PEACE AND GREETINGS
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Peace be with you.
I am grateful to be a part of this forum on Free-Minds.org.
I served as an Episcopal priest for 19 years and a seminary professor for 5. I began studying Islam according to the Quran alone in the year 2000.
After lots of prayer, study and conversations, I submitted to God alone and testified "There is no god but God" in 2011. Since then, I resigned from the church (obviously) and also lost my job teaching Liberation Theology and Sociology at the seminary. However, God is the Greatest and I have found work teaching in a community college and also received an adjunct professor position with an online university in late 2011. All the praise belongs to God.
I look forward, God willing, to learning more and sharing in the discussions in this forum. I appreciate each of you and enjoy reading the posts (most of them, anyway).
Peace be with you all.
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Peace, Bender.
This was not a quick reversion. I spend years studying Quran for the original message of Islam. Of course, I found much direction, guidance and assistance from works by Khalifa, Yuksel and Mansour. Thanks be to God for them.
I have found that the church hierarchy is terribly angry and upset with my decision, but many lay people are more interested than upset. I give thanks to God and am studying Quran with a small group each week and introducing them to Islam according to the Quran alone. One has declared submission and is offering salat. All praise be to God! God willing, more will grasp the 'rope of Allah" soon. In the interim, we'll keep studying, God willing.
I am fortunate, praise be to God, to be a part of a small gathering of Quran Muslims in my city who gather each Jummah for salat. The friendship, encouragement and opportunity to serve each other is a great blessing from God. We are currently engaged in sharing Islam with others in our community and also active in community social justice advocacy issues.
Thanks for the post and encouragement.
Peace,
Jack
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Peace jstafford, you are welcome;
It is stated somewhere in the Qur'an that such a people will be rewarded twice, e.g. all your past life will be converted in posive way and the present on the Last Day.
Thans to ALL S W AND mAY hE HELPS US UNDERSTAND BETTER.
Peace,
Siwto
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Peace Jack,
Welcome! I was married in an ECUSA parish. What was it that set the hierarchy off? Denial of the sacraments? I don't think most Episcopal bishops care any more about orthodox christologies, and this story about a priest claiming to be both seems to be something that would be all the rage in the more pluralistic segments of the church
http//seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003751274_redding17m.html
Of course, I think someone trying to be both is nuts. You made the right choice. Glad to see another brother here who was a former Christian.
Peace,
Joel -
Welcome Jack!
I bet they were upset. When I decided to come to Islam and accept it, I was working for Bishop Zubick and before that Cardinal Wuerl (he was the previous Bishop) at the Diocese of Pittsburgh. I can say they took it very personal and became highly offensive and just nasty. Of course, I was kicked off of Altar Serving, Eucharistic Minister, Ladies of Charity.. oh yeah and excommunicated.
I enjoyed hearing your story, thanks for sharing. I hope you enjoy your time here.
Peace yay
-Christine
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Shalom Aleikhem,
Welcome to Free-minds.
If you ever have the time, please share your knowledge with us here. You have a lot of experience and knowledge that many of us don't, it would be nice if we can get a taste of that, let it be through forum discussions. I like to learn more and more about the Bible, probably your knowledge will come handy. You can check out the forum section for Christianity for relevant topics, or start your own. Please share your knowledge on all scriptures that you studied, it would be nice to learn.
Indeed, we shall all hold on to the rope of God, and be not divided.
Peace
------------- Student of Allah -
Peace be with you.
I am grateful to be a part of this forum on Free-Minds.org.
I served as an Episcopal priest for 19 years and a seminary professor for 5. I began studying Islam according to the Quran alone in the year 2000.
After lots of prayer, study and conversations, I submitted to God alone and testified "There is no god but God" in 2011. Since then, I resigned from the church (obviously) and also lost my job teaching Liberation Theology and Sociology at the seminary. However, God is the Greatest and I have found work teaching in a community college and also received an adjunct professor position with an online university in late 2011. All the praise belongs to God.
