Praying in Texas
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 Qur’an 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 son’s conversion and believes he will return to the Christian faith: ‘Then he will be a dynamic preacher.’ Eric says: ‘Maybe some day she’ll 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.”’
Christians should read the and study the Quran. I state this often in my lectures in churches. I also challenge the so-called moderate Muslims in America to instruct Muslims to read the Bible for themselves. So far no Muslim leaders in America have risen to the challenge.
Thanks...and I didn't mean any hidden message behind it particularly. I just found it very odd that a group would identify themselves as Paulicans given what Paul had written about it. I'm sure Paul would have been disapproving.
should read
"...the one with the more converts or the one with the highest percentage of increase..."
obviously.
Well enough stated. I can accept your response. I've seen plenty of bad examples myself. And you're also correct, the converts in the US have not seen the Middle Eastern version of Islam up close.
I have a number of friends who are ex-muslims, a number of them from the ME and fluent in Arabic. The English translation of the Quran is not a real effort to relate the exact meaning of the Quran one would find in Arabic according to these friends.
This fellow was a Baptist. As a Baptist, he was a Christian in the broad sense of the word. I am not saying he was saved, but for someone to say he was not a Christian does not make sense in public debate.
I think the point being made is that this fellow did not know Christ as his personal savior. He was not born again. He was not a genuine follower of Christ. But he was a Baptist, and as such he was a Christian.
It is my opinion that we need to use language in a way that most people understand it. As Christians we sometimes speak to the public as if we are speaking to one another and then we wonder why nobody seems to understand what we are saying.
Hopefully, the cousin is another addition to Texas's death row.
I'll never forget that Paul Begalla (spelling?) called those of us who were across from the Vice-President's house during the 2000 vote count "taliban". That certainly was baseless and I wrote to Mr. Begalla to confront him on his use of the term. At that time, most Americans had no idea what the Taliban were all about; having lived in Afghanistan myself during the rise of the Taliban, however, his words were nothing more than a foolish rant.
By the way, I opened the Center of Peace and Hope in Christ for Afghanistan in 1999 and have seen a number of Afghans become followers of Christ.
(bôrg), Bjorn. Born 1956.
Swedish tennis player who won five consecutive Wimbledon championships (1976-1980).
Don't worry about it, posts do not transmit tone and intent well, I could have been clearer if I'd written more.
That's almost worse! I would suggest that the meaning would remain as Paul also referred to Apollos. I suspect Paul would still disapprove, even if they didn't chose to name themselves after him specifically.
Let's let people read the Bible and the Quran for themselves. Let people study the life, character, and teachings of both Jesus and Mohammed for themselves. They will see the contrast for themselves and it will have more impact on their minds than what any teacher teaches them about either.
Uh, I think I made my point.
There are people who call themselves Christians who don't know the Bible and they don't know Christ. But they call themselves Christians. And they are not Muslims or Buddhist or Hindus. They are Christians in the broad sense of the word.
It makes no sense to me in a public debate about an issue like this to say that a Baptist is not a Christian. It would be more accurate to simply say he was not a genuine follower of Christ or he was not born again or he did not know Christ as his savior or he had no personal relationship to Christ. Christianity if filled with people who don't know Christ, but to say they are not Christians doesn't make sense to unbelievers or nominal Christians.
Do either of you have a source for this story? I've been speaking out about this issue for some time and am always collected data and stories about it.
You can read the challenge I have given to moderate Muslims in America on this. So far, I've had no moderate respond to the issue.
LOL. Yes, that is a good way of putting it.
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