I watched this moving video (ht to Philosopher Mom) and I was left speechless. What would I risk to be a Christian? Sure we “suffer” ridicule and maybe a little ostracization. But I live in a free country (for now) and have never suffered more than being uncomfortable.
I pray for all those who risk so much more for their belief. Wow.
January 21, 2009 at 2:15 am
There is much to think about in that clip, how to pertains to my life. There but for God’s grace. I echo your wow, Patrick.
January 21, 2009 at 3:28 am
Amen! Wow! Let’s keep her and everyone like her who is learning the true faith through that station’s efforts.
~Zee
January 21, 2009 at 5:54 am
At one time I was reading a lot of testimonies of Muslims who had become Christian.
Apparently it is very common among Muslims to have a “Jesus dream” in which Our Lord appears to them in a dream, or for Him to come to them in other convincing interior ways. For example, I read of one man to whom this happened while he was in Mecca processing with all the others and “stoning satan.”
Obviously this puts them in a very difficult position.
I don’t know about anyone else, but praying for Muslims is not high on my prayer list, but it probably should be, especially for those who have become Christians interiorly but are afraid to confess Him publicly.
My understanding is that this and similar programs are broadcast throughout the Middle East and that there are many, many Muslims who have converted, at least interiorly.
But that is not enough. The faith left unconfessed will eventually melt away.
So we should pray for them.
Lord, watch over Sana and bring her husband and children into the faith. And give us the courage, too, to confess the faith here in the West as boldly as we should.
January 21, 2009 at 9:13 am
If any of you ever get the chance to listen to Father Zakaria (mentioned in this video) please do so. I won’t go into the first hand details and experiences I have had with the Mohammedans, but suffice it to say, yes, it does put our lives as Christians in the West into perspective.
It is also a shame that these people weren’t able to inform the woman caller that as she is indeed living in the west (she said the UK) she is entitled to custody of her children, and NOT her husband. But that is one of the great snares of Mohammedanism; control through ignorance.
January 21, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Deusdonat – I may be mistaken, but in some areas of the UK, Muslims are allowed to appeal to sharia law, effectively giving Britain a dual-legal system. Sana may be in such a situation.
January 21, 2009 at 2:26 pm
LarryD – you are not mistaken: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4749183.ece
Mum26
January 21, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Larry and Mum,
Please read the article. Sharia “law” has indeed been implemented in various parts of Britain, but only if a) both parties consent and b) it is binding as a form of “arbitration”. Meaning, British law still supercedes any sharia rubbish. So, if Sana wanted to take her case to the British court system, they would have to hear it and would not defer it to the Sharia “courts”.
This is specifically the type of misinformation I hope Sana does NOT receive : (
January 21, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Sharia or no sharia in the UK, that doesn’t stop her husband from taking the kids back to Morocco and never seeing them again.
January 21, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Patrick – I’m not a proponent of anything British that I can think of. But I do know that under EU laws for child-protection, if she were to say that she were in fear for her life or that of her children she would get shelter and supervised visits from the father. Pretty much the one thing the EU does well is human rights.
But yes, anytime there are Mohammedans involved there is risk. Just last week, a Portuguese Cardinal warned women of marrying Mohammedans. What might seem obvious to the vast majority of humanity, simply goes over the heads of some women for some odd reason.
January 21, 2009 at 7:30 pm
A CMR reader wrote me asking for sources for the “Jesus Dream” comment. These are probably from evangelical sources, but nonetheless, Google: “Jesus dream” muslim
January 21, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Lee – yes. The whole “Jesus Dream” is a fundie concoction which plays to the irrational and superstitious nature of Mohammedans (and fundies themselves). Because fundies do not have the theologicl armaments to combat Mohammedanism, as we Catholics and Orthodox do (starting from back in the 8th century by saint John Damascene- PRAY FOR US!!!) they resort to warm and fuzzy feelings and dreams.
I am not doubting that God can indeed come to humans in dreams. Not by a long shot. But I am scowling at the vast number of fundie claims and “witness” of Mohammedan conversions which tends towards sappy dreams, feelings and other such testimony.
Stick with Father Zakaria. He speaks logically and intelligently.
