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Roger Garaudy Born ( 1913-07-17 ) 17 July 1913 Marseille , France Died 13 June 2012 ( 2012-06-13 ) (aged 98) Paris , France Nationality French Era 20th / 21st-century philosophy Region Western philosophy Religion Sunni Islam Roger Garaudy or Ragaa Garaudy [1] (17 July 1913 – 13 June 2012) [2] [3] was a French philosopher. Formerly a prominent communist author, he converted to Islam and wrote many controversial books. Contents [ hide ] 1 Early life, politics and religion 2 Holocaust denial 3 Support from the Islamic World 4 Later activities 5 Praise for Garaudy after his death 6 References 7 External links Early life, politics and religion [ edit ] Born to Catholic and atheist parents in Marseille , Garaudy converted at age 14 and became a Protestant. During World War II , Garaudy joined the French Resistance , for which he was imprisoned in Djelfa , Algeria, as a prisoner of war of Vichy France . Following the war, Garaudy joined the Fr

    The ceremony was the first of its type performed by a pope in a prison and the first that included women, including a young woman who is a Serbian Muslim , in a rite which commemorates a gesture of humility that Christians believe Jesus Christ performed for his 12 apostles before his death. http://www.news.com.au/world-news/pope-francis-washes-young-prisoners-feet-in-rome/story-fndir2ev-1226608828199#ixzz2WVTfJea6  

           4/4/2013    Nuns attend the inauguration Mass of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square Pope Francis on Wednesday said women play a “fundamental role” in the Catholic Church as those who are mostly responsible for passing on the faith from one generation to the next. While the new pope stopped far short of calling for women’s ordination or giving women more decision-making power in the church, his remarks nonetheless signaled an openness to women that’s not often seen in the church hierarchy. “In the church and in the journey of faith, women have had and still have a special role in opening doors to the Lord,” the Argentine pontiff said during his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square. On Thursday , March 28, Francis surprised Catholics—and drew the ire of traditionalists —when he included two women in a foot-washing ceremony at a youth prison in Rome. Critics say the rite is a re-enactment of Jesus’ washing the feet of the 12 male apostles, and the inclusion of women m

A saint-making record is also a diplomatic headache for Pope Francis Franco Origlia / Getty Images Contributor Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he leaves at the end of the Holy Mass and Canonization Ceremony at St. Peter's Square. Sunday. By Claudio Lavanga, Correspondent, NBC News ROME -- Pope Francis canonized more than 800 Catholics in Saint Peter’s Square Sunday – the largest number to be elevated to sainthood at once in the history of the Catholic Church. The choice of some of the new saints was also striking, touching on the already-fragile relationship between Christianity and Islam. The new saints included hundreds of laymen from the southern Italian port town of Otranto who were slain in the 15th century by the invading Ottoman Turkish army after they refused to convert to Islam. In 1480, after conquering Constantinople – modern day Istanbul - the Ottoman Sultan Mohammed II planned to invade Rome, and Otranto became his army’s port of entrance into Ital

A saint-making record is also a diplomatic headache for Pope Francis Franco Origlia / Getty Images Contributor Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he leaves at the end of the Holy Mass and Canonization Ceremony at St. Peter's Square. Sunday. By Claudio Lavanga, Correspondent, NBC News ROME -- Pope Francis canonized more than 800 Catholics in Saint Peter’s Square Sunday – the largest number to be elevated to sainthood at once in the history of the Catholic Church. The choice of some of the new saints was also striking, touching on the already-fragile relationship between Christianity and Islam. The new saints included hundreds of laymen from the southern Italian port town of Otranto who were slain in the 15th century by the invading Ottoman Turkish army after they refused to convert to Islam. In 1480, after conquering Constantinople – modern day Istanbul - the Ottoman Sultan Mohammed II planned to invade Rome, and Otranto became his army’s port of entrance into Italy

Ahimsa - nonviolence Amita, Amitabha - Buddha associated with Ching-tu (the Pure Land) Anatta, Anatman - Buddhist doctrine of No-self Atman - Ultimate or True self, believed in Hinduism to be identical to Brahman Bodhi - Enlightenment Bodhicitta - "Mind of enlightenment"; altruistic attitude to achieve enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings Bodhisattva - Enlightened being who remains in the world to help others Buddha - An enlightened being; "one who woke up" Ching-tu - School of Chinese Buddhism that emphasizes devotion to Amitabha Buddha as a means to rebirth in the Pure Land Citta - mind or mental state Conventional/Provisional vs. Ultimate/Instrinsic (Being, Existence, Truth, etc.) - Distinction, associated with the Madhyamika school, between two levels/types of being, truth, etc. Dependent Origination (Pratitya samutpada) - Buddhist teaching, associated with the Madhyamika school, of the interconnectedness of all t

Muslim extremists whom he blamed for a suicide bombing that killed 42 people, including a top Sunni preacher. Explosion ripped through a mosque in the heart of Damascus, killing Sheikh Mohammad Said Ramadan al-Buti. It was one of the most stunning assassinations of the two-year civil war and the first time a suicide bomber struck inside a mosque. Al-Buti was a staunch supporter of Assad. More than 84 were wounded in the attack.

