennifer Veninga explores the important question of why the cartoons were published in Denmark when they were and why this matters to the larger global community. The book outlines three main interpretations of the affair as they were framed by international news media: as an issue exclusively about freedom of speech, as related to a 'clash of civilizations', or exclusively as a matter of international politics. Whilst these are important to note, the author argues that the crisis was far more complex than any of these interpretations suggest, and argues that an alternative methodology can be found in philosopher Charles Taylor's concept of the 'social imaginary', which refers to the shared norms, expectations, images and narratives of a community or nation that inform many of its shared practices. Describing the Danish social imaginary as a paradox of Christianity and secularism, Veninga explains why the new presence of Islam has been perceived as such a threat to Danish identity. The author also maintains that despite tendencies toward exclusion, the Danish imaginary also supports a move toward authentic religious pluralism. Understanding the Danish cartoon crisis is important for any community struggling with new religious diversity, especially those with largely secular identities. Furthermore, the method used to examine the crisis provides a theological analytical framework applicable to a wide variety of contemporary social and political movements and issues.

There is too much intentional and mistaken misinformation in our present culture about the purposes and practices of modern Catholicism. This had led to endless bigotry and needless hate speech and deeds against Christ's original Church. This little book is an attempt to explain to fellow Christians what it really means to be Roman Catholic. It is not a debate. It is an honest attempt on my part to share. It is not an attempt to convert you to joining the more than 1.2 billion Christians that call themselves Catholic.

WINTERING ON THE BAYOU SALADE- This is a true story of a man who after a lifetime of being physically, emotionally, financially and psychologically abused for not adhering to the oppressive radical teachings and beliefs of the LDS (Mormon) Church, took it upon himself to escape and relocate from behind Utah's Zion Curtain in spite of the long reach and influence of the vile and violent history of this powerful religious sect of the American west. In the process of these endeavors he literally meets the woman of his visions and together they successfully build the life they want together in the primitive high-country of the central Colorado Rockies. Successful in every way but for the continued duress and inescapable heavy-handed harassment and vandalism by members of the dangerous zealots he thought he had left behind. Never off his back are the Danites; the Mormon secret society of Avenging or Destroying Angels that was created to not only lurk under the dark cloak of night to harass those they consider an enemy of the church, but murder through their doctrine of Blood Atonement those who apostate or appose their beliefs. Attached is the 1834 edition of E. D. Howe's Mormonism Unvailed. The first documentary on Mormonism ever published.

"Thank you, Father Kim Il Sung" is the first phrase North Korean parents are instructed to teach to their children. From cradle to grave, North Korean citizens are surrounded by the all-encompassing presence of the "Great Leader" and his son, the "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il. The Kim dynasty is much more than an authoritarian government; it also holds itself out as the ultimate source of power, virtue, spiritual wisdom, and truth for the North Korean people. Heterodoxy and dissent are repressed, quickly and efficiently, with punishments meted out to successive generations of the dissident's family. The study that follows was commissioned by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan U.S. government agency that monitors freedom of religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments, and that provides independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress. Forty former North Koreans were interviewed extensively regarding conditions of freedom of religion or belief in the DPRK.

For over a century, and for over 50 years after the Holocaust, the Vatican has been hostile to the creation of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East with its capital as Jerusalem. For 60 years after the Jewish State gained independence in 1948, the Catholic Church adopted a policy fitting to Israel's Arab-Islamic enemies: total non-recognition of Jewish statehood and peoplehood. Despite acceptance by every Western nation, Israel was not accorded formal diplomatic recognition by the Vatican before 1993. The Church formally recognized Israel's existence only two decades after Israel's foe, Egypt's Sadat, signed a peace treaty with the Jewish State. Apparently only the Vatican considered the State of Israel undeserving of its recognition. How do we explain this refusal? Catholicism had long viewed Judaism as a pariah faith and the Jews a group destined to wander the earth for their complicity in the death of Jesus. Although the Second Vatican Council partially revoked this anti-Semitic doctrine in 1965, since then the Vatican rapprochement with the Jewish people took place at two levels, which the Vatican separated, theologically and politically. Each advance on the first plane was counterbalanced by a deeper regression on the second, as if the two movements were synchronized. The closer the Vatican seemed to draw toward reconciliation and dialogue with Judaism, the louder grew the clamor supporting the Arab cause against Israel. The Vatican Against Israel: J'ACCUSE deciphers, for the first time, the Vatican's criminalization of the State of Israel and its appeasement of anti-Semitic terrorism in the period between 1945 and 2013. This book urgently matters not only to Jews, but also to Christians, since the two religions share moral values and a common scripture. Jesus was Jewish, and for better or worse, Jews and Christians have lived together in Europe and the Middle East for 2000 years. In fact in many parts of the Christian world, Christians have rediscovered their Jewish roots. With its more than one billion adherents and strategic influence in the Middle East where Israel is under existential threat by Islamic terror groups and an Iranian apocalyptic revolution, the Vatican has an intrinsic relationship with Israel different from Israel's relationship with any other group. How the Vatican will relate to Israel and its Jews will affect future relations between Christians and Jews. With Israel still establishing the terms of its existence and the Zionists' current struggle for their own future, the Vatican has the chance to redeem its past mistakes. Will it do so?

Wrestling In Deep Waters is a book for all people. This book depicts the history of religious tolerance and growth. In the exploration of which we are as people, this book, Wrestling In Deep Waters, dramatizes the struggle we-as humans-have had. Even now many are having to struggle in the continued progress of living. This book, Wrestling In Deep Waters, is a book of encouragement. God in this book wants us to hold on to the power he has given us. God wants us to see that it is his power that helps us with our wrestles in these "old deep waters." This Book, Wrestling In Deep Waters, is a great book for those of us that are "saved" embracing the benefits of God's saving grace. And, finally, Wrestling In Deep Waters as a great book wants to help the "unsaved" to know salvation; whereas, they can decide for themselves if they want to be "saved," resting in the loving arms of a gentle Savior.