Thank you Julia Roberts for keeping us Hindus in the loop

As voted by the Religion Newswriters Association's members, among the year's most consequential religion newsmakers were Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Pope Benedict XVI, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, and the U.S. bishops.

How would you have ranked them? Has their influence been harmful or constructive? What issue or person do you expect to have the biggest impact in the year to come?

Religion Newswriters Association (RNA) ranked us Hindus last at rank 20 and that inclusion too was mainly because Hollywood star Julia Roberts reportedly joined our fold. We wholeheartedly welcome Julia (and we are thankful to RNA also for at least keeping us in their system), but Hinduism, being the oldest and third largest religion with about one billion adherents, is much more than that and it went through lot of noteworthy issues during 2010.

Media and the ranked news on RNA's list have largely been critical of Pope Benedict, without much mention to the lot of positive steps he took trying to guide the Church through difficult times and handling complex issues. Like all of us non-Catholics, Roman Catholic Church also has its share of weaknesses, but for aging Pope, being the biggest religious leader of the world, steering about 1.17 billion devout Catholics through this intricate maze is not an easy task, and he deserves some credit.

This ranking list has also ignored Orthodox Christianity, a large chunk of Christian population and majority religion in many countries of the world (maybe because they mostly make news in "other" languages). Buddhists and Sikhs, fourth and fifth largest religions respectively of the world, have also been overlooked; and so are the Baha'is, Jains, Confucians, Taos, Shintos, and Zoroastrians.

Dalai Lama, second most popular religious leader of the world after Pope, does not find mention although he faced many issues during the year. Continued abohorant conditions for about 10-12 million Roma (Gypsies) in Europe and the near silence of religions and religious leaders on it has also been skipped.

Handling of religion related matters by China, which controls a huge amount of world populace, also somehow slipped out of the list; and so were various efforts at interfaith dialogue by many groups world over. Except a brief mention in Pope's warning during his recent visit to United Kingdom, atheists (or other non-religious) and their campaigns have also been left out.

Spiritual aspect of religion has also apparently been brushed aside and RNA seems to be occupied mostly by religio-political or politico-religious stories.

But overall the list is wonderful and job well done in view of its limitations. The only 'minor' change it needs is its title from the current "Top 10 Religion Stories of 2010" to "Top 10 American Religion Stories of 2010."

By Rajan Zed | December 31, 2010; 4:54 PM ET Save & Share:
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Breaking NEWS:

"By using Cruel & Unusual Tactics: Three-3 ALQAEDA members confessed to following Turkish/Pakistani ISLAMIC BROTHER HOOD's plot/plan to eject all KAFIR'S from All the 56-OIC-Nations before Saudi Arabia and the GCC create the new ISLAMIC CURRENCY...." Jan.4.2011. 07:15 GMT.
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DEATH to: I S L A M i C -- B R O T H E R H O O D!

DEATH to: I S L A M i C --- S I S T E R H O O D too!

DEATH to: I R A N! (NOt Secular Persians).

DEATH to: PAKISTAN! (Not Secular Hurdu).

DEATH to: T U R K E Y! (Not Real Sekular)
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DEATH TO Al ISHLAMi's UMMAH in KAFIR Nations!
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Posted by: letitbe | January 4, 2011 10:52 AM
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Breaking NEWS:

DEATH to: I S L A M i C --- S I S T E R H O O D too!

DEATH to: I R A N! (NOt Secular Persians).

DEATH to: PAKISTAN! (Not Secular Hurdu).

Posted by: letitbe | January 4, 2011 10:51 AM
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Is Julia Roberts going to seek Narendra Modi's blessings?

Posted by: Kingofkings1 | January 3, 2011 10:38 PM
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Thank you Julia Roberts for keeping us Hindus in the loop

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