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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: Religion Moderator

Hmmmm.

Certainly have no desire to tire you.

It IS awesomely dismaying to feel/think/see that you seem to no longer believe what I say about myself.


2,321 posted on 09/09/2011 9:38:00 AM PDT by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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To: marbren

I like that line as well.

I do not come here to tell anyone else how to believe or to worship God. I believe the Holy Spirit has let me to the Church and there I have peace and joy in loving God and loving my neighbor.


2,322 posted on 09/09/2011 9:39:31 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Quix; Not gonna take it anymore
I do not hate all things Roman Catholic.

That's a catholic default phrase - too clueless to 'get it'.

The Vatican/RCC man made teachings oppose God's Word. Catholics are so deeply deceived/brainwashed that they refuse to believe that because 'the church says...'

They aren't looking for truth - just someone to blame for bringing truth to them. Anyone not believing God's Word is the first, last and always Final Authority are His enemies, IMO. Dabs of Scriptural belief doesn't cut it. They will learn the hard way as we know from Scripture as 'many' will/have taken the wide road and not the OneWay, OneTruth, OneLife road - JESUS/The Word - ALONE!

When we expose that to them, with their victimhood status - they take it personal - as they are co-dependent on their church and feel the need to protect the one that is taking them down. Pathetic. When someone doesn't believe God's Word is the final authority - and they can be swayed to believe the church is instead - they are already off base and on a different road.

The 'I'm all yours, Mary' crowd are the anti-Word crowd - and the price they pay is at their own hands.

Quix, no one can say you didn't try, repeatedly, to show them how wrong Maryology is and to say you hate Catholics - is clear indication that are clueless between love and hate. It's like teenagers who think their parents hate them because they can't get their own way when given sound advice/wisdom. It's laughable. You NEVER have to defend your love of Catholics. However, Catholicism - man made teachings that oppose God's Word is evil and, yes, we hate those teachings!
2,323 posted on 09/09/2011 9:41:01 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: Jvette
No I do not really and truly believe that Catholics are just mindless zombie shills for the Catholic Church.

I believe that in this present evil age, Catholics have been blinded to the truth that is in the gospel of their salvation. I believe that they have been deceived by the prince of the power of the air, and their only hope is trusting in the finished work of Christ for their salvation. Satan seeks to destroy and there are none more vulnerable than those who are not firmly grounded in God's word. Not God's word plus man's explanation of what God really meant to say. Deceivers are everywhere and they, like Satan, can transform themselves into angels of light, whose end shall be according to their works. Knowing that a man is not justified by works, these people are lost. If you are in a church who tells you works are part of your salvation process, then you know you can never be saved by those works, only judged. My works, or Christ's finished work on my behalf. Those are the only two choices. God Bless.

2,324 posted on 09/09/2011 9:52:16 AM PDT by smvoice (The Cross was NOT God's Plan B.)
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To: Iscool

And yet the Eucharist is symbolic.

Your doctrines were defined as Truth against heresies by the Catholic Church in various councils as was your Scripture.

“To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant.” John Cardinal Newman

The Bible you poured over was translated by someone. It takes quite a bit of conceit to believe that one has come to faith in Jesus without the aid of any other human. Just the fact that you have Scripture to read, means that you have heard about Jesus because of other humans as in those who cooperated with God to write them. What I was speaking of is quite different that reading a verse and seeing in it something new or to have a question answered when reading Scripture.

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

That is a pretty broad and bold statement from someone who knows nothing more about me than what I write on these forums. It is also dead wrong, but since being wrong is a habit of protestants here, I am not surprised by it.

Feeling fellowship with other Christians is not the same as unity. I think the tares are pretty comfortable among the wheat as well.

I also did not say I feel sorry for you. I sad the disunity saddens me. That misunderstanding between what was written and how it was taken, explains a lot.

“While you are sitting amongst the flames that they told you was purgatory, we’ll be in heaven worshiping Jesus...”

I will leave that one untouched as the hubris speaks for itself.


2,325 posted on 09/09/2011 9:59:23 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Jvette; Iscool
"To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant." John Cardinal Newman.

"To be deep in God's word is to cease to be Catholic." me.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15.

2,326 posted on 09/09/2011 10:08:01 AM PDT by smvoice (The Cross was NOT God's Plan B.)
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To: CynicalBear

Again you act as if I had not answered you on this.

If you do not accept what I offered as proof, that is different that saying that I have not answered.

I am beginning to believe the misleading nature of these types of comments is deliberately meant to impugn me as a vehicle for scoring brownie points.


2,327 posted on 09/09/2011 10:13:12 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Jvette
I believe the Holy Spirit has let me to the Church and there I have peace and joy in loving God and loving my neighbor.

Here is a neat thing for all of us. It is one of those free indeed things. NONE of us needs anyone else's approval. The only approval that matters is from Our Lord Jesus Christ. Study his Words and you will do well! God Bless You Jvette.

2,328 posted on 09/09/2011 10:16:38 AM PDT by marbren (I do not know but, Thank God, God knows)
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To: marbren
AMEN!

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades,but the word of our God will stand forever.

2,329 posted on 09/09/2011 10:24:56 AM PDT by bkaycee
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To: CynicalBear
It was actually the Catholics who sentenced Michael Servetus to be burned at the stake in 1553. Servetus escaped only to be captured by Calvin who then had him burned at the stake using green wood to make it take longer.

OK, it was the Catholic Church's fault that Calvin burned Servetus at the stake.