January 21, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Deusdonat-
A. Evangelical does not equal fundamentalist.
B. Evangelicals have plenty of theological arguments to deal with Moslem arguments. See Ravi Zechariah and others.
C. For some notion of how highly Catholic intellectuals such as Fr. Richard Neuhaus view the very substantial contributions of Evangelicals,see “Evangelicals and Catholics Together.” Branding Evangelicals as “fundies” ( a term of derision) doesn’t comport with the official Catholic Church outreach to non-Catholic Christians. See the Pope’s remarks today at the Vatican Radio website.
You seem to be under the impression that deriding Evangelicals is something fully in line with the teaching and the policy of the Church. It isn’t.
As a matter of fact, it is a dis-service both to the Catholic Church and to Evangelicals, to Pope Benedict XVI, to the efforts of Fr. Neuhaus, Charles Colson and many others.
D. People facing death or divorce or loss of children are not going convert merely on the basis of arguments, anyway. Given their circumstances, unusual divine intervention seems both to be required and plentifully supplied.
E. Besides that, Evangelicals have no ability, last I heard, to convey a “Jesus dream” to anyone. They are merely noting the phenomenon and responding to it. Your evidence that it is a “concoction” is exactly what? Are you saying that Evangelicals are concocting testimony, or that the Muslim converts are concocting it? And the evidence for this conviction of yours is what?
By their fruits you will know them. If many people are converting because of “Jesus dreams” and the like, that is sufficient evidence that the phenomena are from God.
January 22, 2009 at 3:49 am
Very powerful. I’m praying for Sana and her children.
January 22, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Lee – to your comment “Evangelical does not equal fundamentalist” my reply is a heretic is a heretic is a heretic. If you want to play your silly little game of semantics, then “all evangelicals are fundies, but not all fundies are evangelicals.” Does that make you feel better?
I don’t need to be pointed towards any heretical writings, teachings, apologists etc. I’ll stick with the saints, teachers and fathers of THE church. If that’s not good enough for you, then that is your problem. Also, there are priests who will champion the “substantial contributions” of homosexuals/pagans/mohammedans/communists etc to the church. The church is unfortunately riddled with bad priests. In short, show me church doctrine saying that we as Catholics can learn from the teachings of the fundies and you would have a point. But as of now, you do not. I care naught for the writings of heretic-leaning priests (Neuhaus was a Lutheran pastor before he converted, and iMHO has brought too much heretical baggage into MY chhurch). So, what you feel about what the word fundie does or doesn’t comport with is simply irrelevant. I call a spade a spade.
As for the Jesus dreams, I made my stance clear, but I guess you failed to comprehend it. I said God can of course call people to Him in dreams. But I strongly urge you to listen to the likes of Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn Inc and tell me if you think their “dreams” or their “prophecies” or their “cures” are real. Time and time again they have proven to be fake. So, yes. I am saying in all likelihood certain Mohammedans who have for whatever reason (financial gain or otherwise, as is clearly the case with Walid Soebat et al) have been coached HEAVILY on what to say and how they converted by their fundie teachers. Your childish taunt for me to provide “evidence” that someone did or did not have a dream is as stupid as it is annoying. Can you provide evidence they DID have a “Jesus dream”? Rubbish.
As you quoted, “By their fruits you will know them.” So, while I defend the one true church and you cling to your fundie brethren, you would do well to remember this. And when your fundie/Evangelical friends continue to preach against Catholicism, the Pope, the saints, the Mother of God etc, never forget God is watching you now and always. And He will be your judge, as He will be mine.
January 24, 2009 at 1:54 am
Yeah, God appearing to people in dreams for direction and conversion sounds like rubbish.
So said Joseph, St. Joseph, the magi, St. Peter, St. Francis, Pope Innocent III, St. John Bosco, St. Maximillian Kolbe, and a few other Catholic saints…
January 27, 2009 at 4:27 am
Lee, thank you for your comments in defense of “fundies.” I am new to your blog and have enjoyed it very much so far. I am not a Catholic and would probably be considered a evangelical by some. I’ve never heard the term “fundie” before and have to say, it’s extremely offensive. Whatever happened to peace and harmony, without devisiveness, within the Christian faith. Rude name calling issues aside, I personally know a Muslim who has had a so called “Jesus dream.” I’d never heard of this phenomenon and neither had he. I don’t know about your other readers but my God is a God in whom all things are possible. We are all God’s children, regardless of our beliefs. Thank you for your witness here, to the truth.