Calling all former Muslims!

[Psalter]

**Yes, sure it was pointing to the muslims here that if the reverts do not like to roll pearls before the swines then they can send a Pm and not post on the forum. I hope you understand the implication.

We understand the wise words of Jesus as it is mentioned in the bible. But the use of similie here was rude. That was good of you to take notice. What do you say now?**

It’s a verse from the Bible, Planten, where Jesus tells us not to cast our pearls before swine, in other words, don’t expose what is sacred to people who will twist your words and mock them to suit their own agendas…and that is exactly what some Muslims here would do. I don’t care if the words of Jesus offend you–that’s your problem.

Anyway, your Quran refers to Christians and Jews as “pigs”, “monkeys” and “apes”; I don’t see why you would be offended by my quoting Jesus when He wasn’t even referring to Mohammedans specifically.

 

[LDNCatholic]

**Yes, sure it was pointing to the muslims here that if the reverts do not like to roll pearls before the swines then they can send a Pm and not post on the forum. I hope you understand the implication.

We understand the wise words of Jesus as it is mentioned in the bible. But the use of similie here was rude. That was good of you to take notice. What do you say now?**

That again, I hope it was not meant that way. It was not my words so I cannot speak for the intent behind them.

 

[Dempsey1919]

Angelos, would you mind sharing your conversion story with us?

I would be very interested in hearing about it. Write a simplified, scaled-down version if you feel that it would take you too long. Could you tell us, in a nutshell, why you left Islam?

Thanks

 

[bpbasilphx]

you are just rude

**At a parish retreat this Saturday, I heard about how the uncle of two of the parishioners (who lived in Lebanon) was killed by two Mahometans when he did not reject Christ.

Who’s being “just rude” here?**

 

[Psalter]

you are just rude

**At a parish retreat this Saturday, I heard about how the uncle of two of the parishioners (who lived in Lebanon) was killed by two Mahometans when he did not reject Christ.

Who’s being “just rude” here?**

Tell me about it! It reminds me when Pope Benedict XVI quoted a medieval Byzantine emperor in his speech at Regensburg: “Show me what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman.” In response, Mahometans all over the world reacted by committing violence and killing innocent Christians, including priests and nuns…apparently it was their way of proving that Islamism is NOT “evil and inhuman”?

 

[Isa_Almisry]

I am of Bosnian origin, but not living in Bosnia now .

Few Muslims know that I am a convert to Christianity because on my id card is still written Islam. Although I want to get it removed, my parents (I still live with them!) object to my decision fearing that such an act might incur the blunt aggression of some fanatical Muslims.

If I may ask, since you are Bosniak, have you had any dealings with the Serbian Orthodox.

At my parish we have a number of missionaries in Albania (one who just passed away, and no doubt will be glorified.:getholy: :heaven::angel1: :harp: :angel1: :heaven:

they that being attached to the Albanian Orthodox Church allows them to be somewhat neutral when in Kosovo, where they runs some youth camps.

 

[Angelos]

Angelos, would you mind sharing your conversion story with us?

I would be very interested in hearing about it. Write a simplified, scaled-down version if you feel that it would take you too long. Could you tell us, in a nutshell, why you left Islam?

Thanks

Once I wrote a summary of my conversion story and posted it here on a thread. I wish I could find and paste it soon.

 

[Americanrevert]

At a parish retreat this Saturday, I heard about how the uncle of two of the parishioners (who lived in Lebanon) was killed by two Mahometans when he did not reject Christ.

Who’s being “just rude” here?

Again, what Muslims do (why do you not call them Muslims?) that go against their own Islamic teachings, you do not brand the religion! Common sense! It isn’t the Muslims fault if you cannot understand Islam. sheesh

americanrevert

 

[Angelos]

If I may ask, since you are Bosniak, have you had any dealings with the Serbian Orthodox.

At my parish we have a number of missionaries in Albania (one who just passed away, and no doubt will be glorified.:getholy: :heaven::angel1: :harp: :angel1: :heaven:

they that being attached to the Albanian Orthodox Church allows them to be somewhat neutral when in Kosovo, where they runs some youth camps.

Well, I would definitely go to a Serbian Church if I were in Bosnia now.

