Our site has received 64 awards &
three bannings. Not a bad ratio.
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Overview:
This web site first went online in 1995-APR. For the next decade or so, many other web sites gave our awards to sites that they found of high quality. We received quite a few awards for our web site. Of course, we had
a major advantage: by starting in 1995, we had a head start over many other web sites.
Our site has also been temporarily
banned by at least two Internet censorship software groups who
misunderstood the nature of our web site.
Site-Wide Bans
CyberPatrol is a web rating group that judges WWW sites from a conservative Christian
perspective. They provide software that prevents children from accessing what they
consider to be dangerous material. Although they claim to promote religious tolerance,
they apparently banned access to many web locations which describe a wide variety of
benign religions, including Wicca and other Neo-Pagan faith groups. They also banned
access to our site -- not just one or two essays, but the entire site. They have since
reconsidered and restored access to our site and to many Neo-Pagan sites as well.
We were also banned by CleanNet, which is a similar Internet censorship group. It
took a bit of effort to get their attention. But when they finally looked into
why they blocked our site, they restored access.
Our site is banned by the government of Saudi Arabia. They control all access
by their citizens to Internet sites outside of their country. They have
blocked access by their citizens to our site, as well as other religious web
sites, including one that promotes Christian-Islamic dialog, and another that
promotes love and brotherhood among religions. All are very dangerous thoughts to a
country that is so completely devoid of religious freedom and tolerance. 1,2
We have also heard a rumor that we were blocked by the Internet
censorship software at WebSense.
Awards:
The list below shows the awards that we have received for our site as a
whole. We have another list of awards given for
individual essays or sections of our web site.
Site-Wide Awards: Where we rank on the Internet:
The following three should tell you a lot about the quality of awards on the Internet. ;-)
 We received the Top
5% of the Web award from Lycos/Point. Their review reads:
"As its name implies, this religion-based site is not about forcing moral values
on you. It's sort of a fair of the spiritual world: lots of information on various
religions ("from Asatru to Zoroastrianism") and spiritual issues are presented
so the reader can make his or her own choices. Conflicts between the religious powers that
be and current issues such as homosexuality and abortion are described (without
conclusions -- draw your own), along with a short history of such conflicts (where the
Catholic Church banned the practice of charging interest on loans, of all things)."
 In addition to
qualifying for the "top 5% of the Web" award, we also received the
coveted "Bottom 95% of Web
Sites" award.
 Finally, we also
qualified for the " mid 5% of the
Web" award. Their motto is: "If you're too good or too lousy,
you're out."
Other Site-Wide Awards:
 This is not an
award in the usual sense of the term. Dr. Mohamed Taher included the name of our
coordinator/author, along with 17 others, in his Multifaith Hall of Fame of
the 21st Century. See:
http://multifaith.blogspot.com/
Schoolzone is the UK's leading evaluation service for online educational
resources. They gave us a "highly recommended rating" and renewed it in 2010.
Rock Hill Press maintains "Web Feet is the premier subject guide
to the best Web sites for students, researchers, and the general public."
It is "the first comprehensive Web guide that is interactive and
updated monthly....A site is included in Web Feet only if our researchers think
it is an outstanding site in its subject area. The Web Feet Seal of Approval
tells teachers, librarians, parents, and students that your site is especially
valuable for research, teaching, or general interest."
WNET, a PBS TV station broadcasts a RELIGION
& ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY. They choose a Web site each month that they "find
to be a significant contribution to religion and ethics." We were the
web site of the month for 1999-SEP.
Amy Brown of Heather Wind Designs commented:
"This award is designed to recognize and honor those generous folk who
illuminate the Web through the gift of knowledge, whether through design
resources or inspiring thought. It is never given lightly."
DETOX, "the religious recovery webzine, is a forum of scathing satire,
do-it-yourself humour, annotated links and community...The DETOX Award is given to two web sites"
each month.
 High Density Computing gives their Hawk award for excellence in web site design.
About one submission in 23 qualifies.
JASBITS selected our web site as "a site of honorable mention." They look for sites
that are "unique in content and have something to offer our visitors
along the lines of news, culture, entertainment, information and promote
tolerance and respect for our fellow human beings."
The Anthropomorphic diversity Support
Association (ADSA) supports the "anthropomorphic community
...[which] includes 'furries' (fans of therianthropic art), people who
play roleplaying games, fantasy and science fiction fans, and others. The
community is composed mainly of people who are fans of (or who have a personal
connection with) anthropomorphics. Anthropomorphics include anything with
human elements that is not entirely human, or involves transformation; such as
werewolves, mannequins, elves, or transgenderism." We were selected to be among the first group of nine web sites to be considered for affiliate status
because of "the diversity that...[our] website provides."
