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 ...
Where did I say it was? That wasn't in my post at all.
If I said anything nice to you, I take it back. And I don't think pnsn is a male. I am waiting for all y'all to be open to the HS enough to let Him convict you concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.
Corinthians does, however have a lovely little sermon on love. God, as you may recall from your reading and study, IS Love.
Uh, that's against the rules...You can't have it back...
Sarcasm is demeaning. This is an honest theological discussion.
Our Lord opened the gates of heaven on the cross. He did not guarantee anyone’s entrance. Entrance must be earned. God the Father is Just and this is justice.
Thanks for posting that Romans 4 passage. That is a powerful passage.
You need to address that comment to God. It’s not we who convert. God draws people to Him as He chooses. We can only point the way.
Why not take a look at the current data before making comments which question your knowledge and credibility?.Oh that's right you have never seen this documentation but still divine its content. That appears normal for your type since it appears you follow the same tactic when addressing religious topics
If you had comprehended what I wrote you would have understood it is the 990 which contains the data from which one can make cogent statements. Many statisticians do so and write internal reports for the Service which are used to make informed statements. One does not need to look at the documentation but can rely on the reports of the professionals to make credible comments.
It is important to understand the need to make educated statements as to secure credibility. Your self serving uncorroborated statements only serves to diminish your credibility.
Once you have read the Pub and the attendant 990 and the internal reports you will be able to talk in an informed manner about such areas in which you have no knowledge.
One operative phrase word for you is "Empirical evidence" and the measure of your position has been taken and found bankrupt in possessing this key ingredient both in the spiritual and secular areas.
Have a firm grasp of the subject matter and do research before making comments which are making your thoughts appear foolish
Another key ingredient is humility. Unlike this current matter it would bode well for you to read and act on Lk 14:11
God Bless
Our Lord opened the gates of heaven on the cross. He did not guarantee anyone’s entrance. Entrance must be earned. God the Father is Just and this is justice.So, then, would it be fair to say, that your salvation is based upon Baptism, the sacraments, and good works? You will be judged on the amount of good works you perform and how good you were at refraining from sin?
The NT includes many things that aren't in the OT, but are claimed. For instance:
Matthew 2: 23* g He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.”
There is in fact no OT quotation that says this.
As well, there are inconsistencies and numerous misquotes of OT verses. Matthew 27: 3-10 is quoted from Zechariah, but it actually comes from Jeremiah.
Even the four Gospels do not agree on some things such as what is written above the head of Jesus, or what the events were on Resurrection Sunday. Exactly none of our Bible literalists will even reply to me on such matters because there is no possible reply except to acknowledge that without the Magisterium to interpret the Bible, it cannot make sense.
As we have been instructed most thoroughly by many of our antagonists, Paul is the true source of the Gospels and Jesus and the Gospels (and the first portion of Acts) is to the Jews only. I found several websites that had that as their main theme; I found several others that had that as a basic assumption of what they considered doctrine.
Duelling verses are often on the menu du jour in talking with these folks. They consider that if Jesus says this and Paul says that which appears to be in conflict with what Jesus says, then Paul wins and we should ignore the Gospels.
After coming up with the immaculate conception of Mary, that Mary dispenses all graces and salvation comes thru Mary, and that your pope is infallible, or any of the outrageous ideas your religion makes up for itself, how could you criticize any religion on the face of the earth???
You are a poster boy for the Reformation, Iscool and we thank you daily for it.
There were not any secular authorities...They were all Catholic...
Prove it.
Yes of course - this makes sense- it is logical - Why not?? Although it wouldn’t be “amount” of good works as an accountant might add up - it would be the true intentions of the soul/heart/intellect as choices are made throughout life.
God will judge and it will be based upon the works done in this life.
Our Lord opened the gates of heaven on the cross. He did not guarantee anyone’s entrance. Entrance must be earned. God the Father is Just and this is justice.
Welcome to the forum. But, be warned. You now have the problem of 1 Peter 5:8, but you are not alone. All of we Christians share in this struggle.
It's rude to point. Christians follow Christ. They don't point imperiously to others. Next, please.
You caused me to weep uncontrollably in front of my keyboard. Thank you.
I DID address that comment to God. He drew me to the Catholic Church. Your argument is with Him, not me.
Do you mean 1 Peter 5:10 (Douay Reims) ... Jesus, after you have suffered a little will himself perfect you and confirm you and establish you ...?
Peter is saying that naturally we can’t do the works alone - He (the Lord) will help us because the devil is around to devour.
It does not mean that we are absolved of responsibilty for our own salvation.
Thanks- this is a great forum although this thread should be broken down because it has become unwieldy.
I had you and all other Protestants in mind when I made the comment. We hear daily criticism of the Magisterium and the Catholics who give credence to it from the anti-Catholics on this forum but know that they each have some homemade or dime store magisterium of their own.
It really comes down not to authority but obedience and the different interpretations of that term. Protestants maintain a self centered view of the world and see obedience as a degrading concept, like a dog responding to its masters commands and "protest" against Church authority. Catholics, on the other hand, are called to obey Church authority and happily do so because we know definition of obey is not blind subservience. Our Catechism defines it as (CCC-144) "To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to "hear or listen to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth.So every time any Protestant slams the Magisterium and insists that everything spiritual must be extracted explicitly from Scripture, while relying on cheap imitations of a magisterium in the form of sermons from the the Rev. Billy-Bob Rolex, Bible College courses, banned websites and comic books, Reformist catechisms and treatises, we see the lie.
Pointing the way to you means pointing at others? Seriously? Christians are only to point to Christ as the way to salvation. As in giving direction, pointing towards Him who has purchase our salvation for us.
So are you satisfied that your works have earned your entrance into heaven?
Mary is the only one who did any effective pointing. You can say you point the way to Christ, but you don't, you point AT Catholics. That is the behavior of a bully. I don't see you GIVING anything. I see you demanding that everyone be in lock step with your views alone. And you criticize the Catholic Church!
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