Free Republic

Children from Newtongrange Primary visited the Central Mosque in Potterrow, but from an original group of 90 pupils, 28 were withdrawn. The trip had been organised to help educate the primary one, two and five pupils about other religions and cultures. But one parent today said they didn’t want their child “mixed up in the hate being preached in mosques”. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the wake of the killing of soldier Lee Rigby in London, and David Cameron’s pledge to “drain the swamp” of extremism. Religious leaders and Midlothian councillors condemned parents pulling their children out the...

Seven People Found Dead in Dallas-Area Apartment Published December 25, 2011 GRAPEVINE, Texas – Seven people believed to be related had opened their Christmas gifts and started cleaning up the wrapping paper when they were shot to death in a suburban Texas apartment, police said Sunday. Authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead, but got a warrant before doing a full search on the small chance that it was otherwise. Four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, were found in an adjoining kitchen and living room area when police entered the apartment around midday, said...

Atheists taking issue with Griswold tradition December 2, 2006, 2:33 PM EST GRISWOLD, Conn. -- The Christmas music begins emanating from a local church steeple about this time every year, ushering in the holiday season in this sleepy eastern Connecticut town. In a tradition that began more than a decade ago, songs such as "America the Beautiful" and "Away in a Manger" are played every hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. The music, in the form of chiming bells, flows from a large speaker hidden at the top of Jewett City Baptist Church. But the sounds of...