Posted on 03/15/2006 4:25:25 PM PST by Dark Skies
The Rev. Franklin Graham, who outraged Muslims in 2001 when he said that Islam "is a very evil and wicked religion," told an interviewer for Wednesday's edition of ABC News "Nightline" that he hasn't changed his mind about the faith.
Asked by ABC correspondent John Donvan whether Muslim groups had succeeded in altering his outlook about Islam, Graham said "No."
"Do they want to indoctrinate me? Yes. I know about Islam. I don't need an education from Islam," he said. "If people think Islam is such a wonderful religion, just go to Saudi Arabia and make it your home. Just live there. If you think Islam is such a wonderful religion, I mean, go and live under the Taliban somewhere. I mean, you're free to do that."
Franklin Graham is the successor to his father as head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, based in Charlotte, N.C. He was interviewed Sunday in New Orleans, where Franklin and Billy were leading an evangelistic festival.
The younger Graham angered Muslims following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks when he told NBC News: "We're not attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us. The God of Islam is not the same God. He's not the son of God of the Christian or Judeo-Christian faith. It's a different God, and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion."
In a subsequent Wall Street Journal piece, Graham wrote that he doesn't think Muslim believers "are evil people because of their faith. But I decry the evil that has been done in the name of Islam, or any other faith -- including Christianity."
That article said "the persecution or elimination of non-Muslims has been a cornerstone of Islamic conquests and rule for centuries." Graham said the Quran "provides ample evidence that Islam encourages violence in order to win converts and to reach the ultimate goal of an Islamic world."
Some of Graham's fellow evangelicals subsequently expressed concern that his comments might endanger Christian missionaries working in Muslim countries, strain interfaith relations and make America's war on terrorism seem to be a Christian crusade against Islam.
Billy Graham has avoided such comments about Islam and President Bush has consistently depicted mainstream Islam as a religion of peace.
Another U.S. evangelist, the Rev. Pat Robertson, said of militant Muslims on his Monday telecast: "These people are crazed fanatics, and I want to say it now: I believe it's motivated by demonic power. It is satanic and it's time we recognize what we're dealing with."
"The goal of Islam, ladies and gentlemen, whether you like it or not, is world domination," he said.
He is going to catch it.
Call the politically correct police. The truth is out!
My son-in-law is a Muslim (from Pakistan, naturalized American citizen). He is not religious at all as nearly as I can tell. From what I know about, and through, him and his family members and friends, I agree with your statement. Islam, when taken seriously by its adherents, is a serious danger to the West.
I totally agree that if it were not for the Crusaders taking out Islam in Europe, they would all be sticking their butts in the air, chopping heads and stoning women daily.
I understand that. My point was that people who are bent on destruction will use whatever tools are available. The tool de jour is Islam, tomorrow it will be something else.
The point is, Islam per se is no more "evil" than Buddhism or Hinduism or any other non-Christian religion, and that there are just as many non-violent Muslims as non-violent Shintoists, for a variety of reasons.
No matter how He "explained" it, you cannot get away from the fact that accepting Him as Lord is the requirement, and the only requirement, for eternal life.
I believe islam (true islam) has shown itself to be quite evil...provided, of course, one believes that evil exists (and I, for one, do).
God does not have levels of "evil" and "wickedness." All non-believers are wicked and evil. In His eyes, the Hindus are everybit as evil as the Muslims. Arguably, as a % of the population, the Muslims are fairly moderate compared to, say, the Shintoist Japanese.
Graham should speak of authority or condemn to Muslim. As a priest, we should go there and rescue their soul. We need unite all the people to pray over to them. Remember, Kingdom of Heaven welcome everybody. Weapon can kill their faith. Only pray can smash their hatred in Heart. Remember Jeses say "...nobody are call good, only my Father..." Why he didn't claim he is good. Jesus is HUMBLE! We must sit down and discuss what went wrong with THEM! GOD bless you all!!
as long as graham only sticks to the word of God, anything he says will be sharper than any two edged sword.
When an arab kid blows himself up in a pizza joint he may imagine he is sacrificing himself, and thereby he shows he missed the point of Mt 9:13 and denies Christianity altogether.
Darn right. We need a lot more of it.
I think a lot of preachers have confused turning the other cheek with appeasement. Jesus never appeased.
I'm failing to see the point. EVERY Arab kid doesn't blow himself up when he is "dissed." (In fact, an incredible profile of some 400 AQ and Pale suicide bombers showed that most were upper-middle class, well-educated, and came from intact families. The point is, their parents obviously didn't teach thim this oddball interpretation of the Koran.
Both Revs. Franklin Graham and Pat Robertson are 100% correct about islam. Good for them for speaking the TRUTH about this hate-filled cult of death.
I am from small town GA but spent my career in NYC (loved it but didn't always love the choices I made).
Older and wiser now.
I actually am a native New Yorker. I lived in Savannah for a couple of years and am now back in NY (Dutchess County) studying nursing (to be lisenced as an RN).
Grrr...argh...make that "licensed". Duh!
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