Buddhism

A Tennessee Republican candidate for governor, Monty Fritts, stated he would work to ban mosques and non-Christian religions like Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism if elected. He argued the First Amendment does not prohibit states from doing so, claiming Islam is a political movement incompatible with the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions.

A Tennessee state representative running for governor stated he would ban mosques and non-Christian religions like Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, arguing the First Amendment does not prohibit states from doing so. The candidate, Monty Fritts, claims Islam is a political movement incompatible with the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions and cited a spiritual calling for entering the race.

Tennessee state representative Monty Fritts, a Republican candidate for governor, plans to ban non-Christian religions including Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism if elected, arguing the First Amendment allows states to do so. The proposal conflicts with U.S. constitutional protections and would affect tens of thousands of Tennesseans, with the Tennessee primary election on August 6.

A 76-year-old Japanese Buddhist monk, Junsei Terasawa, has urged Buddhists worldwide to gather at Pakistan's Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila for peace prayers, emphasizing the relevance of Buddhist teachings in addressing global conflicts. Terasawa, known for his peace-building efforts in conflict zones, highlighted the historical and spiritual significance of Taxila as a center for Buddhist heritage and interfaith dialogue.

The Pentagon has removed 180 faiths from the military's recognized religions list, reducing the total from over 200 to 31. The change, announced by War Secretary Pete Hegseth and detailed in a memo from Undersecretary Anthony Tata, aims to streamline religious support for service members. The new list includes major faiths like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism.