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My Faith: Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), from Catholic to Muslim
CNN ^ | 9/1/11 | Chris Welch

Posted on 09/02/2011 9:07:47 AM PDT by marshmallow

Minneapolis, Minnesota (CNN) –Prior to 2006, few people even knew that then-Minnesota state legislator Keith Ellison was a Muslim. Because of his English name, he said, no one thought to ask.

But five years ago, when he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives - a race he would go on to win - word of his religious affiliation began to spread.

“When I started running for Congress it actually took me by surprise that so many people were fascinated with me being the first Muslim in Congress,” said Ellison, a Democrat now serving his third term in the House.

“But someone said to me, ‘Look Keith, think of a person of Japanese origin running for Congress six years after Pearl Harbor–this might be a news story.’”

Though Ellison's status as the first Muslim elected to Congress is widely known, fewer are aware that he was born into a Catholic family in Detroit and was brought up attending Catholic schools.

But he said he was never comfortable with that faith.

“I just felt it was ritual and dogma,” Ellison said. “Of course, that’s not the reality of Catholicism, but it’s the reality I lived. So I just kind of lost interest and stopped going to Mass unless I was required to.”

It wasn’t until he was a student at Wayne State University in Detroit when Ellison began, “looking for other things.”

(Excerpt) Read more at religion.blogs.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Islam; Theology
KEYWORDS: blackmuslims; islam; keithellison; muslim
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To: Invincibly Ignorant

Do you know of any information to the contrary, namely any proof whatsoever that the UU does NOT support homosexuality?


2,241 posted on 09/09/2011 5:00:32 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: CynicalBear
You’re a Bible scholar should be able to pull the answer to both my questions off the top of your head.

Unlike others who require a doctor with a flashlight.

How many generations between Adam and Jesus?

I'm sure that they are counted father to son to son to son, not entire lifetimes.

2,242 posted on 09/09/2011 5:02:47 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr
Enlighten me. If you can.

No one can receive enlightenment who doesn't want to receive it...I've watched you refuse scriptural enlightenment for years...

If you are interested, do a Google search on it...

2,243 posted on 09/09/2011 5:03:16 AM PDT by Iscool (You mess with me, you mess with the WHOLE trailerpark...)
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To: count-your-change
We can also discuss the following verses:

John 8:58 “Said to them Jesus Amen amen I am saying to you Before Abraham to become I Am.”

then John 17:3 “This but is the everlasting life in order that they may be knowing you the only true God and whom you sent forth Jesus Christ.”

Hebrew 12:22-23 “But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and to spirits of righteous (ones) having been perfected."

2,244 posted on 09/09/2011 5:04:12 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: smvoice
Which ever one you choose. Hell has neither. ;)

Hell has a lack of God.

2,245 posted on 09/09/2011 5:04:47 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: count-your-change
The New World Translation Bible is filled with errors in translation of the above verses, plus

The Greek word “Kurios” meaning “Lord” is mistranslated as “Jehovah” or “Jehovah’s.” in 1 Corinthians 1:31; 3:20; 4:4; 4:19; 7:17; 14:21; 16:7 etc. in the NWT.

There are numerous errors in the NWT.

2,246 posted on 09/09/2011 5:05:30 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: Iscool
Show it to me from the scriptures...I've got the weekend off...Is that enough time for you to find it???

Sure. Matthew 1.

2,247 posted on 09/09/2011 5:08:48 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: Iscool
No one can receive enlightenment who doesn't want to receive it...I've watched you refuse scriptural enlightenment for years...

You need a new pair of glasses.

If you are interested, do a Google search on it...

In short, you can't.

2,248 posted on 09/09/2011 5:10:37 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: marshmallow; All; Religion Moderator

Have you all heard Richard Strauss’s opera “Salome”? It’s a tour de force. But one vicious anti-Semitic aspect is that whenever “the Jews” appear, they do little but bicker and argue angrily.

