Unlike stories of “Christians” who murder child killers “in the name of Jesus,” this account of Islam by a former Islamist is probably close to the truth. Sad story.
But hope is eternal:
I serve now at the Lord’s vineyard and I believe that my name is in the book of life. I wish I could have stayed in Egypt but it was not possible because my father wanted me dead and an edict was issued permitting the slaughter of my wife’s family on the pretext that they must have used black magic to make me deviate from the right path and leave the religion of Allah to embrace the religion of the infidels.I have mourned the years I spent away from the Lord and harassing his people. I rebuked him for not opening my eyes earlier in life. I found a similar story in Acts Chapter 19 and realized how great and merciful God is that he does not wish death for the sinner but wants him to return and live.
Indeed. Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good, as I’d always thought. He came to make (spiritually) dead people live.
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“Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good, as I’d always thought. He came to make (spiritually) dead people live.”
So very true!
Hi La Shawn,
Thanks much for pointing out this touching story. It is a pity that more Christians don’t realize that Jesus came to make us live–really live. As you know, Christians are counted righteous because He is righteous, and made alive because He, too, rose from the dead.
I can’t WAIT to meet you at GodBlogCon. I’ve admired your writing ever since I first found you, over a year ago.
Steve
DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS
Lashawn,
There are real problems with this story. It seems to me this is no different from those loony tracts that tell me that Masons pray to the devil and “trick or treating” is going to condemn me to you-know-where.
Firstly, as a journalist you should know better. But secondly and more importantly, as a Christian, does this ‘tract’ even seem like it was written by someone who knew Christ’s love?
How about “Confessions of a former liberal”
I hope this link is acceptable, it’s a good read.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/22/INGUNCQHKJ1.DTL
Brought to my attention by “Everything I know is Wrong” blog which I read constantly also. He is a classical liberal which would be defined today as a conservative.
Happy reading.
Hey Stephen,
Ever hear of Salman Rushdie?
The behavior of Islamists in this manner is widely under-reported. Why? Because secularists seek to de-value Christianity by making everything else morally equivalent. Every day, people are intimidated, threatened, tortured, maimed, and killed all in the name of Allah. Christians have moved away from this Inquisition-like behavior for over 3 centuries.
Why do people let a religion off the hook for approving, condoning and advocating such brutish behavior? Especially when they pulverize Christianity and Christians for any transgression. The answer is simple. They need cover and justification for their relativist worldview. They flee from the truth that there exists a definitive explanation for RIGHT AND WRONG. They will use any means to subvert anything that proposes that there are moral absolutes. Fortunately, there will come a day where all of us will face the reckoning for our behaviors. Thankfully, I know that I have an Advocate on my side.
There needs to be a website for ex-muslims
It’s a very believable story. There are much worse things still happening to Christians all over the world. Talk for a while to a missionary from a country that doesn’t exactly discourage mistreatment of Christians and you’ll find out the horrible truth.
As far as subverting Christian women goes, heck man, you can see that in any church in America on any given Sunday. Most of the ones we hear about here only have sex as the goal, but others are fully intent on getting women out of Christianity. I’ve seen it in 3 local, very large churches and knew men who were doing it.
There are numerous websites for ex-muslims.
There are also several well known ex-muslims who have met Jesus and who now mightily witness for Him at great risk to thier lives. see
http//www.shoebat.com/
wwwerguncanter.com/
Also, Palestian Christian Anis Shorrosh has witnessed to Muslims for decades and has had many brushes with death.
The Faithfreedom website has a wealth of information about Islam (and is where the article shown on this website was taken.)
Finally, the deliberate act of wooing women into Islam is very real and indeed is practiced by many African-American males who have converted to Islam (often while in prison).
Islamist organizations have specifically targeted, among others the African_American community with special emphasis on the disffect prison segment. You can find many articles concerning this ….Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship Ministries wrote a very good piece for the Wall street Jounal several years ago. But, anyone who is familar with the criminal justice system, especially in large urban centers saw this long age.
Stephen Johnson – What are the problems with this story? The man gave an account of his past, of his life before he converted. His deeds were ugly because he didn’t know Christ’s love at the time. His closing paragraphs state why he related those events to us and why he’s different now.
You compare the story to those of “devil worshipping Masons,” but have you studied the history of the Masons? Truth is stranger than fiction.