Unfortunately, many Muslim Bosniaks (like my parents and relatives) hate Serbs due to what took place in the Bosnian Civil War and they get angry with me because I relate myself to the Serbian Church through my Orthodox faith. LOL

There has been terrible things between Serbs and Albanians because of the status of Kosovo. I always pray for the Christians living and suffering in the Balkans (Albanian as well as Serbian). The Albanian Orthodox Church is invaluable because of the difference between her national and religious identity.

May God bless those Serbs serving Christ and His Gospel in a dangerous place. Amen.

 

[Angelos]

Angelos, would you mind sharing your conversion story with us?

I would be very interested in hearing about it. Write a simplified, scaled-down version if you feel that it would take you too long. Could you tell us, in a nutshell, why you left Islam?

Thanks

I found it
**

WHY I LEFT ISLAM?**

This question has so many answers the full meaning of which I have gradually comprehended. First, I started to have many doubts concerning some verses in the Quran and failed to get satisfactory answers from the experts of the Islamic scripture. The more I questioned basic tenets of Islam, the further I got away from Mohammed and his religion. What bothered me most was that Allah was believed to send His books to four major prophets, but two of these books were distorted (The Law & Gospel), and one got lost (the Book of Psalms)! Even though there was not a single verse in the Quran to support the distortion theory, all Muslim scholars and commentators made up stories that aimed to prevent Muslims even from touching the Bible. In my opinion, the same God of the Old & New Testament would never deprive His believers of Hİs eternal truth by letting some wicked scribes or clerics replace His holy word with human lies! When I read about the Christian view on the Judaic scripture, I was surprised to see that Christianity never resorted to the distortion theory. Besides, when I got my first Gospel to compare it with the Quran, I found a totally different form of Scripture. In contrast to Quran, which included the stories and testimonies of various prophets, the Gospels focused on Jesus! The evangelists did not need to repeat most of the stories in the Old Testament since Jesus endorsed the Old Testament as the authoritative and immutable word of God. Quran, on the other hand, retold many stories in the Old and New Testament in order to correct many so-called mistakes and point at the deviations from the truth! In short, Islam taught that revelations had been consigned to humanity only for a short time until the advent of Islam. Thus, God’s message was hidden or distorted and the process of establishing the only true faith (Islam) in the world was recurrently disrupted.

When I was a student at secondary schools, I mostly annoyed my professor of religion with my objections to his assertions about the Christian scripture. I remember very well once he said
“ on the first page of the Gospel is written that Joseph is Jesus’ father although they claim God is Jesus’ father. You see they have so many contradictory tenets” (later I realized that he was referring to Joseph’s genealogy in Matthew’s Gospel!). I responded “ we should ask Christians about their Scripture, they must have a valid reason for that verse in the Gospel”. Again, each time they hammered into our brain that the Nicene Council convened to choose the canonical Gospels and burn thousands of others that were the evidence of textual corruption, I raised my hand and asked “How come the people at the council chose four Gospels, but not one? Why did they not think of changing the names of the evangelists (why Mark and Luke rather than two of the 12 apostles?) or of basing the reliability of the Gospels on Jesus’ dictation?

When I was a practicing Muslim, I recited certain chapters from the Quran. Interestingly, I delighted in reading about Jesus and Mary and memorized some verses of chapter 3 and 19 as a natural result of reading them over and over. Jesus and His life fascinated me more than the stories of the other religious figures. The story of His conception, His birth and infancy, His prophetic mission, His apostles, and passion and resurrection (in short, from the womb to the tomb) indicated simplicity mixed with faith and mystery. I am proud of my faith and my LORD. I pray that I keep growing in faith, hope, and love till the day of my second meeting with the Prince of Life upon the clouds. Blessed be His name forever.

 

[cathopologist]

It’s a verse from the Bible, Planten, where Jesus tells us not to cast our pearls before swine, in other words, don’t expose what is sacred to people who will twist your words and mock them to suit their own agendas…and that is exactly what some Muslims here would do. I don’t care if the words of Jesus offend you–that’s your problem.

Anyway, your Quran refers to Christians and Jews as “pigs”, “monkeys” and “apes”; I don’t see why you would be offended by my quoting Jesus when He wasn’t even referring to Mohammedans specifically.

Well said. I have yet to find a similar religion in today’s world which mocks (existing) rival religions in its religious texts. And the U.N wants everybody to stop “mocking-attacking-patronizing” Muslims? Why don’t they ask Muslims to stop attacking Jews and Christians in their Qur’an and Hadiths?

