News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Acts of Faith: 2005

April 9, 2005 Lisa Lauck [/assets/story/image_buynow.comp]
Practicing a traditional Vietnamese Buddhist custom, Oai Ha makes an early morning offering to the statues of Fortune Man and Lucky Man in the waiting room of his automotive service station, Ha Auto and Muffler, in Fayetteville. According to Ha, Lucky Man protects the area and "keeps everybody peaceful together," while Fortune Man brings business. The two statues always go together and are always placed on the floor. It is also customary to offer the statues refreshments. "When you request something, you have to show appreciation to them, so fruit, cookies, muffins and coffee are good," Ha said. "When you feel he has accepted, you can eat the offering and feel the luck flow through your body."
About This Project


Ethan Hyman
"Acts of Faith" explores the different belief systems that co-exist in the Triangle area. Ten years of heavy migration has brought many new faiths to the region, turning the Bible Belt home of Billy Graham into a spiritual coat of many colors. Mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, Sikh Gurudwaras, synagogues and scores of Christian churches have become spiritual and social centers for a radically changing population. The demographic shift has pushed congregations to find innovative ways to keep their members while attracting new arrivals. "Acts of Faith" was born as a way to show this new religious diversity and analyze the role spirituality plays in people's daily lives.


Pailin Wedel
When covering an event for Acts of Faith, we look for situations that evoke strong emotion and try to bring readers into the moment. Though holidays and major celebrations are important, we also look for unexpected expressions of faith and quieter moments of solitary exploration. We hope to give readers insight into the breadth and depth of faith by showing how people incorporate it into their everyday lives.


Ted Richardson
For two years, Sher Stoneman and Susana Vera produced this column. In 2004, they handed it over to Ethan Hyman, Scott Lewis and Lisa Lauck. In 2005, Ted Richardson replaced Scott Lewis on this project. In 2006, Pailin Wedel replaced Lisa Lauck.

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