A Clash of Culture, Faith [Catholics Becoming Mohammadans]

The Washington Post ^ | June 5, 2006 | Sudarsan Raghavan

[Gamecock]

Every morning, Jackie Avelar wakes up to a predicament. On one side of her bed is a clock that sounds the Islamic call to prayer five times a day. On the other side is a statue of Mary. As a Muslim, she wants to remove it. As a Latina, she can't.

Her father, who is a Catholic from El Salvador, wants the statue to stay.

"I have to respect him," Avelar said.

< break>

So she has found a comfortable balance: She covers the statue with a photo of her family.

Across the nation, thousands of Latino immigrants are redefining themselves through Islam, including a few hundred in the Washington region, according to national Islamic groups and community leaders. Precise numbers are not available, but estimates range from 40,000 to 70,000.

[Gamecock]

So, why are these 40,000-70,000 RCs crossing the Red Sea?

[Gamecock]

GRPL Ping

Neener Ping

{!}

(If they had one that is....)

[redgolum]

WTH?

[AlbionGirl]

Thanks for posting this, GC. I'm not attracted to Islam at all, but the parallels between me and this Latina are not at all insignificant. As she said, "I wanted a deeper relationship with God."

[Gamecock]

An interesting comment AB. All of a sudden what they said makes more sense.

[Alex Murphy]

Growing up in Texas, Martinez asked her priest why Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity -- the Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- but said she never got a satisfactory explanation. Then more questions, until: "I felt I didn't have a relationship with God"

Well, there's a big part of your explanation right there. Her Catholic Priest didn't know scripture.

[Gamecock]

I mean AG. < /blush>

[blue-duncan]

I think I have the reason.

Thanks for the ping. Coming from the Royal Order of GRPLs, I will cherish it.

[Gamecock]

Well, the ping was pure speculation on my part, after all you don't have a ping list.

[FJ290]

So, why are these 40,000-70,000 RCs crossing the Red Sea?

I don't know. Why are Protestants doing the same?

"Young American, Protestant Sunday School teacher and youth ministries activist who had great difficulty with the Christian doctrine of "justification through faith " [good or bad deeds are irrelevant to one's salvation]. She also found that her concept of Godly living regarding dating, alcohol, clubbing, etc. was shared by her Muslim acquaintances, not her Christian friends.

Protestant Convert to Islam

Why are Protestant Mexicans converting to Islam?

Islam Gain Mexican Protestants

Why are African American Protestants converting at such a high rate?

"The nation's historically black churches have been particularly slow in reacting to the growth of Islam, despite the faith's fastest growth in the United States coming among African-Americans. According to estimates, a third or more of all American Muslims are African-American converts to the faith -- many coming from the historically black churches.

Christian Muslim Relations

[Alex Murphy]

Ah, Despair.com - one of my most favorite websites. I've long considered using the Pretension image on my FReeper profile page, but I've yet to find someone who sees the humor in it :D

[Gamecock]

Probably because they were among us, but not of us.

[FJ290]

Probably because they were among us, but not of us.

I feel the same about Catholics who convert to Islam, but I think we should always pray for those who desert Christianity for Islam to return to the Lord Jesus Christ.

[blue-duncan]

What ping list? I thought you were alerting me so I could get another warning and maybe be zapped.

[Gamecock]

Doesn't that violate their free will?

[Gamecock]

You had a warning? I wasn't aware. (Or I forgot)

Don't worry, with one notable exception neeners seem to have 9 lives

[FJ290]

Doesn't that violate their free will?

Exactly how does that violate their free will to pray that the Lord will enlighten them to their wrongdoing and that the Holy Spirit guide them back to Him?

[blue-duncan]

"Ah, Despair.com"

Some of the posters are priceless. It takes a while for some of the truths of the statements to come through. Have you seen some of the demotivational videoes they have?

[Gamecock]

Just seems like a contradiction, that's all.

Besides, according to the RC catechism, Muslims are in, so why worry?

[Diamond]

As she said, "I wanted a deeper relationship with God."

Then why did she apostatize to Islam? Allah is considered unknowable, transcendent, so exalted that he would never lower himself to treat with man on a personal level of friendship and fellowship.

Cordially,