Gurdwara Sahib Brick Attack (Canada)

[SikhWorldTv]

Gurdwara bricked in Canada Canada: In the early hours of the morning a Sikh Gurdwara had two bricks hurled at the front plate-glass window, of the Guelph Sikh Society's Gurdwara on Stevenson Street in Guelph, late last week.

"It's an act of cowardice," society president Amarjit Singh Furmah said

The Gurdwara Sahib was unoccupied at the time of the attack, the President said he thinks the vandalism is more than coincidence, given Sikhs have been in the news lately over an application - that's controversial to some residents - to rezone a site on Clair Road, originally slated for a nursing home, to build a new Sikh Gurdwara. The Sikh community currently worships at the Stevenson Street Gurdwara - a converted but cramped former beer store.

"We are in the news a good four weeks now," the President said. "Maybe somebody who doesn't like that did the damage here."

The President of the Gurdwara said there's been little vandalism since Sikhs obtained the Stevenson Street site in 1996, aside from general graffiti, a pellet or small stone that cracked the same window and some tossed eggs.

Priest Mohinder Singh Hans said he noticed nothing out of the ordinary around 8.30pm Thursday when he left the premises. He saw the damage Friday when he returned to the temple after 5am.

"It's been reported to police. We have no suspects (at this point)," city police Const Kevin McCord said.

But McCord noted it's a busy, mixed-use area, including some industries and residences, so someone may have seen something and can offer helpful information. If so, they are invited to call police at 519-824-1212.

Meanwhile, Furmah said there's more to worry about than the cost of replacing the window, which was insured but requires payment of a deductible portion of a claim.

Furmah said children are among those who use the temple and he's concerned for their safety, should the vandal or vandals strike again during a Sikh event, such as a worship service. He noted Friday was the start of three days of worship.

A brick thrown through a window into the often-busy front foyer "can hurt the people," he said.

Other attacks have included:

- Two bricks were thrown through a front plate-glass window late last week at the Gurdwara on Stevenson Street in Guelph.

- Police are also investigating a possible hate crime after the mosque of the Muslim Society of Waterloo&Wellington Counties was vandalized last week.

- A Montreal synagogue was reportedly vandalized last weekend - the second time in a month - with swastikas being scrawled in the bima (podium) and religious objects such as prayer shawls and books being strewn on the ground.

- A cover-up by Hindu temple officials in Brampton is being alleged, over improper behaviour by priests. The temple's name is being withheld since the allegations in our Letters column could not be independently verified, but the writer stands by his claims, and laments the two sides of the same coin could be so different.

- Metroland News Service

[vahegurujikifateh]

- A Montreal synagogue was reportedly vandalized last weekend - the second time in a month - with swastikas being scrawled in the bima (podium) and religious objects such as prayer shawls and books being strewn on the ground.

White stupidity in Canada is unbelievable. They are racist and socialist at the same time.

Survey finds Christianity on the decline -- even in the South

Christian faith still flourishes in the Bible Belt -- but there, like elsewhere, it's in decline.

That's one of the findings of the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey released this week. The study is especially valuable because it tracks trends over time -- previous reports were done in 1990 and 2001 -- and draws on a rich volume of data (in 2008, questionnaires of 54,400 people).

The big finding of the report is that Protestant Christians are in decline:

The percentage of Christians in America, which declined in the 1990s from 86.2 percent to 76.7 percent, has now edged down to 76 percent. Ninety percent of the decline comes from the non-Catholic segment of the Christian population, largely from the mainline denominations, including Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians/Anglicans, and the United Church of Christ.

The number of Catholics is declining as well, but not nearly as much largely because losses in the Northeast have been balanced out by a growth of Catholics -- fueled by new immigrants -- in the South and Southwest. (Perhaps Christians have Latinos and other new immigrants to thank from keeping church values alive.)

[Guest Bloom]

In My Opinion, (With Reference To The Incident: Irrelevant of Country)

Such Attacks (All Over The World) Could Be Used as Opportunities To Show Gurmat In A Good Light Through Media. It Will Educate The Masses and Show Them The Greatness Of Sikhi. It Can Be Used As An Opportunity To Show Sikhi In A Good Light to The Community, Country and World. The Gursikhs Who Represent On Media As Representatives of Gurus Sikhs Should Be Well Mannered, Articulate, Panj Kakaaree RehitVaan, Singh or Kaur AmritDhaaree (With Dhaaraa Parkaash) Smiling, Telling The World About The Greatness and Beauty of Sikhi and True Khalsa Dharma. Everyone Should Be Invited For Guru Jees Pure Vegetarian/Vegan Langar. The Seva For Langar Should Be Done With Love. (Preferably Bibekhi).

Dhan Dhan Sri GuruGranth Sahib Ji!!!!!

Dhan Dhan Sri Dasam Patshah Baanee Dhan Dhan Sri DasamGranth Sahib Ji!!!!!

Dhan Dhan Jeevanee RehitVaan Panj Pyareh, Khande-Pahul Amrit and Gumukh Rehit!!!!!

Dhan Dhan Guru Jees Panj Kakaars Ang Sang!!!!! Dhan Dhan Being Saved From Bajjar Kureits!!!!!

Dhan Dhan Guru Jees Raags and Chands!!!!! Dhan Dhan Guru Jees Instruments!!!!!