Mary the bridge that brings together East and West?

"It's always the female in the Bible. Her, she, her, she. God identifies an enemy as being a female deity. Historically it's the mother-son cult. With the Phoenicians it was Ashteroth and her son Tammuz. In Egyptian history she's called Isis. In Greek culture she's Aphrodite and in Roman culture she's Venus.

"Today she's called Mary. Is Mary an issue in the land of Shinar today? Is she a prominent figure in Islam? Mary is mentioned 34 times in the Koran. She's called 'the greatest of all women.'

"No other woman in the Koran is named except Mary. In fact, Sura 19 in the Koran is actually named after Mary. You see how culture will adopt and absorb?" says Alex Kurz.

"People argue, 'We don't worship Ashteroth!' Well, if you're worshipping Mary, where did it come from? Do Muslims really venerate Mary?

"The Koran teaches that Mary 'was born without the touch of Satan.' There are two people that's said of: Mary and Jesus, momma and son.

"Jesus is always called the 'son of Mary' in the Koran. He is never called the son of God. Why? Those two people are said to be born without the touch of Satan.

"There are Muslim theologians who say that term means she was born sinless. We know the religious system that believes Mary was born without sin. Out of the Koran they believe she 'kept her chastity.' In other words, she's a virgin.

"The Koran teaches that Mary is a sign to mankind. Mary, in Islam, is called the 'queen of saints.' She's called 'our lady.' There is in the land of Shinar in the Middle East--Mary, after the death and burial of Jesus Christ, moves to Turkey. There is a shrine called the 'House of Mary' in Ephesus in Turkey. According to tradition, this is where Mary spent the last years of her life.

"Where's Satan's seat in the Book of Revelation? Turkey. You've heard of 'Our Lady of Fatima.' Fatima is in Portugal. Did you know the Muslims dominated Portugal for centuries. You know where the name comes from? Mohammed's favorite daughter was Fatima.

"This site in Portugal is one of the most visited sites among Muslims. They believe in signs, wonders and miracles. You've heard of these Marian apparitions where supposedly signs, wonders and healings occur. You know that Muslims believe that?

"There are sites all over the Middle East that are believed to have this connection with Mary; they're called Marian sites and they're in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Egypt.

"There's a book written by Monsignor Luigi, a diplomat for the Vatican who spent years in the Muslim world and believes 'Mary is the bridge and the link between Islam and Christianity.'

"He writes: 'Further proof is found in the pilgrimage that Muslims have made for centuries to Marian shrines in the Middle East.' Damascus, Morocco, Algeria, Casablanca, Algiers.

"There was a site in Egypt where supposedly Mary appeared over a few weeks period of time to perhaps 2 million Muslims.

"Ultimately, Revelation 17, there's this fascination with a woman connected to Baal worship that manifests itself in different shades and flavors in human history. Is Mary going to be the bridge that brings together East and West?"

(new article tomorrow)