Father Zakaria Boutros
Posted on 10/07/2006 6:56:20 AM PDT by NYer
Father Zakaria Boutros
Father Zakaria Boutros looks like a mild-mannered, unassuming priest. But his message is rocking much of the Muslim world.
His television program called 'Truth Talk' is broadcast daily into the Middle East over the Al-Hiyat satellite channel. On it, he challenges Muslims to examine what he says are inconsistencies in Islamic doctrine – inconsistencies that he says Muslim leaders don't want exposed and ordinary Muslims are told never to question.
“Islam cannot stand in front of intellectual questions and no one can understand because of contradictions in Koran, contradictions in Hadith, contradictions and false doctrines. So they don't want anybody to ask and to learn. 'This is Islam, you have to accept it as it is' lest you should be killed,” Zakaria said.
Father Zakaria doesn't stop at challenging the teachings of Islam. He also questions the Prophet Mohammed himself, who Zakaria says had his mind set on wordly pursuits.
“He said that his concerns are three things: women, perfume, and food,” he said. “Where is the kingdom of God? Where is the glory of God? Where is the salvation? Where is love? Where is the mission of a true Prophet of God?”
Father Zakaria's broadcasts have generated intense anger in the Muslim world and there's a $60 million bounty on his head. But he makes no excuses for his confrontational style.
He says the provocative statements are designed to challenge Muslims to examine their faith.
“This is my way: short, sharp, shock for the unconscious,” Zakaria said
That was the case with James, an Egyptian who began watching Truth Talk late at night while the rest of his family slept.
"When I first saw the show, I was angry at him. I wanted revenge," he said.
He began studying the Koran and the Bible to refute father Zakaria's claims, and in the process learned more about Christianity and Islam.
"I started to think about things I had never thought of before. My understanding changed and things became clear," James said.
James came to faith in Jesus Christ watching Father Zakaria. His wife soon followed.
"I realized Islam was a fake religion, Mary said. “When I learned the truth, I removed my veil. I felt freedom. I had been released. "Life is not about religion it's about a relationship between us and Christ. Christ is life."
Father Zakaria says the Muslim world is full of people like James and Mary.
Thousands of people visit his Internet chat room on 'Pal Talk' every month.
They come to challenge Father Zakaria's teaching and end up learning more about Jesus Christ.
He knows he's going to die soon, but he rejoices in the fact, because he can meet his Savior Christ Who will say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
We need to have him broadcast here (especially prison TV) and hopefully some of our converts will see him.
His broadcasts need to be archived as a public service so that, and I'm saying if, not when, the muslim assassins murder him, his reruns can be endlessly broadcast.
I'm checking now to see if he has made it onto Youtube.com.
It would be interesting to know how large an actual audience the Al-Hayat (this is the correct spelling) satellite service can reach.
True, but Father Zacarias is a Copt, not a Catholic.
I think the priest would not be upset at achieving martyrdom for his faith. He is at an age when us old folks don't mind a suitably fitting end.
Anyone have a link or specific reference to where in the Koran Muhammed said he was only interested in women perfumes and food? It is the first time I have heard this.
Jeez, don't Muslims read the Koran? I thought they were taught it from a young age.
Christianity is winning the war of ideas. If it weren't for death threats (and followthrough) it would be a clean, quick victory.
Thank God that there are brave men like this who will spread His word in the face of all dangers. Hopefully, he will inspire others to spread the Word.
Please explain what this is for those who don't know.
Great post. Thanks.
I just had to look it up at www.m-w.com A very bookish answer as you might expect. Maybe someone can give an everyday explaination.
Main Entry: 2Coptic
Function: adjective
: of or relating to the Copts , their liturgical language, or their church
Main Entry: Copt
Pronunciation: 'käpt
Function: noun
Etymology: Arabic qubt Copts, from Coptic kyptios, gyptios Egyptian, from Greek Aigyptios
1 : a member of the traditional Monophysite Christian church originating and centering in Egypt
2 : a member of a people descended from the ancient Egyptians
Truer words have scarcely been spoken. I have long held deep suspicion of any who cannot permit their faith to suffer critique. The violent response exhibited over silly little cartoons is enough to show that Islam and its adherents are not fit to be called anything but a satanic death-worshipping cult.
Btw - NYer - I am coaching the wife UP on pic posting. Watch out!!
Muslims angry? Now that's something you don't hear about every day....
Once again, this priest points out that the real difficulty with Islam is not that terrorists have misinterpreted it, but that it incorporates elements of evil from the beginning, with Muhammed himself.
I think what this article also points out is that Muslims are ripe for conversion.
The difficulty is that they will kill any Muslim who converts, as well as anyone who tries to bring the Gospel message to Muslims.
But the opportunity is that this kind of violence is yet another proof of how evil Islam is, when it demands forced submission of its adherants and refuses them any exercise of reason or free will.
The path to conversion is a difficult one, but I see no other way, short of killing a billion people, which I don't think the West can afford to do, on its own conscience, unless it is completely backed into a corner by these fanatics and is given no other choice.
Until then--and may it never happen--conversion is the obvious route.
The Koran is written in 7th century Arabic and is also just the consonants without spacing between words.
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