Whats the matter, Ban Ki-moon? Afraid of losing your head?

 

[Americanrevert]

please recite the context will you? Then we can see if it is done in the way you so horribly expressed. But mind ya, you are not a person who is eligible for an exegesis of the Quran.

 

[cathopologist]

please recite the context will you? Then we can see if it is done in the way you so horribly expressed. But mind ya, you are not a person who is eligible for an exegesis of the Quran.

But you are an exegesis of the NT because? You’re a Muslim?

I don’t have to recite anything when the sura’s and aya’s blatantly make such accusations. It there for everyone to read. You’re the supposed expert in Islam and you’re asking me?

 

[planten]

Well said. I have yet to find a similar religion in today’s world which mocks (existing) rival religions in its religious texts. And the U.N wants everybody to stop “mocking-attacking-patronizing” Muslims? Why don’t they ask Muslims to stop attacking Jews and Christians in their Qur’an and Hadiths?

Whats the matter, Ban Ki-moon? Afraid of losing your head?

** This post has no value. It is only an accusation of the high order. There is no example (reference) given. The words of the Quran may be an exact copy of the words in bible OT/NT. Then what will you say?**

 

[Angelos]

** This post has no value. It is only an accusation of the high order. There is no example (reference) given. The words of the Quran may be an exact copy of the words in bible OT/NT. Then what will you say?**

Stop hijacking this thread!

 

[Roamin_Xian]

please recite the context will you? Then we can see if it is done in the way you so horribly expressed. But mind ya, you are not a person who is eligible for an exegesis of the Quran.

Americanrevert:

Here’s my problem with Islam’s claim to truth- it is obvious that Mohammed was influenced by Judaism, Christianity, and other local religions prior to his instituting of Islam. Jewish tribes lived in Arabia, so the pantheistic Arabs were exposed to monotheism already. Also, as a trader, Mohammed had encountered the epicenter of world monotheism- Jerusalem! He met priests and rabbis, no doubt, in his travels, and as was the time, engaged in substantive conversations about beliefs.

It would be spurious to say that Mohammed didn’t know of these religions, for the fact is, many non-mutual religious traditions are found in the Koran- even Gnostic Christianity! Which of course, if the Muslim Prophet was attempting to claim spiritual lineage from Christianity (People of the Book), then he was obviously misinformed about Christian disagreements- he incorporated heresy into his work (Gospel of Thomas).

Also, why did God wait over 600 years after Christianity to correct mistakes? It’s a little ridiculous, I think we can agree.

P.S. Also, to whoever is using Mohammedans…wow, that is outstandingly antiquated, Even the Popes ceased using that a while ago; I doubt words like that would be understood in a comfortable settings of a Novus Ordo parish. Not very “common” that word.

It’s Muslims or Moslems.​

This is probably what inspired the pagan Mohammed to accept Monotheism:

Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad! (Hear oh Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One!)

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Well, I would definitely go to a Serbian Church if I were in Bosnia now.

Unfortunately, many Muslim Bosniaks (like my parents and relatives) hate Serbs due to what took place in the Bosnian Civil War and they get angry with me because I relate myself to the Serbian Church through my Orthodox faith. LOL

There has been terrible things between Serbs and Albanians because of the status of Kosovo. I always pray for the Christians living and suffering in the Balkans (Albanian as well as Serbian). The Albanian Orthodox Church is invaluable because of the difference between her national and religious identity.

May God bless those Serbs serving Christ and His Gospel in a dangerous place. Amen.

I remember a Croatian I know who converted here in Chicago. When I asked jokingly, “So, are you Serbian?” the response was immediate: “NO!” This was before the war.

I was in Yugoslavia, and all over Bosnia in '87, just before. I remember all the people I met there (I spent, as it turned out, a lot of time in Sarajevo.), often wondering what happened to them. Lord have mercy! A Syrian fellow Arab Orthodox used to joke that with our names (his was Jameel) and our looks (we are both quite white) we could pass as Bosniaks. I drank with a lot of Bosniaks while I was there: most were not religious, or not fanatical (there were Bosniaks I recall who fought on the Serb side, because they didn’t want an Islamic republic: they said when they heard “Allahu Akbar!” on the other side, they knew they were on the right side). I have also met Bosniaks who were Islamicists, but a lot more who weren’t. A former student of mine was Bosniak and I went to his Mosque and Halqah for their Dhikr, lovely people.

