'Soldiers of Christ' Cult Killing Shakes Korean Community

33-year-old Sehee Cho was tortured and killed during the group's "initiation" process."

In Georgia, members of a Korean religious cult were charged in the murder of a 33-year-old woman who was killed during the initiation process into a group that called itself Soldiers of Christ. Police say Sehee Cho was held captive for weeks, tortured and starved her until she died.

Officers discovered Cho's decaying body in the trunk of a car, left in the parking lot in metro Atlanta's busy Korean business district. Video evidence shows the group beating Cho with a belt and putting her in ice baths. Seven individuals, including the group's leader Joonho Lee, face charges of felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another.

Woman wears colander for driver's license photo

Former adult movie star Asia Carrera exercises her religious freedom at the DMV. With a pasta strainer.



Did you hear the one about the former porn star who wore a pasta strainer on her head for her driver's license photo? It's true. And would you believe it was an expression of her religious beliefs? Yup.

Woman wears colander for driver's license photo

That is Asia Lemmon, also known as former adult movie star Asia Carrera (legal name: Jessica Steinhauser). Claiming membership in the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, she was allowed to exercise her religious right by wearing a metal colander on her head for her Utah driver's license photo.

The Flying Spaghetti Monster movement, also known as "Pastafarianism," started in 2005 as a protest against teaching intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in Kansas schools. Lemmon says that with the right documents, she had no problem rocking her headgear at the DMV.

Sikh student files discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Army

"Choosing between one's faith and serving one's country is a decision that no one should have to make."



A Sikh student at Hofstra University has filed a lawsuit against the United States Army, claiming that he was refused a religious accommodation that would allow him to enlist in his school's ROTC program in accordance with his faith -- without shaving his beard, cutting his hair and removing his turban.

Sikh student sues U.S. Army, says ROTC enlistment blocked because of his faith

As a practicing Sikh, Iknoor Singh keeps his hair long and wears a turban. However, he was told by ROTC recruiters that he would not be able enlist unless he complied with all Army grooming and uniform rules, which would require him to immediately cut his hair, shave off his bear and remove his turban.

Singh, learning that the Army had previously granted religious accommodations to several Sikhs and soldiers of other faiths, applied for an exemption but was denied. The lawsuit, filed jointly by the ACLU and United Sikhs, says the Army's policy is a violation of Singh's religious freedom.

Lousiana school board settles religious harassment lawsuit

Federal lawsuit alleged sixth grader was routinely belittled for being Buddhist



Last week in New Orleans, the ACLU settled lawsuit with a Louisiana school board on behalf of a sixth grader who says he was routinely harassed by teachers and administrators because of his Buddhist beliefs.

Settlement In Suit Involving La. Buddhist Student

The federal lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that a teacher at Negreet High School in Sabine Parish declared that Buddhism was stupid. It also said the school regularly incorporated Christian prayer into classes and school events and scrolled Bible verses on an electronic marquee in front of the school.

The student, a lifelong Buddhist of Thai descent, enrolled at Negreet earlier this year and quickly became the target of religious harassment by the school's staff. When his parents raised the issue with school officials,the superintendent told them that "this is the Bible belt" and suggested they change their son's faith.

Louisiana school district sued for religious harassment

Federal lawsuit alleges sixth grader was routinely belittled for being Buddhist



This week, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against a Louisiana school board, alleging that officials at one school routinely harassed and proselytized a sixth-grader because of his Buddhist faith.

ACLU accuses La. school of religious harassment

The federal lawsuit was filed against the Sabine Parish School Board on behalf of two parents, Scott and Sharon Lane, and three of their children, including their son, "C.C.," who is a lifelong Buddhist of Thai descent.

According to the complaint, C.C. enrolled at Negreet High School earlier this year and quickly became the target of religious harassment by the school's staff. In addition to the school board, the lawsuit specifically names Superintendent Sara Ebarb, Negreet High Principal Gene Wright and science teacher Rita Roark:

Drugs, guns and theological debates do not mix well.

Man kills friend in an argument over the existence of God.

In Oakland, a man has been found guilty of murder for shooting and killing his friend during a drug and alcohol-fueled argument over the existence of God: Conviction in slaying over 'existence of God.'

33-year-old Douglas Yim was convicted of first-degree murder, assault with a firearm and mayhem for killing 25-year-old Dzuy Duhn Phan and injuring another friend, Paul Park, in April 2011 -- the culmination of a night of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and video games that turned into a heated argument "about the existence of God and religion."

Phan, an atheist, mocked Yim's belief in God, badgering him until he finally snapped. At some point, Yim grabbed his (illegally owned) assault rifle and shot Phan six times: