God and Country

Will Prentiss grew up in a broken home, struggling for guidance as a teenager, he moved in with his mother who was part of an Christian group. But he was subjected to violent abuse until he fled in fear of his life. Searching for meaning, still seeking his grounding through faith, he eventually found himself at a mosque and decided to become a Muslim. He became a strong advocate of his new community, married a Muslim woman, and faced discrimination after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But when Muslim friends begin planning to go abroad to carry out jihad, he started working with the FBI. Although he felt compromised and conflicted, he took pride in knowing that he was protecting his community and serving his country—but that did not assuage the guilt he felt in betraying his community. Focused on themes such as morality, justice, and what it means to be an American, this account offers insights into a religion that is deeply misunderstood while sharing the true story of someone weighing the balance between faith and patriotism.