Posted on 01/10/2004 1:30:11 PM PST by JeepInMazar
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Praying in Texas |
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George W Bush may be backed by Christian fundamentalists but in his home state of Texas, Islam is the latest big draw. The Bible belt is transferring its allegiance to the Quran because, for many erstwhile Christians, believe it or not, the church is too liberal.
Eric was a Baptist preacher before he became a Muslim 14 years ago. Now he prays five times a day even in the middle of watching a football game. His wife, Karen, also a convert, is covered from head to toe in the traditional Muslim burka. Islam, says Eric, is everything I wanted Christianity to be. His mother has found it hard to come to terms with her sons conversion and believes he will return to the Christian faith: Then he will be a dynamic preacher. Eric says: Maybe some day shell embrace Islam.
Women are also becoming followers of Muhamed. Yasmine (previously Mindy) arranged a marriage for herself and has three children. Islam, she says is the solution to a lot of the prevailing evils: drugs, adultery, fornication Converts often see the religious laws more clearly than those who have been brought up as Muslims and Yasmine can spot a mistake at 20 paces. She believes that she has a unique opportunity to help people who are born into the religion get back to the fundamentals.
Catherine has been a Muslim for two weeks. She came from a privileged background private school followed by a career in PR. Now the established Muslim women guide her through the purification rituals as she washes before prayer and removes her nail varnish.
David is the only white Muslim in his little town on Route 66. He believes his new religion makes him a better American and, far from undermining liberties, gives the individual more rights. He had an arranged marriage and his wife, who was born a Muslim, was shocked by the strictness with which he insists they live their lives. His family a white man with his wife and daughter dressed in their hijabs (headscarves) are stared in the streets and supermarkets of their one-horse town.
There are 400,000 Muslims in Texas alone and Islam is the fastest growing religion in the USA. Since 9/11 there have been more converts to Islam than ever. Eric believes that people are trying to understand Muslims and want to learn about their religion. Yasmine says: America should not be afraid. If it would be better Muslims were the majority. If a child asks me: Who made this leaf? I say, Allah. Allah made everything.
So have I. And Mormons won't try to kill you if you decide to be Catholic, Baptist or Lutheran again.
This is absolutely disgusting. White Southern converts to the cult of murder and evil. How repulsive.
Thanks for the offer to move to Saudi but I spent 7 months there a while back and have no desire to live with cave dwelling flat-earthers who don't bath or wipe their asses.
You talk about the first amendment as if we pay attention to our constitution anymore. If we're going to ignore it we might as well do so in a way which brings favor in God's eyes for a change.
We're probably not going to agree on much here, as I advocate restarting the LAST Crusade and finishing the job.
I am. Then again I'm not as easy going as you, and I never edit myself.
Christian heretical sect. The sect developed in Armenia from obscure origins and is first mentioned in the middle of the 6th cent., where it is associated with Nestorianism. The teachings of the Paulicians seem to show some gnostic influence, possibly that of Marcion or Paul of Samosata, and many of the adherents leaned toward adoptionism. The sect especially valued the Gospel of Luke and the Pauline Epistles. They rejected the sacraments but nevertheless considered baptism of the greatest importance. They were iconoclasts and rejected extreme asceticism. By the 7th cent. the sect spread to the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire, where it met with strong persecution. The Council of Dvin (719) brought on new persecutions of the Paulicians in Armenia, but the permissive Isaurian emperors allowed them to flourish and even settled them as allies in Thrace. Renewed persecution caused them to side with the Muslims against Byzantium. By 844, at the height of its power, the sect established a Paulician state at Tephrike (present-day Divrigu, Turkey) under the leadership of Karbeas, or Corbeas. In 871 the Byzantine emperor Basil I ended the power of this state and the survivors fled to Syria and Armenia. In 970 the Paulicians in Syria were deported to the Balkans, where they combined with the Bogomils. Those in Armenia became identified with a minor sect, the Tondrakeci. They ceased to be a threat after the 11th cent. and did not survive to modern times.
I wonder if remnants of the Islam accepting Paulicans -come - Bogomils - who passed through parts of Southern Germany - influenced Luther?
You will find lots of information on the Paulicans on the internet many of them by Protestant or Islamic sources who both praise the Paulicans.
Fortunately, it's not often carried out in the US, although I know several ex-muslims who have had death threats for their change of religion. I also know an agnostic who apparently receives regular death threats as well for her leaving Islam.
LOL...of course what we have now is the criticism without the teaching.
For the record, I'm a Christian, and I have no problem with what you suggest. I've read a significant portion of the Quran, and I think a better understanding of it as well as the Hadith and the Sunnah would be quite an eye opener. And of course I'm certain students would be well served by a better understanding of the Bible.
I know it is the Bible belt. By the way you are so quick to use derogatory language toward others, it is clear to me that you don't practice the teachings of Christ yourself.
One of the points of the article is to demonstrate that some Americans are converting to Islam. Just because it is the Bible belt has nothing to do with that point.
If you wish to continue the discussion, go ahead. But please do not lecture me about the Bible belt or trends about Islam in America. 20 years ago I saw white Americans turning to Islam. I spoke to Christian pastors about the issue. For the past 20 years Christians in America have been asleep on this issue. For the past two years, the church has merely turned in its bed in responding to the Muslim challenge in America.
12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.
1 Corinthians 1:12-15
Yes. The scholar I talked to about this issue is a Christian and has done some research and has told me about a secualar scholar who gained access to some of the manuscripts.
In addition, there were some ancient Qurans discovered several years ago in Yemen. I think Atlantic Monthly wrote an explosive piece about these texts.
You've personally interviewed these people, huh? I would submit that if they felt emasculated by Christianity they have a deficient idea of masculinity. But for some the warm and fuzzy feeling they get from killing people is just what they need to feel manly.
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