But Fl,
Look or rather read closely the story. It is related without a bit of remorse. In fact, the teller of the tail related this story with a hint of relish, as though to be proud of what he had done.
I do not doubt that there is some cache in converting a Christian to Islam (there is equal cashe in converting a Moslem or Jew to Christianity), nor do I deny that barbaric means are or have been used to effectuate these goals. I do seriously doubt the story because of its tone and its writing.
Those who have abandoned other religions for Christ revel in Christ’s love, not as the author did here, their heathenism.
When read critically lines like “This is not meant to…” indicate that the writer is being disengenuous. It most certainly was meant to incite and inflame.
I also found it interesting that the author neither mentions his type of Islam (as most would) nor his denomination of Christianity. There is no redemption in the story because the author is vague about his ‘conversion.’
Further, the author treats both Islam and Christianity with some disrespect, and dare I say contempt.
Finally, there is a mix of slang “hit the road”, broken english and proper english. Often arabs, particularly Egyptians use the Queen’s english, yet this is in american english.
Re: Masonry- Perhaps that’s why I don’t get it; being a Mason, as well as being in a BGLO, I may fall outside of the parameters of the belief systems of some here. I mean no disrespect, and I acknowledge that we will probably disagree on much.
I am secure in knowing that the Lord blessed all of us with a discerning ear and an inquisitive mind. This story rings false to both of mine.
Stephen Johnson – Thanks for explaining further. I see what you mean now: it’s not necessarily what he said that was questionable but how he said it, and the ‘how’ can cast badly on the ‘what.’
Now that this arcticle is ciruculating, maybe folks can discover more about the author, and we’ll be able to see whether there’s more behind the story.
Here’s something for all of us to chew on: http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/05_05_08_corner-archive.asp#063074
I found it via Betsy’s Page.
Masonry cannot be combined with Christianity. Perhaps this is where misunderstandings begin.
Stephen, I still don’t get your critique vis a vis tone & writing.
– I also found it interesting that the author neither mentions his type of Islam (as most would) nor his denomination of Christianity”
He discussed the background of his family’s branch of Islam – Wahabi.
– “Those who have abandoned other religions for Christ revel in Christ’s love, not as the author did here, their heathenism.”
You’re trying to evaluate his culturalness with a measure of his Christianess. That’s almost like equating someone’s relish for eating puppies as a measure of their barbarity. On the flipside, many 3rd world Christians question western Christian’s Christianess.
Some people also don’t like St. Paul’s tone and writings as well, but it doesn’t change God’s truth.
But Andy, you’re assuming that (1) the barbarity spoke of was cultural, rather than, as the author would have it, religious; and (2)it is a sincere leap of faith to ascribe (or analogize) this document to the divine inspiration of St. Paul.
Andy,
“That’s almost like equating someone’s relish for eating puppies as a measure of their barbarity.”
Where does blending them into energy drinks fall on that continuum?
Stephen,
More and more folks from the middle east are learning their english from yanks. Either from American workers, at American Univs or from sat. TV. Esp if they aren’t from the upper crust.
Stephen, the “barbarity is cultural” and justified by Islam. A classic example would be the Lawrence of Arabia flick with Peter O’Toole, where a tribesman was killed simply for attempting to drink from a rival tribe’s well.
Losing face in, say, Japan cuts across all religious lines, in ways that may strike a Westerner as strange. It doesn’t matter if the Westerner is Christian or Buddhist, they just don’t feel shame the same as a Christian or Buddhist Japanese.
We westerners may find polygamy repugnant, while an African Christian may have no qualms about having several. Is he less of a Christian than you?
Likewise, how many Americans would shut down their businesses and disappear out of shame that their daughter is “exposed” as a whore or that their son was caught in the act with a donkey?
The fact that the writer is recounting his history does not require that he express his remorse in a way satisfactory to you. The fact that he repented and worked to restore the damage is proof enough of his faith.
Yes I know the way he did it is not the American way of profusely apologizing for everything, whether or not one was responsible, a la Slick apologizing to Africans for slavery or Clarke apologizing for having failed the Americans over 9/11 (for what??). That sort of apology is glib and designed to elict empathy and score points without truly repenting.
All I’m saying is you can’t ascribe your values in tone and writing to a Christian in another culture.
