Malaysian Muslim allowed to renounce faith

In a landmark ruling, a religious court in Malaysia has decreed that a convert to Islam may leave the faith. The Sharia court of Penang ruled that Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah was free to return to Buddhism, after her marriage to a Muslim broke down. The judge blamed the state Islamic council for failing to instruct Ms Tan Abdullah correctly. She had never practised as a Muslim after her conversion, continuing to pray as a Buddhist instead.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7389874.stm

Christian call for Israeli - Palestine peace

More than 140 world Christian leaders have signed a joint statement to mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the state of Israel to call for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. “We urge all those working for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine to consider that any lasting solution must be built on the foundation of justice, which is rooted in the very character of God. After all, it is justice that ‘will produce lasting peace and security’,” it says.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/7097

Jesus would live in a cottage

If Jesus lived today he would live in a Scottish cottage, preach at the Glastonbury festival and belong to the social networking site Facebook, a new survey has suggested. Of 1,500 people polled by Congregational & General Insurance group, 28 per cent said Jesus would be most likely to live in Scotland; 6.7 per cent said he would reside in the Home Counties.

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk

Bishop of London and "doubt schools"

The Bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, objects to the term “faith schools”. In a Lords debate this week on interfaith dialogue he said: “The term ‘faith school’ is often used to suggest that the head teacher of the local C of E primary is really the sinister agent of some mind-bending cult. What is supposed to be the opposite of a faith school? Is it a ‘doubt school’, perhaps?”

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk

Spain to recognise rights of agnostics

Spain has announced plans to reform Spanish laws on religious freedom. Maria Fernández de la Vega, Deputy-Prime Minister, said the ruling Socialist Party wants to move towards “the secular condition which the constitution bestows our state” and “recognise the rights of agnostics”.

www.afp.com/english