مفكرة الاسلام: عثرت الشرطة الروسية على جثة الممثل الروسي الشهير "أندري بان" مقتولاً في منزله بشارع بالاكلافسكي في موسكو، بعد اعتناقه الإسلام الشهر الماضي. وأظهرت النتائج الأولية لتحقيقات الشرطة، وتقارير الطب الشرعي التابع للمحكمة أن "أندري بان" تعرض لـمائة طعنة في كل أنحاء جسده، وقطع يده أدت إلى إصابات أودت بحياته، وذلك بسبب اعتناقه الإسلام الشهر الماضي. وصرحت الشرطة الروسية في بيان لها أن "جريمة قتل "أندري بان" سببها دعوته الروس الذين ليس لهم دين إلى اعتناق الإسلام"، مشيرة إلى أنها حتى الآن لم تُلقِ القبض على أي متهم في هذه القضية المثيرة. كما أكدت الشرطة في بيانها أن "أندري بان عثر معه على خطاب يدعو فيه الروس للإسلام حتى تحل الأزمة الاقتصادية لروسيا". يذكر أن روسيا بها حوالي 20 مليون مسلم، وذلك بعد استقلال خمسة عشر جمهورية من الجمهوريات التي كانت تشكل الاتحاد السوفيتي سابقًا، ويبلغ عدد المسلمين في العاصمة موسكو أكثر من مليون مسلم. ويعاني مسلمو روسيا من الاضطهاد وعدم تمتعهم بحقوق مساوية لما يتمتع به "المسيحيون" ال

Benedict’s final speech gave his flock the kind of personal and touching address that many longed for during his eight years as pontiff. He said when he was chosen in 2005, he wondered, “Lord, what do you ask of me?” and said he felt “it is a great weight you are placing on my shoulder.” The 85-year-old pontiff acknowledged that while there were many good days “of sunshine” during his papacy, there were also times of “stormy waters — as if God were sleeping.” http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/his_farewell_benedict_ion_H9ZGhzAQjm6m5LEijb3fYI http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/world/europe/vatican-pope-resignation/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

Catholic League: Pope John Paul’s Sad End Influenced Resignation Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Catholic-League-Pope-Benedict/2013/02/11/id/489898#ixzz2KhiKeBqj Urgent: Should Obamacare Be Repealed? Vote Here Now! Tears and sadness in pope's German hometown http://www.thenewage.co.za/82509-1020-53-Tears_and_sadness_in_popes_German_hometown Retired nun 'sad' that Cardinal Mahony will vote on next pope http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/cardinal-mahony-pope-reaction.html 85 years (April 16, 1927) Recap: Pope Benedict XVI resignation reaction http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21409149

Successor to Benedict Will Lead a Church at a Crossroads VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI ’s surprise announcement on Monday that he will resign on Feb. 28 sets the stage for a succession battle that is likely to determine the future course of a church troubled by scandal and declining faith in its traditional strongholds around the world.        http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/with-popes-resignation-focus-shifts-to-a-successor.html?_r=0 Catholics shocked as pope resigns, but little emotion He was little cold. http://news.yahoo.com/catholics-shocked-pope-resigns-little-emotion-163548580.html Pope Benedict XVI To Resign On Feb. 28 Due To Health Concerns http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/pope-benedict-xvi-to-resi_n_2660670.html

Pope Benedict XVI stuns world, announces retirement The conservative pope who brought tweeting to the Vatican stunned the Roman Catholic world Monday, becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign as leader of the 1 billion-member church. Pope Benedict XVI, 85, cited age and declining health in his announcement, issued in Latin during a meeting of cardinals. The resignation, effective Feb. 28, means a conclave of cardinals will be held here, probably in March, to elect a successor. "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited" for the task, he said. The pope said that "both strength of mind and body are necessary, strengths which in the last few months, have deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/pope-benedict-xvi-to-resi_n_2660670.html?utm_source=DailyBrief&a

Millions of f Allahabad for the religious festival of Kumbh Mela. Held once every 12 years, it is believed to be the largest gathering of Hindus in the world. Worshippers believe that bathing in the River Ganges during this time will absolve them from sin. Al Jazeera's Sohail Rahman reports from Allahabad.