Prostrating ourselves to God

[phoage]

I just finished the book Not Peace but a Sword by Robert Spencer. Near the end, there is a transcript of a debate between the author and Dr Peter Kreeft. During this Dr Kreeft tells a storyof a Muslim student of his who asked to go to Mass with him just for the students information and curiosity. After the Mass the student asks a number of questions.

(Now understand that this is a devout Muslim who has no intention of converting and finds the entire Mass blasphemous)

He asks (paraphrase)"Do you believe that the little disk of bread becomes the body and blood of Christ who you believe is God?

Dr Kreeft says yes (again paraphrasing)

The student said “Oh, I don’t think so.”

So Dr Kreeft says “I understand you might find it difficult to believe that people would get on their knees to what looks like a piece of bread.”

The student says “No, that’s not what I mean. I mean, that if I believed that, Which I never could, but if I believed that, I cannot imagine getting off my knees.”
END OF STORY

Now this is the third version of this story I have heard. The first I heard was a Catholic Apologist and a Muslim in a debate and another was during the French Revolution with one of the famous enlightenment figures in the place of the Muslim.

Has anyone else heard this story and what do you think of it?

Patrick
AMDG

 

[ryansta]

Never heard of it but it does put everything in perspective! There’s a large Muslim community near me and I genuinely admire the faith these people have. Of course their religion is false but we can all take a moment to appreciate what we have and act more pious and reverent around the Eucharist.

 

[Dan_Defender]

I have a sort of the opposite story. Muslims say that Mohammad said that Jesus died and did not resurrect. That the first Christians corrupted the message and so Mohammad had to come to correct it. I tell them but he came in the 6th century, when Christianity was well established, so I could never believe that! it does not make any sense that a span of over 500 years would pass without the supposed correction! so if anything, talking to Muslims reinforces my own faith.

 

[Peeps]

I’m guessing the story is an urban myth.

I try not to let make me sad, but because of osteoarthritis in my left knee, I can’t kneel anymore. The last time I tried (during Advent), I only stayed in the kneeling position for a few minutes, but I paid dearly for it with a very painful knee and difficulty walking for 2 full days. I was actually afraid that I might have cracked the knee, but it was actually just sore from the pressure that probably stimulated a nerve while I was kneeling.

So I don’t kneel, and I dislike seeing this position used as an indicator of someone’s love for God and reverence in His Presence.

Remember, Zaccheus was hiding up in a tree–an adult man in a tree! Talk about an “irreverent” posture!–and Jesus recognized that Zaccheus was truly interested in getting to know Him, so He personally called Zaccheus to come down because He would be visiting at his house that day!

So even Jesus recognizes the reverence in our hearts, even if our posture is not outwardly “reverent”.

 

[Gorgias]

I’m guessing the story is an urban myth.

Yep. It’s been told in a number of formats, spanning time and geography. It’s usually told of taking place between a Muslim and a Christian. (It’s that old that its re-telling precedes the Reformation.)

If someone is putting it into a book, with this particular retelling, then the author is either a poor researcher or (seemingly) a polemicist.

 

[Peeps]

If I were going to “prove” that someone really loves and reveres God, I would point to their many good works and sacrifices they make to help others, and also their zeal for bringing people to God and His Church.

Anyone can kneel (except those of us with osteo!). But actually walking the Christian walk daily, every minute of those days–now THAT’S reverence and love for God!

 

[CapitalistCatholic]

I always found it odd. Muslims laying prostrate before a God they cannot see while Christians stand when God is right before them. I always admired that about Islam. Prostrating fully before their God.

 

[ontheway1]

“I always found it odd. Muslims laying prostrate before a God they cannot see while Christians stand when God is right before them. I always admired that about Islam. Prostrating fully before their God.”

And this is exaclty why Islam will triumph and Christianity will vanish. We Christians love to pay homage to ourselves and our own deeds. (see poster above) And we also think that God doesn’t even have to be there. We can do it all because we are sooooooooo goooooood.