Strauss would have LOVED the Religion Forum!

Excuse, please, my wussy sanctimoniousness, but if we who share the claim of being slaves of the Lord of Love cannot forbear, to whom will God turn when he seeks someone to send, someone to go for Him?

Don’t we need to, shouldn’t we pray for the grace to love the brother we have seen? Instead we lash out at him in the name of the Lord we have not seen.

God forgive me and give me a better, a living heart of love!


2,249 posted on 09/09/2011 5:11:58 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (In my Father's trailer park are many double-wides. (apologies to Iscool))
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To: MarkBsnr; smvoice
Go back to Christ and only view Paul through the Gospels. That is Christianity. The opposite is Paulianity or even worse, Paulicianism. That way lies madness.

Paul is not in the Gospels...You can not see Paul in the Gospels...

Wow, just wow. No Jesus, just Paul. It is what we keep saying you guys do, and you guys keep denying it.

Did you skip over the verse???

And the all important "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to MY GOSPEL". (Paul's gospel) Rom. 2:16.

Where do you think Paul got this information from??? He made it up???

Do you have any idea why Paul calls it his Gospel??? It's because Jesus revealed that Gospel to Paul (and not the others, not even Peter) to give to us...

2,250 posted on 09/09/2011 5:13:04 AM PDT by Iscool (You mess with me, you mess with the WHOLE trailerpark...)
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To: Cronos
Do you know of any information to the contrary, namely any proof whatsoever that the UU does NOT support homosexuality?

No I don't. Sorry. But I bet you do. lol.

2,251 posted on 09/09/2011 5:16:06 AM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: Invincibly Ignorant

Actually, none whatsoever, the UU is a gay-rights organization now. have you been to any?


2,252 posted on 09/09/2011 5:18:24 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: Jvette
And I question how literal protestants take Scripture when there is a glaring example of how that is just not so. I didn't say all Protestants take the scriptures literally...I said those that do share in a pretty common unity...

The only unity of doctrine protestants share is that which came to them from the Catholic Church.

Uh, I and those non Catholics that I know share in nothing that came from the Catholic religion...You're just repeating their talking points...

Not a single protestant came to that knowledge free of any other human influence. Not one can claim with honesty to have searched Scriptures and found those particular doctrines believable and have done so without any human tutelage. One can only claim to have accepted what they have learned from others after studying Scripture.

On paper it may look good...But in reality, it's absolutely not true...In my earlier years, I can remember pouring over the scriptures and numerous times having hit upon scriptures that completed the puzzle that confronted me...Just me, God's word and the Holy Spirit...

You nor anyone you have come in contact with obviously have never encountered such a thing...That certainly does not make it not so...

I never wonder at the unity of protestants regarding faith and doctrine. Instead, I am saddened by the disunity I see.

You don't see as much disunity as you think...I can (and have) gone into many churches of varied denominations and knew I was sitting there with my brethren...I wouldn't feel too sorry for us if I was you...

There is no bondage in belonging to the Church. We are not told what to think, believe or read. The Church proclaims the truth which we may accept or not accept. Unfortunately, many Catholics fall prey to the siren call of protestantism and other non Christian religions.

You just keep on believing that, Christian...While you are sitting amongst the flames that they told you was purgatory, we'll be in heaven worshiping Jesus...

2,253 posted on 09/09/2011 5:34:54 AM PDT by Iscool (You mess with me, you mess with the WHOLE trailerpark...)
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To: Iscool; Jvette
Iscool: You just keep on believing that, Christian.

nice attack against all us Christians whether Catholic or Lutheran or Orthodox or Baptist or Presbyterian or Pentecostal etc.

and nice sarcasm at the end -- your group's taqqiyah tactics against Christians is getting really old -- folks already know that your non-Christian group only seeks to foment discord.

In my earlier years, I can remember pouring over the scriptures and numerous times having hit upon scriptures that completed the puzzle that confronted me --> On a different note the Saudis are funding more madrassahs in the US.