I must say, I am quite proud the likes of you picked Holy Orthodoxy.

Btw, what school did you go where you learned of the Most Holy Trinity.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

please recite the context will you? Then we can see if it is done in the way you so horribly expressed. But mind ya, you are not a person who is eligible for an exegesis of the Quran.

Then why bother?

I love how we are told to read the Quran but are told we can’t understand the Quran. Just accept it.

Convert, I have heard those verses in the “context” of several sermons, and I know you have too. In the Arab world they are common enough. Saddam’s personal translator told me how they came up during the pre-War conference, one speaker saying no Muslim was a Muslim untill he killed a Jew or Christian (the translator was Chaldean).

 

[planten]

Americanrevert:

Here’s my problem with Islam’s claim to truth- it is obvious that Mohammed was influenced by Judaism, Christianity, and other local religions prior to his instituting of Islam. Jewish tribes lived in Arabia, so the pantheistic Arabs were exposed to monotheism already. Also, as a trader, Mohammed had encountered the epicenter of world monotheism- Jerusalem! He met priests and rabbis, no doubt, in his travels, and as was the time, engaged in substantive conversations about beliefs.

It would be spurious to say that Mohammed didn’t know of these religions, for the fact is, many non-mutual religious traditions are found in the Koran- even Gnostic Christianity! Which of course, if the Muslim Prophet was attempting to claim spiritual lineage from Christianity (People of the Book), then he was obviously misinformed about Christian disagreements- he incorporated heresy into his work (Gospel of Thomas).

Also, why did God wait over 600 years after Christianity to correct mistakes? It’s a little ridiculous, I think we can agree.

P.S. Also, to whoever is using Mohammedans…wow, that is outstandingly antiquated, Even the Popes ceased using that a while ago; I doubt words like that would be understood in a comfortable settings of a Novus Ordo parish. Not very “common” that word.

It’s Muslims or Moslems.​

This is probably what inspired the pagan Mohammed to accept Monotheism:

Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad! (Hear oh Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One!)

**Sorry, you have misunderstood Muhammad. have you seen the Quran? Have youheld it in your hand? The prophet onhis travels could discuss with your Rabbis and remember allthose things then paly it back in 23 years. What an idea you had. Something impossible.

There is no need to reply to any of your thinking. Very loose thoughts to downplay and deny a man of God.**

 

[Angelos]

I remember a Croatian I know who converted here in Chicago. When I asked jokingly, “So, are you Serbian?” the response was immediate: “NO!” This was before the war.

I was in Yugoslavia, and all over Bosnia in '87, just before. I remember all the people I met there (I spent, as it turned out, a lot of time in Sarajevo.), often wondering what happened to them. Lord have mercy! A Syrian fellow Arab Orthodox used to joke that with our names (his was Jameel) and our looks (we are both quite white) we could pass as Bosniaks. I drank with a lot of Bosniaks while I was there: most were not religious, or not fanatical (there were Bosniaks I recall who fought on the Serb side, because they didn’t want an Islamic republic: they said when they heard “Allahu Akbar!” on the other side, they knew they were on the right side). I have also met Bosniaks who were Islamicists, but a lot more who weren’t. A former student of mine was Bosniak and I went to his Mosque and Halqah for their Dhikr, lovely people.

I must say, I am quite proud the likes of you picked Holy Orthodoxy.

Btw, what school did you go where you learned of the Most Holy Trinity.

Thanks for your post. I know that sometimes Christians living in the Balkans unfortunately attach more significance to their nationalist sensations than to their faith.

Bosniaks tend to like drinking a lot (Many Muslim men in my family drink often!). Muslim Albanians, on the other hand, are less religious than Muslim Bosniaks. Islamic history talks of an Albanian man that converted to Christianity from Islam and joined forces with the Papacy to defeat Islamic armies on many occasions (Scanderbeg) LOL

The Orthodox Christians of Bosnia want to gain independence nowadays after the independence of Kosovo.

I was taught about the Christian Trinity at an elementary (state) school.

I attend the Holy Liturgy in a Greek parish now. (I have already learned to recite certain prayers in Greek!) When I was a university student, I lived in another city where the Holy Liturgy was celebrated in Arabic. (I can also sing few prayers in Arabic!)