HINDUISM, Buddhism and Islam are Melbourne's fastest growing religions, but Catholicism remains the city's dominant faith. An analysis of the 2006 census prepared for the city's church leaders also found that fewer people identify as Christians -- down from 66% in 1996 to 59% a decade later. The Christian Research Association's Philip Hughes says 32% identified as non-religious or did not say, while 13% declared they were atheists. The fastest-growing faiths over the decade have been Hinduism (up 157% to 41,000), Buddhism (up 107% to 126,000) and Islam (up 62% to 103,000). There are 40,000 Jews, up 12.6%.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 9/6/08; 12:45:58 PM to the News dept.
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The story, entitled ‘Long Days and Short Nights for a Hindu Monk,' shadows Pandit throughout his daily routine. Listeners join him for early morning worship service (mangala-arati), mantra meditation (japa), Bhagavad Gita study, and cooking.

The show also follows Pandit to Columbia University, where he teaches a weekly vegetarian cooking class to crowds as large as 200 students. "If we're trying to love God but simultaneously causing harm and violence to his children, He's not going to be all that pleased," Pandit tells students. "‘Okay, you love My two-legged children, what about My four-legged ones?'"

# Posted by Aniruddha at 9/6/08; 12:39:02 PM to the News dept.
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# Posted by Timothy Mcleod at 9/6/08; 12:02:13 PM to the Visitors dept.
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# Posted by Timothy Mcleod at 9/6/08; 11:19:29 AM to the Visitors dept.
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# Posted by Timothy Mcleod at 9/6/08; 10:56:14 AM to the Daily Class dept.
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# Posted by Timothy Mcleod at 9/6/08; 10:44:50 AM to the Daily Class dept.
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