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 ...
I think the point is; we know you can't provide any proof...
Hey, you’re not kidding. It’s like someone sending off for a DIY Nuclear Power Plant Kit. Opening the boxes, and immediately throwing away the instructions. ‘Cause he KNOWS he and his buddies can put this baby together. “What’s this piece for?” “I don’t know, we’ll figure it out later..” hammerhammer.sawsaw..”Hey, we sure got a lot of ‘laters’ stacking up, maybe we should sit down and look at ‘em and try to gitter done right.” “If we don’t see a need, then it obviously has no purpose. Pitch it. We just tell people we read the instructions and they listed the “may not be needed” pieces they sent. Who are they gonna believe? Us or the now-missing instructions? We’ll put together a book of traditional ways of using spare parts. It’ll go over big. Those people ain’t lookin’ for perfection anyway, they just wanna see that somethin’ is being built. Okay boys it’s time to fire this thing up.”
Buddhism is far older and Hell obviously didn't want to defeat that either...So what's your point???
The dispensation of the grace of God is 2000 years old. Hell can’t defeat it, either. All Hell can do is try to deceive man that their works count for righteousness. It’s been doing a good job of deceiving for about 2000 years now. Hmmmmm....
His whole life revolved around the witness and validity of the scripture. He pointed to the Word as 'the final authority for man' saying..... “thy word is truth”... and quoted it through His teaching to give us understanding of Himself.... And in the New Testament. Jesus continued to quote Scripture stating ‘it is written” and “have you not read.” ...... ....again and again He said that it is 'the Scriptures' that bears witness of Him and are fulfilled in Him. ... Over and over again His statements show that He believed the Bible to be historically accurate and without error coming from God. He spoke those words and encouraged us to see Him and the scriptures as the authority we adhere to.
Jesus said.. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME.... (Matt 11:28-30) “If you abide in 'My word', you are My disciples indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).... It is the only place to find the 'absolute truth' about the creator who became man....and we surely can depend on Him and His word word...not a church or it's leadership. So because Christ quoted the Bible as 'his ultimate authority' and witness' and it is to be 'our ultimate authority' and guide...and we do so as He did to this day.
Also Jesus cautioned us not to go beyond what is written.....Nearly 500 years ago the church had become aware that it slid into an 'unholy mixture' because it was challenged by one of its priests, name Luther. He made his stand and though it was not obvious at the time, it was a victory. ...The church that sought truth separated from the established church of their day and began to move back toward biblical Christianity.
....Reformers tried to preserve 'the Bible' instead of the 'man made traditions '..that had taken over the church....Make no mistake... History repeats itself to those that ignore its lessons......Jesus said,... “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you". Another warning not to follow leaders...or set them up to do so.
I rest my case on the word of God Vladimir, and you are free to rest yours on your churchs leadership as you do.
(exerts taken from "Let us reason")
What is it???
Q. 651. What is Baptism of blood?
A. Baptism of blood is the shedding of one’s blood for the faith of Christ.
Q. 653. Is Baptism of desire or of blood sufficient to produce the effects of Baptism of water?
A. Baptism of desire or of blood is sufficient to produce the effects of the Baptism of water, if it is impossible to receive the Baptism of water. Baltimore Catechism
LOL...
Yet it is understood your Priests do just that. Forgetting that as Christians Jesus promised never to leave us, He is a constant "Presence" in our life. So attempting to claim a "real" or "physical" presence in the ritual performed actually declares He isn't there until the Priest announces He is.
Some of 'em say they can't find that in the bible...Most of 'em can't find a bible...
You wrote:
“If length of adherence to a belief is your criteria it seems to me that paganism is older then the Catholic Church.”
The Catholic Church was sent by Christ, paganism wasn’t.
You wrote:
“Mind reading much?”
Nope. It’s just how you act. I see how you have acted in the past so I already know how you will act.
I think God meant what he said..
Your own catechism says only Christ could keep the law perfectly..imperfect keeping of the law is sin..
Ergo Mary could not have kept the law perfectly and therefore she sinned like ALL men
You wrote:
“So it is the Catholic Church that you think saves. You think one has to belong to an earthly organization. Wow!”
You couldn’t be more wrong. The Church was sent by God. It isn’t an earthly institution, it is just staffed by people. Also, Christ saves, but He uses the Church to accomplish that task. John 20:19-23.
Ya can tell who was listening in their “religion” class
You wrote:
“It’s a pity you guys don’t read the scriptures...If you did, you wouldn’t have to make these false stories up...”
I can read the scriptures and I didn’t make any stories up. You just made something up, however.
The Bereans were Jews. They erecieved St. Paul and the gospel. They became Catholics. There were no Protestants for another 1500 years.
You wrote:
“I think the point is; we know you can’t provide any proof...”
Okay, let’s test your theory. Please post for me a verse - even just one - that shows Matthew wrote a gospel. Post for me a verse - even just one - form Matthew’s gospel that shows his gospel is inspired.
When you utterly fail to provide even a single verse that shows Matthew wrote a gospel, or that Matthew’s gospel is inspired, what will that tell us?
Yea metmom...and the chief prophet of the catholic church will decide what "tradition" to follow.. even if it predated the cross and the work of Christ
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