 Our site was selected
"as
one of Chatelaine magazine's 'Editors' Choice' News and Views destinations
for women on the Web!... Chatelaine is Canada's largest paid circulation women's
magazine--focusing on everything from Food + Recipes, Home + Garden and Health,
to women's politics and passions."
 Our site was selected for a People's Choice Website 500 award.
  The World Wide Web Golden Heart Society
grants awards to "humanitarian Web sites."
 Suite101 maintains an
extensive list of hyperlinks to web sites on a wide range of subjects. Our site "has
been chosen by Daniel Ellsworth, contributing editor for Christianity - Protestant, as one
of the 'Best of the Internet'."
 Third Age is an
online community for people over 50. They feature a "Web Guide" offering a lens
on the Web for older adults.
 Our site has been
selected as a "Day Award Winner" by EyeSITE.
This site was given a "FOUR STAR RATING" by NetGuide Magazine.
 Alternate Realities in Art and
Thought selected us as their first Recommended Site of the
Month. They stated: "We recommend you view this site which we believe provides
an outstanding service to the Web Pagan and Earth Religions Communities and to the Web
Viewership in general."
 We were the first recipient
of this award! The Award of S.O.L.A.C.E stands for: a Source Of Love And Compassion for
Everyone. S.O.L.A.C.E. seems to be no longer online.
 AvatarSearch
granted this award, stating "The Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance is probably among the most honorable institutions currently on the Internet. The
site consists of....over 300 text files on an immense variety of topics, all of which are
in various ways related to religious tolerance...Financed mostly out of pocket and
directed toward an American and Canadian audience, they have given various lectures on the
topic of religious tolerance. If you have never visited their web site then I highly
recommend that you pay them a visit." AvatarSearch has a truly immense data
base of mystical, Neo-Pagan, occult and related WWW sites.
 Doe Walking
granted this award, commenting: "a group of four
volunteers...have created an amazing site where they have compiled and presented
information about various spiritual beliefs in a reasonable and unbiased manner. Go here
to learn about various religious paths, but be prepared to have your mind opened.
 Your WebSearch judged our site as a "Way Cool site...an excellent
service..."
 Twoey's Web Site judged our site to be one of the "coolest links". We are
listed under the "interesting category".
 This site was
awarded a Hot Site designation by the Association
for Religion and Intellectual Life. They commented:
A refreshing voice for inter-religious understanding within a sea of Internet
intolerance. This site contains much useful information about world religions, religious
hatred, and other related topics, including many interesting links and opportunities for
dialogue across religious boundaries.
 Our
site received a three star rating from the Magellan
Internet Directory. They gave us a nice review too.
We have been selected to be included Online Praxis
This is a special edition of PC Praxis which is one of Germany's most popular
computer magazines. It will include a CD-ROM containing this and other WWW sites.
We have been told that the Detroit Free Press newspaper for 1996-AUG-1
listed the top 5 religious WWW sites as selected by Anne Callery of Yahoo. Our page was
listed as #2. We have been unable to confirm this.
 The Ontario Society of Wiccans
Against Religious Discrimination gave us their "OSWARD Out of The Broom
Closet Award." This award is normally reserved for Wiccans; however they made an
exception in our case.
 Mom 'n'
Dad's Place gave us their award of excellence. They are located in New Zealand.
 Our site was chosen as "Gwydion's
Golden Site of the Month" by the folks at the Texas Pagan Awareness Web
Site
 This award regonizes "web
sites that are creative, colorful, friendly, and "bring a smile" to those who
come to visit!! Your pages must also have a good layout and be easy to navigate."
 These awards are
distributed by the Universal Life and Spirit, a Light of Sibmah
Metaphysical Ministry, to Web sites that exhibit "an expression of
open-mindedness of all spiritual practices."
 This is a monthly award distributed by Canadian Gay
Witches Web Site. That site "is not only dedicated to Gay Witches but
also to Gay Pagans from accross the world."
 Sermons on the Internet granted us this award "after closely reviewing"
our site. But we still have a hunch that they made a mistake, thinking that we
are a mono-religious web site.
Old Ways: A Journal of the Craft in the Modern Age commented: "You have done an excellent job and
provide a much needed service to the Internet community."
Spirit Network states that "The
Lotus Light is awarded on the basis of useful information content, presentation of
content, and graphic design, in that order." We are glad that it is in that
order; our graphical design is not world-class. We pour almost all our effort into
content.
 The Celtic Circle issues one
award twice a month.
