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Religious intolerance or racism? A new study out of Melbourne suggests religious intolerance, not racism, is the main source of negative feelings towards asylum seekers in Australia. The study was called Islamophobia and other anxieties.

Conducted by the University of Melbourne, it examined 10 focus groups across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

And the result suggests religious intolerance, not racism, is the main driver of negative attitudes in the country towards asylum seekers.

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Source: ABC

The Parliament of the World’s Religions is committed to cultivating harmony among religious and spiritual communities across the globe. That, in turn, demands that we stand and speak against actions that contribute to the conflict, disrespect, and oppression of faith communities throughout the world.

As we observe the 8th anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of seven Baha’i leaders and the oppression inflicted on other members of the Baha’i community in Iran, the following statement expresses our dismay that these conditions continue to exist and conveys our encouragement for actions that will bring an end to this kind of abuse in Iran and anywhere it occurs across the globe.

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Source: Parliament of the World's Religions

The community behind Australia's first Sikh school have three objectives - academic excellence, spiritual education and getting the next generation of Indian fast bowlers into state & national cricket teams.

Sikh Grammar School will be the first school based around the Sikh faith in Australia and New Zealand.

The local community hasraised about $3.6 million for the first of seven buildings.

The school will be built on 10 acres of land in Rouse Hill in Sydney's Hills District and plans also include a Sikh temple, child care centre and hostel to house international students.

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Source: ABC Sydney

The Indian Interfaith Guide is a resource that provides readers with information on various social norms and practices of adherents of various faiths.

This document is a vital step towards proactively addressing the potential causes of conflict, difference and prejudice in the community as it relates to those of Indian origin.

The guide is to be utilised by mainstream services, the courts, community organisations, religious sectors, government, non-government bodies and individuals.

The Indian Interfaith Guide was funded by the State Government of Victoria's Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (OMAC) and produced by the Federation of Indian Origin Multi-Faith Organisation Inc (FIMO).

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Source FIMO

From Greece to Russia, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter Sunday on 1 May. While many Christians celebrated Easter on March 27 based on the Gregorian calendar, for Orthodox followers who use the Julian calendar the date fell much later this year.

Orthodox Easter also commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and shares similarities with Western Christian celebrations.

There are approximately 200 million to 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world, with large followings in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

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Source: International Business Times

At first glance it would seem that yoga, an ancient spiritual and physical discipline originating in India, and Christianity, an Abrahamic religion that began in modern-day Israel during the first century AD, have little in common.

Practitioners of 'Holy Yoga', however, might disagree. According to the not-for-profit Christian ministry's website, 'Holy Yoga is an experiential worship created to deepen people's connection to Christ.' In Holy Yoga, Sanskrit phrases are replaced with Bible verses and stretching is done to the tune of gospel music.

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Source: ABC

A plan to build a new mosque in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs has been dumped by Casey council.

Only about half of the people who turned up to watch the proceedings, were able to fit into the council chambers. About one hundred were left outside, the doors to the civic centre guarded by a line of police.

Inside, Casey Mayor Sam Aziz read out a pre-prepared speech endorsing a recommendation by council officers not to allow a permit for the mosque with a "typical Islamic dome style roof" and 25-metre minaret on a vacant rural property on Belgrave-Hallam Road in Narre Warren.

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Source: The Age

Victoria has appointed its first Muslim woman to the bench.

Ms Masood, who is of Sri Lankan background, will be the first Muslim woman to sit on the bench of any Victorian court.

Ms Masood started practising criminal law in 2003 and has worked for the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Australian Tax Office.

She has worked cases in the Magistrates', County, Children's, Family and Federal Courts.

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Source: The Age