I look forward, God willing, to learning more and sharing in the discussions in this forum. I appreciate each of you and enjoy reading the posts (most of them, anyway). )
Peace be with you all.
Salam )
MY GOD!
19 years serve as a Priest and professor for 5 years?
incredibly awsome!can you share us your story?
may Allah always bless you with knowledge, peace, and prosperous )but, what is episcopal church? google said its "Protestant yet Catholic" ?
dunno much about it -
Peace.
Thank you for your warm remarks. May Allah reward you.
The Episcopal churches in the U.S. are part of the denomination of Christianity known as Anglicanism. The movement was officially started during the reign of Henry VIII in England, regarding disputes about the authority of the Bishop of Rome (known as 'The Pope" and the sovereignty of nations. Some lovingly refer to the Anglican Church as "Catholic Lite".
I was born and raised in a very religious family and was brought up going to church services. The Christian religion was very much a part of my life. However, there was always an indescribable yearning for more; more understanding, more rationality and more peace of heart and mind.
I went to seminary immediately after high school and was ordained a deacon and then a priest. I served parishes and also continued studies towards a graduate degree in comparative religion.
Ultimately, I undertook a serious personal and academic study of Islam (traditional) and developed relationships with both Shia and Sunni communities for a period of several years. Because of my work with an interfaith organization, I was able to learn much about traditional Islam from a number of imams and others in the communities. Thanks be to God.
However, the overwhelming drive for me was the simple and rational message of the Quran. I tried, honestly, to reconcile the practices and theologies of my Shia and Sunni friends with what I was reading and "feeling" (for lack of a better term) in the Quran. After a few years of being unable to reconcile the two, I began to pray to Allah for direction and guidance.
It was only a matter of a few months of intense and frequent prayer that I was able, in faith, reason and honesty, to declare "There is no God but Allah." and I am so very grateful to Allah the Almighty for allowing me to submit to the Lord of the Worlds. Alhamdulillah!!!!
I only ask to be able to help share the universal message of Islam as revealed in the Quran to others and to be a part of the Ummah that is on the "Straight Path". God willing.
Peace,
Jack
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Regardless of how much time, thought or prayer one put's into study of al Quran, it is God alone that leads to the straight path of Islam. All praise and thanksgiving belongs to God alone for leading me to the path of peaceful submissin to Him and Him alone.
639
May God bless each of you.
Peace,
Jack
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God bless you yay
Some of us have been a "Muslim" for all our lives without really knowing the meaning. All we (or at least I) have is basic knowledge about everything. Please do share your findings and knowledge DMay Allah keep us all on the straight path and increase our patience pr
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Peace be with you.
I am grateful to be a part of this forum on Free-Minds.org.
I served as an Episcopal priest for 19 years and a seminary professor for 5. I began studying Islam according to the Quran alone in the year 2000.
After lots of prayer, study and conversations, I submitted to God alone and testified "There is no god but God" in 2011. Since then, I resigned from the church (obviously) and also lost my job teaching Liberation Theology and Sociology at the seminary. However, God is the Greatest and I have found work teaching in a community college and also received an adjunct professor position with an online university in late 2011. All the praise belongs to God.
I look forward, God willing, to learning more and sharing in the discussions in this forum. I appreciate each of you and enjoy reading the posts (most of them, anyway). )
Peace be with you all.
May the peace of Allah be upon you also and all those you cherish, if it is so willed.
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Peace.
Thank you for your warm remarks. May Allah reward you.
The Episcopal churches in the U.S. are part of the denomination of Christianity known as Anglicanism. The movement was officially started during the reign of Henry VIII in England, regarding disputes about the authority of the Bishop of Rome (known as 'The Pope" and the sovereignty of nations. Some lovingly refer to the Anglican Church as "Catholic Lite".
I was born and raised in a very religious family and was brought up going to church services. The Christian religion was very much a part of my life. However, there was always an indescribable yearning for more; more understanding, more rationality and more peace of heart and mind.
