Having spent the last six weeks at an Episcopal seminary, I admire what the Deacon is trying to do, and think it can offer insight into one’s own tradition. I’m sorry the Bishop didn’t meet with him before threatening to remove him from the church.
Episcopal cleric tries Islamic rituals for Lent.
Speaking to a reporter that afternoon, he had no problem reconciling his Episcopalian views with those of Islam and explained that he hoped to test a concept that has been attributed to Mahatma Gandhi and is discussed in John Dunne’s book, “The Way of All the Earth.” According to the book, it involves passing over “into another religion, which is followed by an equal and opposite process of coming back with new insight to one’s own culture or religion.”
The main masjid where I go for jummah is part of Warithdeen Muhammad (ra) community and the khatib would frequently imply that there were Christians visiting and participating in the prayer (although I never knew who specifically).
I”m impressed by what the priest did. It certainly doesn’t seem offensive. It reminds me also of Ann Holmes Redding who was also an Episcopal pries (bishop I think) who claimed to be Muslim and Christian.
But I’m not clear in terms of the limits of what this male priest did… he says he does not declare belief in oneness of God (I guess he’s still Trinitarian?) or the prophethood of Muhammad. So does he not say those parts of the prayers or does he say them without meaning them? So in what sense is he praying?
It is also interesting to me that both these examples were Episcopalian. I wonder if there are any examples of Catholic priests doing similar things. I ask since Catholics believe that “once a priest, always a priest” so a priest can be fired and prohibited from acting as a priest but theologically they still have the same powers (e.g. turning bread and wine into flesh and blood, hearing confession, etc)