90-foot tall bronze statue of Hindu monkey god erected in Texas; sparks controversy

[Wolseley]

Conservatives are raging over the arrival of a 90-foot tall statue of Hanuman, a Hindu deity that is half-human and half-monkey, in Texas. The figure, officially titled the "Statue of Union," is now reportedly the third tallest statue in the continental U.S., trailing only the 151-foot tall Statue of Liberty in New York and the 110-foot tall Pegasus and Dragon statue in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

MSN

It's on private land, owned by the temple....you can't legally say that it needs to come down, unless Christians want to have the risk of statues of Christ come down as well. I'm not happy about huge bronze idols being erected in America, but I guess it just illustrates the fact that this country is disintegrating, crumbling within, severing itself from its historical roots, and teetering on the brink of extinction. Sic transit gloria mundi.

 

[mourningdove~]

The religious landscape in America is definitely changing.

I came across an article last week, that reported how Muslims are buying closed Christian churches and turning them into mosques.
(I didn't realize this was happening.)

Here is a different article, but it discusses the situation ...

A statement of Islamic dominance

A.S. Ibrahim | Why do Muslims buy church buildings and replace them with mosques?

wng.org

 

[Wolseley]

The religious landscape in America is definitely changing.

I came across an article last week, that reported how Muslims are buying closed Christian churches and turning them into mosques.
(I didn't realize this was happening.)

Here is a different article, but it discusses the situation ...

A statement of Islamic dominance

A.S. Ibrahim | Why do Muslims buy church buildings and replace them with mosques?

wng.org

They've been doing that for centuries---look at Santa Sophia in Istanbul.

 

[mourningdove~]

They've been doing that for centuries---look at Santa Sophia in Istanbul.

Pretty effective strategy on their part, I'd say.

... but I guess it really hits home with me, when we see this trend happening here in America.

 

[mourningdove~]

I won't post the source article, but here are some notable examples of U.S. churches that have been converted into mosques.
(The article was dated 8/5/24.)

• Bridgeport, Connecticut: The United Congregational Church was sold to the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center. The historic building was chosen for its religious zoning and space to accommodate the 1,000 Muslim families in the area.
• Bristol Township, Pennsylvania: The Immaculate Conception B.V.M. Catholic Church was sold to the United American Muslim Society of Brooklyn for nearly $1.8 million. Due to its growing congregation, the new mosque, Mevlana Camii, required a larger space.
• Syracuse, New York: The Catholic Holy Trinity Church was transformed into a mosque, and significant renovations were made to replace Christian symbols with Islamic ones.
• South Milwaukee, Wisconsin: A former Catholic church and school was sold to a Muslim group, which planned to reopen the building as a mosque .
• Buffalo, New York: Another church was turned into a mosque, reflecting the need for larger worship spaces for growing Muslim communities
• Southfield, Michigan: A closed church was purchased and converted into the Islamic Center of America, now one of the largest mosques in North America.
• Houston, Texas: The Houston Islamic Community Center acquired a church property to serve its growing membership, transforming the space to meet their religious needs
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The historic Germantown Presbyterian Church became the Masjid Muhammad.
• Concord, California: The Concord Avenue United Methodist Church was sold to a local Muslim community and transformed into the Quba Academy and Masjid.
• Jacksonville, Florida: The former Greater Macedonia Baptist Church was acquired by the Islamic Center of North East Florida to serve the growing Muslim population.
• Tempe, Arizona: The Holy Spirit Catholic Church was purchased by the Islamic Community Center of Tempe.
• Dayton, Ohio: A closed Baptist church was transformed into the Masjid At-Tawheed

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I guess it just illustrates the fact that this country is disintegrating, crumbling within, severing itself from its historical roots, and teetering on the brink of extinction.

Not so sure. Our roots speak to religious freedom. This is an expression of that freedom even though many of us do not appreciate Hanuman. We may find it offensive but that is part of the American deal.

Hanuman combines two of the most cherished traits in the Hindu bhakti-shakti worship traditions: "heroic, strong, assertive excellence" and "loving, emotional devotion to personal God.

 

[Ave Maria]

I don't like seeing an idol to a false god being erected in our nation, but I still have to tolerate its existence. That's just how religious freedom works.

 

[Tuur]

I won't post the source article, but here are some notable examples of U.S. churches that have been converted into mosques.
(The article was dated 8/5/24.)