As for Paul, I’m not ascribing anything from him to this man’s testimony. I’m comparing your reaction to him, to that of some christians quibble about Paul’s apparent harshness and lack of Christly love.
Can we agree that regardless, the author was scarred by his experience within the hellhole that is Islam?
Paul was ahead of his time. People STILL don’t get was he was coming from, just like Peter.
Andy-
LB’s going to be up in arms. That’s multiple uses of the “R” word in just a few days time!!!
Chris, you mean REPENT for the day of the Lord is at hand? I wonder why there’s 105 verses with the “R” word in the KJV
Andy,
Assuming the story to be true, we can agree.
Steve just one thing…….Islam is evil to its very core and like Nazism and Marxism, it deserves NO respect whatsoever……However, that doesn’t mean we cannot have respect for Muslims.
Note the dichotomy here…..
Until “infidels” can be spared their lives, I don’t see it any other way either.
It would be wise for Muslims to try to their very core to root out among them and and speak against this philosophy without any “but’s” or moral relativism speak about what we do.
Enough is enough and there is no comparison in intentions. Trying to save our lives and having inadvertant civilian casualties is not the same as “targeting” the largest population centers for as much killing as possible.
What is the alternative to trying to save our lives? Actus? What’s the answer? Give the terrorists whayt they want
Stephen, one thot. You don’t believe his particular story or that such a thing even occurs? To wit take Ms Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She’s a 35-year-old Somali-born ex-Muslim and Dutch parliamentarian. She collaborated with Director Theo van Gogh on a provocative 11-minute film called “Submission”. As you may recall, Theo’s head was ritualistically cut off (almost) and a jihadist rant pinned to his chest with a knife.
Submission illustrates the total repression of women at the hands of Islamic men. As a result of this percieved outrage and “desecration” of Islamic sensibilities, a fatwa has been placed on her head. Remember Slaman Rushdie? She also lives under lock and key, guarded 24 hours a day, and transported everywhere in an armored vehicle.
That’s the price of liberty and free-speech in Holland, just another socialist EU country besieged by jihadists. In a recent interview, she said “This fatwa isn’t just directed against me but against Holland, against the entire Western world. We are all targets. In the eyes of radical Muslims, any country in which Muslims can be criticized openly is an enemy of Islam.”
I think it would be great if she migrated here and resumed her political career here. Just think, the MSM/DNC would have a cow, since they couldn’t call her a house n***ress, or any nonsuch.
Not buying his particular story. Not informed enough to doubt such things occur. That is the distinction that I am drawing.
Fair enough, but do inform yourself — it is not uncommon. I can’t vouch for the veracity of his particular story, but I can vouch for the motive to forcibly convert by hook or crook rather than on the persuasive merits of faith.
One place to start is with black Sudanese women forced into Islam to save their life and what’s left of honor.
To be uninformed about such diabolical tactics is akin to a pet sheep willingly led to slaughter.
Check these out:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr540762004
http://www.camlaw.rutgers.edu/publications/law-religion/articles/RJLR_5_1_2.pdf
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,2020-531-1165770-17549,00.html
The Death & Deception post below is interesting.
http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/2004/07/
Stephen, sorry to beat this dead horse, but here’s another angle.
It’s not too far fetched to believe Islamofacist are above ensnaring women for the faith, when they are not above ensnaring their own (actually children of other muslim families) to act as human bombers (”suicide bombers” is a misnomer).
Using brainwashed minors (a couple reference the 15th such incident within the past 2 months):
http://www.teachkidspeace.org/doc1020.php
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117247288558
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/002257.php
Using handcuffed or otherwise clueless human bombers:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05123/498196.stm
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woiraq134256907may13,0,2890610.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines
Using mentally impaired (Down Syndrome) human bombers:
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4070337
Using pets (where’s PETA? Out killing all the unwanted pets they can get their hands on):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/27/wirq27.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/05/27/ixportal.html
Using women/men who have shamed their families, ie extramarital sex/being penetrated (men penetrating men, women, animals is ok, being penetrated is not):
http://www.freespeech.com/archives/001794.html
http://www.911digitalarchive.org/objects/21.html
You’ll really like this one — love/divorce/spiritual advisor = the cause:
http://www.freedommag.org/english/vol35I1/page15.htm
Religion of peace/love! Come again Mr. Bush?
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