2,330 posted on 09/09/2011 10:26:15 AM PDT by Hacksaw (I don't hate Mormons. Is that okay?)
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To: smvoice; CynicalBear

“If it is not written down in Scripture, how can it be followed? Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

But, these are written so that you might believe that Jesus, is the Christ and by believing have everlasting life.” Gospel of John

And I do believe that Jesus is the Christ. It does not say so that you will know everything. But, that you will believe and have everlasting life.

Interesting that those words of John are immediately preceded by this....

30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

and earlier John relates Jesus saying this:

25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Notice that Jesus makes a distinction between “all things” and what He has said to them while He was with them.

Does the Bible contain EVERYTHING or just everything we need to believe that Jesus is the Christ and in believing have eternal life?

“If you are not following the Bible, then you are following man-made doctrines and traditions”

It is merely the opinion of protestants that Catholics do not follow the Bible. It is wrong as a matter of fact, but since a protestant is free to believe anything, not surprising.


2,331 posted on 09/09/2011 10:29:12 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: bkaycee; Alamo-Girl
AMEN! Thank You bkaycee for the appropriate scripture. There is power in God's Word! Anything I say can be said to be something marbren said, That's all. The best approach on FR is to POST THE APPROPRIATE SCRIPTURE! Alamo-Girl is very skilled at this. Me, I like to hear myself talk. I know stuff LOL :)
2,332 posted on 09/09/2011 10:31:23 AM PDT by marbren (I do not know but, Thank God, God knows)
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To: Jvette
>>Here Paul is telling them that they should not go beyond what is written is trying to aggrandize themselves. To make as if they know something others don’t in an effort to bring themselves glory.<<

Sort of like the RCC and the bodily assumption of Mary and putting Mary in a position between us and Jesus rather then what Jesus clearly stated that “no one goes to the Father but by Him?

>>Do you believe that when one dies and they have believed in Jesus their soul is in heaven?<<

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” (Phil. 1:20-26)

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. >>Catholics believe that Jesus has taken His Mother to be with Him there.<<

So it’s deemed important to record in scripture the ascension of both Enoch and Elijah as well as Christ but didn’t see necessary to record the assumption of Mary who by Catholic doctrine is so important that she is claimed to be “the Queen of Heaven”? And that omission by the church that Catholics say is completely and totally responsible for scripture as we know it today. Hmmmmm!

>>Many have thought they knew it and been wrong. Jesus says no one knows but the Father.<<

Both Daniel and Revelation tell us of the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation. From the time the Anti Christ steps into the Temple and stops the sacrifice and declares himself to be god there will be 1290 days to the day that Jesus will step in to destroy the Anti Christ and his armies. That is when Christ will return to this earth.

Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

If the people on earth have been told and know from scripture exactly how many days it will be between the two events the statement “no one knows the hour or the day” must be referring to something other then the exact day Jesus will return to this earth.

2,333 posted on 09/09/2011 10:32:10 AM PDT by CynicalBear
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To: smvoice

If you are in a church who tells you works are part of your salvation process, then you know you can never be saved by those works, only judged. My works, or Christ’s finished work on my behalf.

Works are a part of our faith, they are evidence before the Lord and our brothers and sisters that our faith is true and not lip service. All works done in name of Jesus, glorify Him and adds to our treasure in heaven.

From the Gospel of John 8:

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Jesus says believe me for the works’ sake.

At the very least, your post shows a misunderstanding of the Catholic faith regarding faith and works. It is a common one, and sadly, one among many.


2,334 posted on 09/09/2011 10:41:44 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Jvette
>>John 14 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.<<

“and bring all things to your remembrance,” does not mean that He is telling anyone other then the Apostles they will “remember”. It is only the Apostles who were with Him who can possibly “remember”. Surely you don’t expect us to believe that anyone who wasn’t there with Him would “remember” what He said and did do you? If that’s what the RCC says is justification for extra Biblical teaching it doesn’t square with what Jesus said. It’s preposterous to believe that anyone other then the Apostles would “remember”.

>>We do not blindly follow, we accept in faith, trusting Jesus.<<

You can’t possibly be “trusting Jesus” in that instance because those that were not with Him could not possibly “remember”. In that instance you are trusting in the RCC, not Jesus.

2,335 posted on 09/09/2011 10:47:18 AM PDT by CynicalBear
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To: smvoice

God’s Word is Jesus.

Your quote does not say rightly dividing Scripture rather it says the word of truth.

Jesus is the Word of Truth,

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

I have rightly divided that Jesus is Lord.


2,336 posted on 09/09/2011 10:48:32 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: marbren

Thank you for those kind words, may you also be blessed.


2,337 posted on 09/09/2011 10:50:47 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Jvette

Mindless shills? Absolutely not. Led astray? Absolutely.


2,338 posted on 09/09/2011 10:52:12 AM PDT by CynicalBear
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To: Jvette
>> Again you act as if I had not answered you on this.<<

If you have I sincerely apologize for missing it. Give me the book, chapter and verse again and I will look it up “to see if it is true”.

2,339 posted on 09/09/2011 10:54:54 AM PDT by CynicalBear
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To: Jvette
This is getting ridiculous. The Bible is God's word, it contains God's truth. ERGO, "STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

What do you think He meant? rightly dividing Jesus? Studying what? God's word, of course. Please let common sense reign here. Or people will begin to quarter Jesus like a cow.

Jesus is the Word. Made flesh. God's word make flesh is the WORD.{{{sigh}}}}

2,340 posted on 09/09/2011 10:56:47 AM PDT by smvoice (The Cross was NOT God's Plan B.)
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