• Bridgeport, Connecticut: The United Congregational Church was sold to the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center. The historic building was chosen for its religious zoning and space to accommodate the 1,000 Muslim families in the area.
• Bristol Township, Pennsylvania: The Immaculate Conception B.V.M. Catholic Church was sold to the United American Muslim Society of Brooklyn for nearly $1.8 million. Due to its growing congregation, the new mosque, Mevlana Camii, required a larger space.
• Syracuse, New York: The Catholic Holy Trinity Church was transformed into a mosque, and significant renovations were made to replace Christian symbols with Islamic ones.
• South Milwaukee, Wisconsin: A former Catholic church and school was sold to a Muslim group, which planned to reopen the building as a mosque .
• Buffalo, New York: Another church was turned into a mosque, reflecting the need for larger worship spaces for growing Muslim communities
• Southfield, Michigan: A closed church was purchased and converted into the Islamic Center of America, now one of the largest mosques in North America.
• Houston, Texas: The Houston Islamic Community Center acquired a church property to serve its growing membership, transforming the space to meet their religious needs
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The historic Germantown Presbyterian Church became the Masjid Muhammad.
• Concord, California: The Concord Avenue United Methodist Church was sold to a local Muslim community and transformed into the Quba Academy and Masjid.
• Jacksonville, Florida: The former Greater Macedonia Baptist Church was acquired by the Islamic Center of North East Florida to serve the growing Muslim population.
• Tempe, Arizona: The Holy Spirit Catholic Church was purchased by the Islamic Community Center of Tempe.
• Dayton, Ohio: A closed Baptist church was transformed into the Masjid At-Tawheed

I know of a non-denominational church that sold its building to Buddhists. It's now a Buddhist temple.

I don't know the particulars, but know of a Methodist church that lost its charge in the early 20th century. The Methodists dismantled the church and sold the property. I don't know if dismantling by Methodists was common then or if they sold the building to be dismantled, but the one who dismantled it isn't the one who bought the property.

 

[Tuur]

They've been doing that for centuries---look at Santa Sophia in Istanbul.

I don't think Constantinople had a choice when it fell. What's happening now is that these church buildings are closed and purchased by non-Christians. Had the churched housed a vibrant congregation, it would still be occupied by Christians. I mentioned one church building now owned by Buddhists. I know another that's now a flower shop.

 

[Wolseley]

I don't think Constantinople had a choice when it fell. What's happening now is that these church buildings are closed and purchased by non-Christians. Had the churched housed a vibrant congregation, it would still be occupied by Christians. I mentioned one church building now owned by Buddhists. I know another that's now a flower shop.

I heard of one that was being used as private living quarters (in the bell tower!) for the lady who owned Alice's Restaurant.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I won't post the source article, but here are some notable examples of U.S. churches that have been converted into mosques.
(The article was dated 8/5/24.)

• Bridgeport, Connecticut: The United Congregational Church was sold to the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center. The historic building was chosen for its religious zoning and space to accommodate the 1,000 Muslim families in the area.
• Bristol Township, Pennsylvania: The Immaculate Conception B.V.M. Catholic Church was sold to the United American Muslim Society of Brooklyn for nearly $1.8 million. Due to its growing congregation, the new mosque, Mevlana Camii, required a larger space.
• Syracuse, New York: The Catholic Holy Trinity Church was transformed into a mosque, and significant renovations were made to replace Christian symbols with Islamic ones.
• South Milwaukee, Wisconsin: A former Catholic church and school was sold to a Muslim group, which planned to reopen the building as a mosque .
• Buffalo, New York: Another church was turned into a mosque, reflecting the need for larger worship spaces for growing Muslim communities
• Southfield, Michigan: A closed church was purchased and converted into the Islamic Center of America, now one of the largest mosques in North America.
• Houston, Texas: The Houston Islamic Community Center acquired a church property to serve its growing membership, transforming the space to meet their religious needs
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The historic Germantown Presbyterian Church became the Masjid Muhammad.
• Concord, California: The Concord Avenue United Methodist Church was sold to a local Muslim community and transformed into the Quba Academy and Masjid.
• Jacksonville, Florida: The former Greater Macedonia Baptist Church was acquired by the Islamic Center of North East Florida to serve the growing Muslim population.
• Tempe, Arizona: The Holy Spirit Catholic Church was purchased by the Islamic Community Center of Tempe.
• Dayton, Ohio: A closed Baptist church was transformed into the Masjid At-Tawheed

Bristol Pa and Philly are close enough and it’s so.. well I wouldn’t live there.
I think the towns listed are mostly blue areas.
It usually happens in blue areas.


I’m surprised by Texas but being such a conservative state with more opportunity that people left blue states to ruin it

 

[RileyG]

The religious landscape in America is definitely changing.

I came across an article last week, that reported how Muslims are buying closed Christian churches and turning them into mosques.
(I didn't realize this was happening.)

Here is a different article, but it discusses the situation ...

A statement of Islamic dominance

A.S. Ibrahim | Why do Muslims buy church buildings and replace them with mosques?

wng.org

That’s so sad. It happened to a beautiful historic Catholic Church in New York.

Lord, have mercy

 

[RileyG]

Bristol Pa and Philly are close enough and it’s so.. well I wouldn’t live there.
I think the towns listed are mostly blue areas.
It usually happens in blue areas.


I’m surprised by Texas but being such a conservative state with more opportunity that people left blue states to ruin it

Texas is a rather large state with quite a few Catholics and Baptists as far as I know. Quite a few Hispanics live there. But more and more are leaving the Church.

Lord, have mercy.