 The
Orchid Lady created the Orchid Award to recognize the "many
marvelous and wonderful sites" that she has encountered on the Web. The Orchid Lady has a list of criteria of what she feels makes a
good web site. It are definitely worth a read at: http://www.orchidlady.com/orcaward/awardgui.html
 The Gray Areas on the Net Award is given to one web
site per day. They say that: "Surfing the links below
with an open mind can lead to a greater understanding of many social problems, deviant
subcultures and marginal/alternative/fringe cultures."
 Tammy Todd, the Guide to
Alternative Religions for The Mining Co., selected this site for the Best
of the Net award. She commented: "The OCRT is, hands down, the
best source for religious information on the Internet. Your thorough, unbiased account of
the topics and religions you cover is an inspiration to the authors of all other religious
pages, including me." <blush>
 The Circle of the Ancient Ways
is a very attractive Web site with extensive information on Wicca, Egyptian Spirituality,
Shamanism, etc.
 Our site was selected by the Contributing Editor
of Suite101.com on the topic of cults.
He commented: "I seriously enjoyed the information and the way in which your site
is organized so that it facilitates the search for information."
 Our site was listed by Discover
It! as "the Best of the Web."
Sponsored link:
 Third Age is "The Web...for Grown
Ups," a content and community site for adults over 45.
 The Fuggins' Award for Excellence is given
for web site excellence. Webmaster Tim Gore comments: "While it is not limited to
any category of site, the site I give this award to must be spectacular in some way."
 This award is for a site "that promotes
Peace, Tolerance, and Understanding. The world is lacking much of the afore
mentioned qualities and this award goes to a site that is trying to promote
them."
Channel Thirteen in New York has a website called wNetstation. They selected
our site as their "religion site of the month." This is a
feature on their Religion & Ethics Newsweekly page.
4anything at
http://www.4anything.com chose our
site "as one of the best of the web within your category."
Richard Nolle, a certified professional astrologer, is webmaster of Astropro.
He selected our site for Astropro's Website
of the Week Award.
Links2Go listed our site as a Key Resource in their Religion and
Philosophy section. They make their selection from the most-cited of web sites
in each category.
Christian Teens at About.com chose our site as a feature for the
week.
We were given this award by B.W. Holmes of Reasoned Spirituality.
It is a website which explores spirituality, the meaning of life and the
concept of God.
Astral Hearts gave us their Star of Wisdom. It is
given "to websites which promote spiritual wisdom on the Internet
in all areas of spiritual and personal growth."
Our site was selected by Linda Campbell, the Contributing Editor
of Suite101.com, on the topic of Modern
Customs: Origins and History.
 We were chosen to be the "Political
Site of the Day." PSotD is located at:
http://www.aboutpolitics.com Next
to a hyperlink to our site they said: "Like there is any other option."
But there is another option to religious tolerance. We have seen it in
recent years in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Cyprus, Sudan,
Middle East, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, New York, the
Pentagon, a field in Pennsylvania, etc. The other
option leads to terrorism and dead bodies.
TagTeacherNet (no longer active) recommended our site to its 24,400 members, most of
whom are teachers.
 Michael Levy
sent this award to us, writing: "Congratulations on
displaying such an excellent, meaningful web site. Point of life is
delighted to award you a Merit of Excellence Award for outstanding content
and sincerity."
GoldenWebAwards.com gave us an award that is "presented to those sites whose web design, originality and content have achieved
levels of excellence deserving of recognition." Web sites are voted on
by members of the Association.
The editor and staff of The Mists of Sunfire book give this award to web sites which have "an excellent
aesthetic appearance" and shows "respect and truthfulness when
discussing legitimate legal religions and faiths."
Top of everything,com "...categorizes
and evaluates the best sites available online..." They included our site
under their religion section.
 A UK group, Schoolzone,
evaluates Internet sites for the British government's educational division.
They gave our site four stars -- their "highly recommended rating."
 EarthMomma
grants this award to web sties that promote religious freedom. Her site
features women's "spiritual art from the cave to the present."
The Wise Pagan website -- no longer active -- selected our site as one of the top ten websites that they "... find to be of great import and esteem to
the Pagan Community. These are sites which have served to uplift the dialogue
within the larger Pagan community or have provided services to the Pagan
community which we value."
References:
- Jonathan Zittrain & Benjamin Edelman, "Documentation of Internet
Filtering in Saudi Arabia," at:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/
- Jonathan Zittrain & Benjamin Edelman, "URLs blocked in Saudi Arabia -
Highlights," at:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/
Latest update: 2012-NOV-02
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