My Faith: Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), from Catholic to Muslim

CNN ^ | 9/1/11 | Chris Welch

[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.”

[Natural Law]

"None. Scripture tells us all we need to know."

Answer all of the questions I posed. Are you saying that the Nicean Creed had no part in defining the criteria upon which the Canon was established to bring you the Scripture that you say is exclusively authoritative?

[Cronos]

re: your post against the Nicene Creed

It's interesting that you copy our Reformed friends who also see the Nicene Creed as holding the core of what Christians believe. That is why we share with them the belief in One God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

[WPaCon]

I also have pretty much given up on posting on these types of threads.

I’ve come to the conclusion that no one actually reads them or takes them seriously, so there’s no point.

Everyone knows that these people are liars and clowns to be ignored, and they don’t need me to prove it.

[Natural Law]

"Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal."

Can you direct me to a posting or link that would provide me with the rubric used by some of the more successful or protected Freepers to snipe endlessly at individual freepers with impunity? I have been unable to find the right combinations of innuendo and attack on core beliefs under the guise of attacking their core beliefs on my own.

[Lazamataz]

Betchya this is the sort of message that gets you trouble.

In this case, not so much the message, but the tone.

I think excessive mocking, especially the pics of people laughing at a religion (whatever religion except maybe Islam, which deserves laughter and much worse).

[Religion Moderator]

If you believe a particular post is making the thread “about” another Freeper, reading his mind or attributing motives to him then send me a Freepmail with the link to that post.

[Gamecock]

That is why we share with them the belief in One God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Wrong.

The Creeds reflect what is clearly taught in Scripture. That is why Reformed folk agree with the formulation found in the Creeds and held to by the Roman Catholics.

It's an important but subtle distinction.

[Cronos]

yes, I remember the time when they got a big slap as they were preaching the 9/11 conspiracy theory (hint: the Iranis had the same senseless, factless conspiracy)

[Alex Murphy]

I have read most of Markbsnr's posts and I think you are engaged in yet another case of character assassination by misquote, partial quotes and innuendo. It is part of a bigger pattern....In tens of thousands of posts I can't recall you ever posting any original thoughts, everything is a cut and paste that, collectively forms a mosaic of your anti-Catholicism.

What do you see now?

Court Psychiatrist: [Holding up inkblot card] Okay, now tell me what you see, Alan.
Alan Musgrave: Flowers. Hmmm...tulips, jonquils, and roses. They're long-stemmed American Beauty roses, actually.
Court Psychiatrist: [flipping to new inkblot card, irritated] Uh - concentrate. Try a little harder.
Alan Musgrave: [sharply inhaling]. Birds. Trees. [Sudden interest, taking card from psychiatrist] Oh, and there's a river! A river, winding lazily through green pastures....
Court Psychiatrist: [interrupting] You're fighting me.
Alan Musgrave: [continuing] ....oh, it's so peaceful. On the banks are happy children....
Court Psychiatrist: [ignoring him, filing her nails] Don't fight me, Alan.
Alan Musgrave: [continuing]....clouds, lots of clouds -- [gets out of chair and sits on desk, showing inkblot to psychiatrist] Look! One of them looks just like the Easter Bunny! Huh.
Court Psychiatrist: [takes inkblot from him, looks him in the eye, condescending] Alan, I want to help you. Now, don't you realize that these things are supposed to be dirty?
Alan Musgrave: [Surprised] Dirty? [Looks at new inkblot card, shakes head] No. That's a butterfly. A brightly colored butterfly....
Court Psychiatrist: [leaps up from desk, throws all inkblots at Alan in extreme anger] You are hostile! You are hostile, you little creep! You creep, you hostile creep!
Alan Musgrave: Shhhhh! Doctor, shhhhh! [motions with hand to sit down] Doctor, what are you hiding from? Your whole pattern suggests a rigidity syndrome of severe underlying anxiety, massive repressions and pathological prejudices. All of which makes it very difficult for me to relate to you! So if you really want me to talk, get me my tape recorder.
Court Psychiatrist: [steaming] Anything else?
Alan Musgrave: Now that you mention it, you might get me my transistor radio. And a corned beef sandwich. On rye. No mustard.
-- from the 1966 movie Lord Love A Duck

[Gamecock]

I once got a perfect score on the Rorschach test.

[Cronos]

Not necessarily. An abject failure would be one leaving the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord, God and Savior, ONE God with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Many who have left to denominations leave to incompleteness, but not to failure.

[Cronos]

why some of us have left the Catholic church and have no desire to return.

Yes, supposedly folks from your group, Keith Ellison, yadda-yadda.

To leave to join Islam, good riddance.

[Cronos]

you, Judy, received invective because you did not stoop down to their levels, but shared your deep belief openly and with joy. That hurts these folks.

What is incredible, and has been so apparent to me over the past year is that the same folks who do this will not share with you what they themselves believe in -- saying "it's personal" and refusing to talk about their faith on a religion forum, but happy to tear down our faith in Jesus the Christ.

[Cronos]

The Creeds reflect what is clearly taught in Scripture. That is why Reformed folk agree with the formulation found in the Creeds

And needless to say, Reformed folks would find anyone who does NOT hold to each point in the Nicene Creed as suspect, correct? As you correctly pointed out, the Creeds reflect what is clearly taught in scripture -- I point out to metmom that her post was wrong in attacking the Creed as non-scriptural

[WPaCon]

To expand on my point, these Catholic-Protestant slugfests are also uninteresting. It’s the same corrections of the same lies, and there is no serious discussion.

I prefer reading some of the older Catholic-Orthodox threads or Catholic-SSPX threads. While there are also obnoxious posters and posters that I disagree with in those threads, at least both sides display a great depth of knowledge, and the annoying posters do not dominate those debates. Also, while some of the posters display troll-like behavior, there are few people who are outright trolls like the ones who dominate these threads.

Look no further than post 172 if you want to see why these threads are so asinine and not worthy of our time.

[HarleyD]

“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.

Er...and saying prayers towards Mecca 7 times a day is not?

People will believe whatever they want. Only Christ can set them free to follow Him.

[Alex Murphy]

I once got a perfect score on the Rorschach test.

What You Get Is What You See

[metmom]

I point out to metmom that her post was wrong in attacking the Creed as non-scriptural

You did that? I did that? Where?

[daniel1212]

I have not been following this thread, but thanks for the ping.

Part of LUMEN GENTIUM is directed at evangelicals, these being “ecclesial communities” which “are not Churches in the proper sense,” (Domine Jesus) but,

“who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (Cf. Jn. 16:13) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical [Protestant] communities...

They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood...

- dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium; solemnly promulgated by Pope Paul VI, November 21, 1964 http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

[WPaCon]

And another thing (I swear I’ll quit ranting sometime): Why are there virtually no more Orthodox or Trad freepers here anymore? Seems like all the SSPXers have been banned when I click on their names.