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.”

[Not gonna take it anymore]

I could be wrong. (that is a given) But isn’t there DNA evidence through mothers of the first woman?

[metmom]

Luke records this in Acts.....

Just FYI.

Acts 26

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12"In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles— to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

19"Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

[MarkBsnr]

Innocent III as an example.

Facts and dates, please. Hands waving about don't cut it when supporting a claim. Prove that Catholics killed more Jews than Hitler or retract the statement.

[metmom]

LOL!

And....

It says he was with her.

[metmom]

LOL!

And....

It says he was with her.

It’s less unreasonable to conclude that he heard the conversation than to conclude he didn’t.

[CynicalBear]

>>I THINK, I could be wrong, that you are assuming what you attempt to prove.<<

Here is a beginning to understanding the length of generations. Not all dates are exact and it is uncertain as to when the beginning and end of each generation is exactly but with additional study it becomes clear that a Biblical generation is considered to be 70 years.

Start with Matthew1:17.

Matthew 1:17 Therefore all the generations from Abraham down to David are 14 generations; and from David down to the Babylonian captivity are 14 generations; and from the Babylonian captivity down to the anointed, are 14 generations.

There are 14 generations from Abraham down to David.

From the source: http://media.aish.com/documents/Spiro_History_Timeline.PDF

Abraham was born in 1812 BC. Follow the Generations to David who’s reign began in 877 BC. That’s 941 years. Divide that by 14 and you get 67.21 years. Given some slight variables that still gives very close to the 70 year generation.

There are other sources and examples but I thought this one would allow for the seed for study.

[Jvette]

Generally in the front page of the missalette there is a request that nonCatholics refrain from receiving the Eucharist. For one to receive, one must be in full communion with the Church. St. Justin says this as early as 150AD(circa)in his apology. And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, "This do in remembrance of Me, Luke 22:19 this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.

[boatbums]

The answer is that the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline letters do not prove a Trinitarian view, and the Trinitarian formula cannot be composed until the writings of John are used.

Alex is right, Mark, you have been playing this worn-out tune for several years. I have personally responded to them at least four times if not more. You have been repeatedly proven wrong about this specific topic yet here you are, again, saying what you have always said. Do you not care what Scripture says about the nature of our Almighty God? Do you only worship the god in your mirror?

The council of Nicea did not fabricate the doctrine of the Trinity but they spelled out what was always believed by the church and compiled it into an easily recitable "creed". The doctrine is expressed in many, many places within the Bible, I as well as others have listed them for you numerous times. Is there an amnesia problem where this question is concerned? It isn't us who are trying to second-guess the church.

[metmom]

I mean, I know men tend to tune their wives out, but really......

[Iscool]

You may say this, but we have been thoroughly instructed by your lot that the words of Jesus are meaningless to Christians since they are for the Jews only.

Making up stuff as usual...

[Mad Dawg]

Well, as I said to a friend who received before he was baptized (it was an accident, but it was also one of the reasons I left the Episcopal Church — long story), I’m afraid we’re going to have to kill you. Nothing personal. :-)

Since communion is, inter alia, about unity, we normally hold it wrong for those not formally received into full communion to receive communion in our church or for us to receive in another. The sorrow can be turned into good prayers for unity.

Presumably you did it in good faith, with “invincible ignorance”(or very nearly), so it’s not like we think a huge sin happened.

[Jvette]

Your path surely does indeed include Mary as God has come to us in human form through her.

If Mary had said no, and God had chosen another, we would be discussing that other Mother and she would have the same attributes.

But, Mary said yes and it is through her that God became Man and it is her flesh that clothes Him in His Incarnate form.

Wow, think of that. I do and I honor her because of it.

[metmom]

I’ll throw in my lot with the Holy Spirit.

I know He can’t lie or deceive. I never have that assurance about men.

[Jvette]

I remember hearing once that all DNA could be traced back to two sources. Don’t remember when or the source however.

As I said, interesting questions.

[Iscool]

Is it me,or what? Why do i get the idea that pro Rome apologists think Muslims (who deny the Deity of Christ) have a shot at salvation, but us “protestants”, who believe what the 1st century church believed are, at best, “lacking the fullness of faith” and at worst,... well you know. Let’s just say, I am glad Rome lost her temporal power of persuasion.

No it's not just you...

The key is not God but Mary...It has to do with Fatima...Have to do a little study of muzlims and Fatima and muzlims and Mary...There's a connection that is common to both muzlims and Catholics...

[smvoice]

There is a WEALTH of Scriptural information in your post, Iscool. A complete Bible Study could be formed from that one post alone. Comparing Scripture with Scripture, people could walk away with an understanding of the Kingdom Church, the Church the Body of Christ, and the Christ-given differences in the commissions between Peter and the 11 and Paul.

So of course, it will be lambasted and once again, the Pauline snippet hunting club will commence. A shame. A real shame. But I for one thank you.

[MarkBsnr]

Words and terms have meaning. The Church is correct here yet again and you are wrong. I don't care how much hysteria is involved.

Exactly my point! Thanks. Your church is NOT correct about the Muslims' god. Allah is NOT our Creator God, Jehovah.

Observant Orthodox Jews do not consider that the Christian God bears any more resemblence to Jehovah than either Allah or the god of the LDS. And it is not my Church. God has me; I do not have him. Remember?

There are major differences in how the Quran describes Allah and how the Bible describes Jehovah. This is a good site to see what those specific differences are http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/god.htm.

Why not put that effort together and investigate the differences between Orthodox Judaism and Christianity? You might be surprised as to the gulf and just how much the Church has changed the meaning of the OT for Christians.

So, regardless of what Muslims may say about worshiping the same God as the Jews and Christians, it is unbelievable that the "theologians" of your church could be so wrong in praising Muslims for something even someone like me knows is not true.

The 'praise' consists of the acknowledgement that they have a distant and imperfect glimpse of the True God, but that they are totally wrong in how they worship Him.

So saying Islam is simply a "false worship" or incomplete worship of the true God shows incredible ignorance of their faith. There is just no excuse for your church leaders to state such falsehoods just so that they can appear "ecumenical".

Nope, they simply understand how things are. This is the wisdom of the Magisterium, not the god that so many Protestants see starting back at them when they look in the mirror.

[MarkBsnr]

I don't fear the snippets. I fear the snippet hunters. They are so busy trying to rid the world of the evil Paulinian snippet that they fail to see danger in the 10 foot abominable snow-job man walking right beside them.

I keep trying to make the point that Paul is not a Protestant heretic. It is those who misuse his texts that are. My elementary school and church that I grew up in are both called Sts. Peter and Paul. Still are.

We just hate what Paulicians have done with the holy writings of Paul.

[MarkBsnr]

Hey, you’re all over the scriptures...Just picking and choosing verses to create a story???

The verses I pick consist of the entire Bible. You may have heard of it.

[MarkBsnr]

Hey, you’re all over the scriptures...Just picking and choosing verses to create a story???

The verses I pick consist of the entire Bible. You may have heard of it.