I went to seminary immediately after high school and was ordained a deacon and then a priest. I served parishes and also continued studies towards a graduate degree in comparative religion.
Ultimately, I undertook a serious personal and academic study of Islam (traditional) and developed relationships with both Shia and Sunni communities for a period of several years. Because of my work with an interfaith organization, I was able to learn much about traditional Islam from a number of imams and others in the communities. Thanks be to God.
However, the overwhelming drive for me was the simple and rational message of the Quran. I tried, honestly, to reconcile the practices and theologies of my Shia and Sunni friends with what I was reading and "feeling" (for lack of a better term) in the Quran. After a few years of being unable to reconcile the two, I began to pray to Allah for direction and guidance.
It was only a matter of a few months of intense and frequent prayer that I was able, in faith, reason and honesty, to declare "There is no God but Allah." and I am so very grateful to Allah the Almighty for allowing me to submit to the Lord of the Worlds. Alhamdulillah!!!!
I only ask to be able to help share the universal message of Islam as revealed in the Quran to others and to be a part of the Ummah that is on the "Straight Path". God willing.
Peace,
Jack
Salam )
Thank you for your sharring )
anyway, what is the turn point that makes you worship the God of Jesus instead of Jesus as a God himself? -
Peace and God's blessings and guidance be with you, Jack
A very interesting introduction..a priest and a scholar, praises be to God alone indeed for guiding you to the Truth.
However, the overwhelming drive for me was the simple and rational message of the Quran. I tried, honestly, to reconcile the practices and theologies of my Shia and Sunni friends with what I was reading and "feeling" (for lack of a better term) in the Quran. After a few years of being unable to reconcile the two, I began to pray to Allah for direction and guidance.
God and His Messages alone will guide us to the Truth, explained fully detailed, confirming and a witness to what were send down before and not to what was created after. Keep reading His Messages for His Truth and Guidance, and let the "feeling" of the Truth be manifested and dwell within you.
I only ask to be able to help share the universal message of Islam as revealed in the Quran to others and to be a part of the Ummah that is on the "Straight Path". God willing.
Just a friendly and truthful advice, Jack..don't wish for something when the whole Truth of all things have not been revealed and dwell within you. Don't stop reading, submitting and accepting the Truth from the Councillor, the Comforter, the Most Compassionate and Most Benevolent.
Peace and blessings be upon you, Jack.
tauhid101 -
Peace be with you as well,
Welcome to the forms )Someone from a scriptural background, It's not like us the heathen,
Double the Rewards for those Coming in from the previous scripture D
"To these we grant twice the reward, because they steadfastly persevere. They counter evil works with good works, and from our provisions to them, they give. (2854)***groups/sites/resources etc
Uniting Muslims who follow the Quran alone (submitters ن
https//www.facebook.com/groups/310518545650653/edit/ICRQS - Restoration of Quran AS Sunnah
https//www.facebook.com/groups/HadithMeansTerrorism/Quranology Discussions
https//www.facebook.com/groups/quranology/The Quranic perspective
https//www.facebook.com/groups/279024998781095/SUBMISSION
https//www.facebook.com/groups/submitters2GodAlone/Toluislam
https//www.facebook.com/groups/toluislam/The Quranists' Space
https//www.facebook.com/groups/quranistsspace/Community Buildings Projects for Muslims who want to follow the Quran Alone
https//www.facebook.com/groups/201443636624681/Soumis a Dieu Seul
https//www.facebook.com/groups/243997725633969/378307658869641Forums
www.Free-minds.org/forum (Recommended for discussions etc)
Ourbeacon forumWEBSITES
www.Quran-Islam.org
www.Quransmessage.com
www.Ourbeacon.com
www.progressive-muslim.org/
www.ProgressiveMuslims.Org
www.ahl-alquran.com/
www.19.org
http//learn-about-islam.com/(See also http//free-minds.org/links)
Tools
http//corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp (Quran root words)
www.Tanzil.net (search tool, go to verse, recitation )