Posted on 08/13/2007 4:37:16 PM PDT by NYer
WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (CNS) -- In late July, carloads of curious Catholics caravanned north from their church to a mosque in the next county.
Three dozen Catholics who regularly attend Mass at the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement's Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison accepted a Muslim visitor's invitation to attend services at Masjid Al-Noor, his mosque in Wappingers Falls.
Entering the two-story white frame building, the visitors placed their shoes alongside their host's on wire racks lining one wall of the foyer.
The women, already modestly covered from chin to ankle, pulled on scarves to cover their hair. The men were directed through double doors to a large simple, rug-covered room on the first floor and the women were invited upstairs to a balcony overlooking the same prayer room.
The walls of the prayer room were sparsely decorated with metal plaques proclaiming God's greatness in Arabic, a large clock and several bookshelves with various editions of the Quran and devotional books. The front of the room had a small, raised carpeted platform for the imam, the religious scholar who led the service.
People greeted one another quietly and lined up, shoulder to shoulder, in rows that stretched across the room. Everyone faced east, the direction of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Islam's holy city. Folding chairs in the back of the two prayer areas were used by people who had difficulty sitting and kneeling on the floor, or accomplishing the deep bows that punctuated the prayers.
Muslims are required to pray five times a day and men are obliged to attend a communal service on Fridays. Women are not required to interrupt their routines to go to the mosque for Friday prayer. Three-quarters of the more than 200 people who attended one recent Friday service at Masjid Al-Noor were men.
The 45-minute service was conducted in spoken and intoned Arabic, with three portions in English: a short reflection on the reading from the Quran, intercessory prayers and communal announcements.
At one Friday service, Imam Mohammed Asil Khan chose to speak on a Scripture passage, or "sura," that described the "Miracles of Jesus and the Miracles of Mohammed." He later explained that Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet, but not divine.
The Catholic visitors told Catholic News Service they were grateful for the opportunity to attend the services and speak with members of the congregation.
"Our hosts were very welcoming and it was insightful to have casual conversation about being Muslim and learning about the diversity within their own community," said Ruth Ann McAndrews.
She was particularly interested in the discussion of the "challenge of instilling each religion's traditions and faith in the youth through Sunday school and after-school programs."
"The thing that struck me," said Dan Donnelly, "was the commonality that pervades. We have significant doctrinal differences. They don't believe in the Trinity or in the divinity of Jesus, but we have a common father who created us and we should all love one another."
He was also intrigued by the lack of a hierarchy and came to a better understanding of the role of the imam.
"I thought of the imams as the priesthood," he said, "but I learned that they are religious scholars who are chosen by the community to be teachers. If an imam is not available, the people can choose another person to lead the service."
Joyce Evans said, "I left there knowing for certain that our faiths could make us closer to each other. Praying with the Muslims can't take anything away from Catholicism. In fact, it enhances my Catholicism to honor them and work with them."
She continued, "You can read about Islam in a book, but to see the fervor of their devotion really touched me and I came away being a better Catholic."
Most of the worshippers at Masjid Al-Noor are Sunni Muslims, although Shiites are welcome and constitute a small percentage of the congregation, according to Imam Khan. There is no official membership roll, he said, so it is hard to estimate the size of the congregation.
The worship community represents 26 different countries and includes a small number of converts. Imam Khan is a Pakistani who holds master's degrees in Arabic and Islamic studies. He has a full-time association with the mosque.
Atonement Father James J. Gardiner, director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, organized the visits, which came out of a December 2006 event at the center.
"At our Advent vespers, we invited people from different traditions to speak. We had Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Christian Missionary Alliance and Muslim speakers," he said. "At the time, Umar H. Ahmad was the president of the Mid-Hudson Islamic Association, which worships at Masjid Al-Noor.
"Dr. Ahmad spoke 'In Praise of Mary' and at the end of his talk he invited the participants to visit his mosque, attend services and enjoy fellowship with the imam and other members of the congregation," the priest said. So two visits were scheduled in July.
Imam Khan expressed interest in making a reciprocal visit to Graymoor. "Quran tells us that how you deal with your neighbors is very important," he said.
Why have we (in general, not FreeRepublic) become such morons?
“Quran tells us that how you deal with your neighbors is very important,”
Yep, it’s the “kill the unbeliever” passage that should be especially important to us all.
John 5:22-23 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
***
There is also no salvation outside of Jesus Christ and His name must be called on only by each individual for there is no other name that may be called upon to be saved - there is only one mediator between man and God, that being Jesus Christ - and the name of Jesus Christ must be confessed as Lord, God, Savior for salvation.
No man comes to the Father but through JESUS CHRIST.
They don’t get there any other way, certainly not by calling on allah do they come before the Father.
There is only one way to the Father, One Way to be saved, One Way to escape eternal separation for God, One Way to avoid eternal damnation and hell and that is only through Jesus Christ and His Name Only.
Dear Fellow Catholics,
Here’s what you need to know about Muslims;
For 400 years BEFORE the Crusades, Muslims killed Catholics!
2Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
==> for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
==> and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Cr 6:15
And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Cr 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Cr 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
2John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jo 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jo 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jo 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jo 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Wow! I am impressed with your Pastor! Many Blessings on him and a long life.
And what about the verses in post #89 from 2John - what do you think?
And what is the common denominator??? It’s not God in the flesh...It’s not salvation...It’s not the Holy Scripture...
It’s Mary, the Queen of Heaven...That’s your common denominator...You have a common bond and it’s not God...”
Catholics also embrace Mohammad's spiritual wayward daughter, Fatima.
So Catholics and Muslims embrace Fatima ... another distraction AWAY from Christ.
Would you care to elaborate on that? Be specific. Very specific. Stick to facts, please, and cite your sources.
Thank you.
What’s there to say about her crazy antics? They speak for themselves. The daughter of Mohammad is not someone I’d pray too - so go ahead pray to her - see her in visions and listen to her garbled prophecies ... it’s no different than believing in the Muslim allah and that allah is NOT Christ.
It's not up to me to educate you about Fatima - just another fraud and DETRACTS AWAY FROM CHRIST. You know ... your self appointed moniker ArrogantBustard" fits you well. Good choice!
Your words: "Catholics also embrace Mohammad's spiritual wayward daughter, Fatima."
That is an accusation against Catholics, which I demand in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ that you either substantiate or retract.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
Nice dodge, nmh, but it didn’t work.
Your words: “Catholics also embrace Mohammad’s spiritual wayward daughter, Fatima.”
That is an accusation against Catholics, which I demand in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ that you either substantiate or retract.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
What ever you do ... don’t involve Christ’s name.
Not a “dodge” Fatima, the daughter of Mohammand is a false “prohetess”. What more is there to say?
BTW, I find your pious idignation to be hilarious.
Believe pigs fly! It is a choice. Believe in what ever you wish but don’t connect Christ with this nonsense.
Iscool: Whats interesting is that to most Catholics, we Protestants are an anathema...Even tho we confess Jesus as our Savior...But yet your religion is beginning to cuddle up with muzlims...
And what is the common denominator??? Its not God in the flesh...Its not salvation...Its not the Holy Scripture...
Its Mary, the Queen of Heaven...Thats your common denominator...You have a common bond and its not God...
Yes, Iscool and then to make matter more hilarious they get all uptight when simple truth is spoken about one of many they pray to - Fatima, Mary, Queen of Heaven and many other dead people. So sad ... .
Catholics also embrace Mohammad’s spiritual wayward daughter, Fatima.
So Catholics and Muslims embrace Fatima ... another distraction AWAY from Christ.
Again “ArrogantBustard” I find your moniker to fit you well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.