Shortly after noon on Fridays, the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding ties on a black headscarf, preparing to pray with her Muslim group on First Hill.
On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest.
She does both, she says, because she’s Christian and Muslim.
Redding, who until recently was director of faith formation at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, has been a priest for more than 20 years. Now she’s ready to tell people that, for the last 15 months, she’s also been a Muslim — drawn to the faith after an introduction to Islamic prayers left her profoundly moved….
Redding’s bishop, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, says he accepts Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and that he finds the interfaith possibilities exciting. Her announcement, first made through a story in her diocese’s newspaper, hasn’t caused much controversy yet, he said.
I wish I were creative enough to make this stuff up!
David Bennett
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Dave Hartline
June 18, 2007 at 2:15 pm |
Well, this is indeed an eyeopener. In my many encounters with freethinkers, who thrive on a diverse range of religious views, I have never heard one say they embrace two religions…
Of course, this either looks very “noble” in the eyes of those who are disillusioned with institutional religion or “absurd” in people who find religion (at all categories and levels) disgusting and ridiculous.
I believe that she her rational is this:- since Christians, Muslims, and Jews come from the same patriarch Abraham, the God that Abraham worshipped is the same for all monotheistic religions. Since Christ is God, part of the Holy Trinity whom Christians affirm as the One God, He SHOULD definitely be that Allah Muslims talk about and the same Yahweh Jews talk about. Again, this is only what I think she believes in.
A grounded and deeply convicted Christian nevertheless, would stray clear of doing such things as being Muslim would be tantamount to denying fundamental Christian tenets. As far as I am concerned, she has indeed denied certain tenets of the Christian faith, and therefore is just a Muslim. To use Boolean logic, she is “Muslim NOT Christian.
June 18, 2007 at 2:37 pm |
Is anyone really surprised? We all know that the Episcopal Church is completely apostate; this woman’s actions in being both Christian and Muslim (really, only Muslim, you can’t be both)just proves it. I am so NOT surprised…heck, I’m not even that upset. The Episcopal church is such a tiny denomination in USA now and so pointless…who cares anymore? Not I. Frankly, to Hell with the Episcopal Church…literally.
June 18, 2007 at 3:26 pm |
Only in the Episcopal Church. What an embarrassment! I’m glad that’s not my church anymore.
June 18, 2007 at 4:56 pm |
It seems like the mainline denominations – whether it be the ECUSA, UMC, PCUSA, etc. – have absolutely no theological boundaries anymore. I’d like to let Bishop Ryle, John Wesley, and John Knox loose at each of the aforementioned denominations annual meetings and see what happens – I’m sure some heads would roll.
June 19, 2007 at 7:39 pm |
The American Episcopalian Church has hit rock bottom. A gay practicing priest elected to Bishop. Two male priests married by a another Episcopal priest. Now a former director of “faith formation” priest claims to be interfaith and her Bishop supports this and finds it exciting. What is next. I wonder what the Bishop Williams thinks now and how the rest of their American Church will handle this one in September. The Nigerian Bishops must be in disbelief.
June 20, 2007 at 3:29 am |
Not surprising that it has not caused any controversy considering ECUSA has left the faith.
It defies all logic, common sense and spiritual discernment to claim to be both Muslim and Christian. But then again she is a woman priestess who has been beguiled by the best deceiver of all time.
I wonder what she would do when she cannot convert the infidel? Kill them and baptize the corpse?
The next addition to the “interfaith” melding will be a Satanist.
What a sad world we live in.
Dn Chic
August 2, 2007 at 1:17 am |
she is obviously trying to make her “Christianity” fit her Islam and not the other way around. What a sad world we live in.