[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Kelly J West) writes:
Sticks and Stones may break bones, but words can shatter a soul
On Mon, 04 May 1998 13:20:59 -0700 Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
writes:
>Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
>
>Hi Kelly:
>
>Billy Graham is the guy who has the big Harvest Festival church here
>in
>Riverside. His son has pretty much taken it over. That church takes
>over two city blocks, and ties traffic up on Sundays for hours.
yeah, Billy Graham is quite ill with Hodgkins disease and so his son has
pretty much taken over his father's role. The Graham's focus mainly on
crusade type religion and have stayed out of politics since Billy got
"burned" getting involved in the whole anti-communist movement way back
when. (hey, I'm only 24, so its before my time!) On the whole, Billy
seems to be a good guy-my only personal criticism (aside from a
difference in theological beliefs) is that he puts a tremendous amount of
effort into converting people and does little beyond that. (i.e
instructing/teaching about the "Christian lifestyle") In my opinion if
someone truly believes in a religion and holds a position of authority
that person has a responsibility to minister in ALL areas of his/her
constituents. However, Graham has been known to bring a lot of
humanitarian aid to places all over the world, and his son, Franklin,
created and runs a ministry known as the Samaritans Purse-which targets
poverty stricken areas and aids in medical, educational, and agricultural
development in those specified areas.
>
>As for Schuller, I don't know anything about the man myself, but I do
>know that he has a beautiful church and an awesome Christmas show as
>well
>as an Easter one (I haven't seen that one though).
>
>Didn't he plead guilty and get probation and a fine on that plane
>incident? I don't know why the other people who came forward, but I
>remember them doing so.
>
I do believe his plea was no contest, but I am not entirely sure. It
certainly is an unfortunate incident and I am sure he deeply regrets it.
Reports from the Crystal Cathedral claim that although it was hardly a
high moment in Schuller's career, it has not harmed his ministry in any
way. I guess it is one example of the fact that even ministers are human
beings. Do not get me wrong however, I am the first person to be irate
when someone in religious authority abuses that authority and takes
advantage of those who believe in them. To me there is no greater
blasphemy than that.
Schuller has yet to show any evidence of foul play in his personal life
(save for this airline incident) and his ministry. A fact that is
comforting when one thinks of the hundreds of thousands of people who are
faithful followers of Dr. Schuller.
>I'm really not into this type of thing so I can't make any expert
>comments on any of it. I don't go along with the idea that a person
>can
>buy his or her way into heaven, and that seems to me to be the thing
>that these guys on television keep saying.
>
>As for Graham and Schuller, I don't know enough about either of them
>to
>say anything, except if they help someone, then more power to them.
>
>Sue
>>
You are absolutely right in saying that no one can "buy" their way into
heaven-at least in terms of orthodox Christianity-, those who seem to
claim so are the infamous preacher's of the "Gospel of Wealth" a
distinctly american religious trend that coincides with the American idea
of this country being specially blessed by God and as being "the new
Eden" (an old Puritan idea) This idea became mainstream among religious
leaders early in this century and, in its bastardized forms, does seem to
imply that one can buy their way into heaven. And, sadly, the majority of
televangelists use that little ploy to sucker people out of their money
so that they can do such things as build an air conditioned dog house for
the pooch (as Jim and Tammy Faye Baker did)
Then there are others such as Pat Robertson and Jim Dobson who use
religious leadership roles as a way to raise funds to dabble in
politics-fighting as they say for "family values' "traditional values"
and the "Christian America" their worldview maintains so well. In my
humble opinion, it is individuals such as these two that are the most
ireprehensible of all.
Ill quit babbbling for now, as I'm sure this long winded message
interests no one but me anyway! (:
Kelly
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