-Caveat Lector-
From
The Washington Times
www.washtimes.com
Graham speaks out on Islam
Julia Duin
THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published 8/8/2002
The Rev. Franklin Graham concedes that he's not the diplomat his famous evangelist
father is, and he doesn't mince words about Islam.
"I have many Muslim friends," he says on a visit to Washington, "but I want the
people
of this country to know that the god of Islam is not the Christian god. The god of
Islam is
not a father. The god of Christianity was the father of Jesus Christ.
"There's a mood in this country that we'll believe a generic belief. That is not
acceptable. Political correctness has run amok in this country."
The 50-year-old evangelist � the fourth child of the Rev. Billy Graham, who has
preached to more people than any man in history � is making his dislike of certain
Islamic
practices known far and wide. The other night on Fox News' "Hannity and Colmes," he
said
the Koran preaches violence and that Islamic extremism is "a greater threat than
anyone's
willing to speak [of]."
The next night, while signing copies of his latest book, "The Name," at a downtown
Barnes & Noble, Mr. Graham said God had blessed the United States because of the
nation's Christian heritage. "This country was not built by Hindus, nor Muslims, nor
atheists," he said. "It was built by Christian men and women."
Seated at a black wooden table, wearing a black jacket and matching cowboy boots,
Mr.
Graham signed his books with a black marker.
He told about 10 listeners that Christians should get involved with AIDS victims
and steer
clear of extramarital sex.
"We need a sexual education program that warns young people of the hell they'll
create
with their own bodies," he said. "Outside of marriage, sex kills." He cites his own
experience; he was "sexually active" before his 1974 marriage to his wife, Jane.
He repented his rebellious past, he said, and founded Samaritan's Purse, a
Christian aid
group. Over the past few years, he has increasingly been filling in for his ailing
father,
including the delivery of the opening prayer at the 2001 inauguration of President
Bush. He
and the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, who delivered the benediction, were both criticized by
nonbelievers for praying, as Christian clergymen do, in the name of Jesus Christ.
The president was later sued over those prayers, he said, by Michael Newdow, the
California atheist whose lawsuit against public schools regarding the recitation of
the Pledge
of Allegiance won a favorable ruling in June from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals.
"[Harvard law professor] Alan Dershowitz said I alienated millions by praying in
the
name of Jesus Christ," Mr. Graham said. "In what other name should I pray? If a Hindu
president was being inaugurated, he said, that president could have summoned a
clergyman to pray in the name of Hindu gods.
After the September 11 attacks by Islamist terrorists, Mr. Graham criticized
Islam as a
religion that promotes violence in his public statements. In October, at the
dedication of a
chapel in Wilkesboro, N.C., he referred to Islam as "wicked, violent and not of the
same
God." After NBC News broadcast those remarks a month later, the evangelist modified
them
slightly.
"I am not attacking Muslims," he said. "But how come the Muslim clerics have not
gone
to ground zero and had a prayer vigil and apologized to the nation in the name of
Islam?"
If the terrorists had been Catholic, Pope John Paul II would have not only
apologized but
would have pledged assistance for the victims, he said. "But where are the Muslim
clerics?
When people say this is a 'peaceful religion,' don't tell me that. When a suicide
bomber
straps on a bomb, that's not peaceful. The Baptists are not doing that. Neither are the
Pentecostals."
Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which closely
monitors public comments about Islam, says Mr. Graham's comments are "not
mainstream" and wishes Mr. Bush, a Methodist, would publicly repudiate Mr. Graham, a
Baptist.
"The president needs to speak out," Mr. Hooper said. "These are his people. If he
said,
'Knock it off, you are hurting the nation's interest by setting up a civilizational
conflict,' they
would. The president needs to distance himself from such bigoted comments." He said he
had tried to talk to Mr. Graham, who says he does not intend to ever talk to the Muslim
group.
"CAIR wanted to bring a group of people to convert me to their point of view," Mr.
Graham says. "I don't have time for that."
Copyright � 2002 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Return to the article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A<>E<>R
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without
charge or
profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of
information for
non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth
shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