2,254 posted on 09/09/2011 5:39:50 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: CynicalBear; MarkBsnr
So to you it’s either Billy Bob Rolex or Mother Teresa? Is your only defense of your religion being snide? From what I have seen you aren’t very well versed in what you believe and why you believe it. You can’t seem to back up your beliefs with scripture. Are you sure you should be posting in a religion forum?

Not only are these people not qualified to discuss scripture, like you say, they can't even discuss their own religion...

Apparently, because it's the most religious looking outfit, it must be the right one...

2,255 posted on 09/09/2011 5:40:46 AM PDT by Iscool (You mess with me, you mess with the WHOLE trailerpark...)
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To: Iscool; Jvette
Iscool: .I can (and have) gone into many churches of varied denominations

Oh, was that the reason that you once posted that you were Catholic? And then that post went on to insult Baptists?

And didn't you say that your group believed in a Modalist God at one time? And then that Jesus was just a man?

Contradictory statements all the time...

2,256 posted on 09/09/2011 5:41:20 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: Iscool; CynicalBear; MarkBsnr
Not only are these people not qualified to discuss scripture, like you say, they can't even discuss their own religion...

"Their own religion"? Didn't you once post saying you were Catholic? So how are you saying "their own religion"?

2,257 posted on 09/09/2011 5:44:01 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: Iscool; Jvette; MarkBsnr
I and those non Catholics that I know share in nothing that came from the Catholic religion

Yeah -- in the meanwhile, the Christians here on FR, whether Catholic or Lutheran or Orthodox or Baptist or Presbyterian or Pentecostal etc. believe that Jesus is God, the Father is God and the Holy Spirit is God, not just separate modes and none agree with your cult's beliefs that Jesus is just a man.

2,258 posted on 09/09/2011 5:45:16 AM PDT by Cronos (www.forfiter.com)
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To: Quix; 1000 silverlings; Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; caww; count-your-change; ...
Actually God DID so love the world He sent a book.

It astounds me that the very Bible and Scripture which Catholics claim the Catholic church is responsible for, is the very Scripture so many (too many) Catholics sneer over, and scoff at, and disparage.

Catholicism and Catholics like to take credit for Scripture to the point of telling everyone else how to read it and how to interpret it and then proceed to tell us that it's not an example of God's love for us to give us a written record of His dealings with mankind so that we may be sure of our salvation.

2 Peter 1:19-21 19And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:12-17 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

`1 John 5:13 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Luke 1:1-4 1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israelafter those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws into their minds,and write them on their hearts,and I will be their God,and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 10:15-17 15And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," 17then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

1 John 2:12-14 12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Also, a keyword search of the phrase *It is written*, which Jesus HIMSELF so often appealed to when engaging with the Pharisees and the apostles so often said when providing evidence of fulfilled prophecy.

It is written

God obviously is a big fan of writing things down.

Now, about that sneering about how God loved the world so much that He didn't send a book?

Can you say, *Spitting in God's face?*

2,259 posted on 09/09/2011 5:46:52 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: Quix

“is comparing the authentic Mary to anything else.

We do talk about the caricature’d personage the

Vatican headquartered Ishtar-Mary-Goddess cult has concocted out of Mary’s name and personage . . . reportedly greatly to the authentic Mary’s anguished dismay.”

What is being posted is deliberately offensive and inflammatory.

It is so offensive that it can be viewed as nothing more than the deliberate method of not only side-stepping the use of banned materials which use this term in comics and anti-Catholic trash, but also slandering and distorting Catholic theology.

It is the childishness of distortion and willfull disregard and distortion of our beliefs that is so blatantly done without censure.

The PRESUMPTION of stating you know what Our Lady would think is BEYOND PRIDE.


2,260 posted on 09/09/2011 5:50:13 AM PDT by OpusatFR
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