Posted on 05/04/2010 8:46:58 PM PDT by Terriergal
Liberty University's board of directors has declined to take public action against Ergun Caner, president of the university seminary, as bloggers raise doubts about Caner's account of his childhood as a Muslim.
...
Foes want Caner to admit to what they label as exaggerations and lies, including claims such as:
Growing up in Turkey, when he actually grew up in Ohio.
Being raised in a devout Muslim home, rather than a nominal one.
Having been involved in Islamic jihad.
Having debated dozens of Muslims about the Islamic faith, although there is no video or audio evidence.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
LYING is not an ethical/moral issue? LYING is not theologically inappropriate? This is utterly bizarre. Liberty U is down the toilet if this is what they think.
You may not like James White's theology, but no one can credibly accuse him of being unethical or stretching the truth on these things. So to get a feel for what is going on (and has been for quite a while now) Read James White's blog post from February:
A Response to Dr. Ergun Caner, President, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
But as always, LOOK at the evidence from the horse's mouth, Ergun's conflicting statements about himself that he himself made.
Oh and now John Ankerberg is in on it too
http://www.fakeexmuslims.com/youtubechannelterminated.htm
They terminated his youtube account for ‘copyright violation’ when there are clearly others out there using the same clips, and far more of the material, but in a FAVORABLE light. Christian organizations should not be behaving in this manner.
We've got the Leftist/Liberal group -- "People for the American Way" in their "Right Wing Watch" website, admonishing Christians about Ergun Caner, President of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, who they claim is fudging on his "ex-Muslim credentials" -- based on some complaints from "Muslims" no less ... :-)
That's real "choice" and I'm glad to see that the People for the American Way are teaming up with some Muslims and disgruntled Christians and going after Ergun Caner ... LOL ...
Submitted by Peter on April 28, 2010 - 9:37am
Dr. Ergun Caner, the president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, has been a rising star on the Religious Right, entertaining audiences at major Religious Right gatherings with his hip, irreverent stories about his upbringing as a radical Muslim and his conversion to Christianity. Just this week, his story was featured on Focus on the Family’s broadcast, “From Jihad to Jesus.”
Turns out, according to a growing chorus of critics – many of them Southern Baptists and other Christians – Caner has apparently been lying for years about his childhood and his life story. It’s hard to even summarize the extent of the deceptions being described by his critics, but they include his claims to have grown up in Turkey and to have personally involved in Islamic Jihad, when court records from his parents’ divorce place him in Columbus, Ohio when he was just a few years old. Check some of the critical websites for voluminous debunking of Caner’s colorful (and apparently fanciful) stories about learning about America through TV broadcasts in Turkey and more. Some charges are even more directly related to his ministry, such as his claims to have debated top Muslim scholars around the world. Caner’s critics say there’s no evidence of those debates.
These are no vague or reckless charges, but carefully documented exposes that draw from Caner’s sermons, speeches, and online videos, and other public records. Liberty doesn’t seem to have responded publicly, but recently posted a revised version of Caner’s bio with disputed claims removed.
Some of Caner’s critics are willing to forgive him, but only if he owns up to his massive deceptions. Meanwhile, Caner and his supporters have been trying to get his critics to shut up. Caner himself has pulled the Religious Right’s favored religious persecution card, reportedly saying in a memo to his Liberty colleagues, “I never thought I would see the day when alleged ‘Christians’ join with Muslims to attack converts.”
Meanwhile, others are starting to raise questions about the extent to which Ergun’s brother Emir, who heads a Baptist college in Georgia, may have assisted in Ergun’s deceptions, whether actively or by passively allowing false claims to go unchallenged.
It doesn’t look like Liberty University is going to be able to shove this under the rug. Stay tuned.
I expect to see a statement from Obama, next... saying that Ergun Caner is too critical on these poor Mulims ... :-)
They've used material from Muslim websites who criticize Ergun Caner for exposing what Muslims believe and are all about. This is a Christian, using "Muslim material" to go after other Christians ... what a deal! LOL ...
The following is a long article outlining this and for right now, I'll only include the conclusion of the article. I'll include the core of the article a bit later..., but it's linked so you can look at it ... :-)
[ ... ]
Conclusion
Here’s what I think ought to happen:
A) Tom Ascol owes Dr. Caner, without qualification, a public apology for his despicable insinuation, as well as a full public retraction of his damaging words. There is simply no excuse for carelessly sewing unguarded personal indictments against a brother in Christ—especially when those indictments come from a less than reputable source. If Ascol does want to live peaceably with all Southern Baptists, he needs to start by loving his neighbor as himself. In this case, Dr. Ergun Caner is his neighbor. Will Dr. Ascol both apologize and retract? Sadly, I do not think he will. I hope with all my hoping I am wrong.
B) James White simply needs to get over himself and his apparent disdain for all things Ergun Caner. In fact, the Caners, I think, have been wise to shun association with White and his ministry. Why? Simple. If James White’s blog is any indication of his apologetics, no Christian could remain spiritually healthy in such a horribly divisive environment. One does not read long before it’s a “Quit lying about me! I’m not the one lying, you are!” type of “apologetic” exchange (and yes, unfortunately I have those links too).
No thanks, “Dr” White. You and your community are much too cantankerous for me.
In fact, I’d bet a week’s worth of starbucks I speak the view of most grassroots Southern Baptists.
Therefore, Drs. Caners--beware. James White's community is not for you. Stand your ground. Stay away.
Indeed all Christians beware...stand your ground...stay away. There's more to gospelizing than pretending one's preaching when one is only debating.
With that, I am…
Peter
The truth is still the truth even if it comes from an atheist.
One or two "mis-spoke"-ments are can be recovered from. We're human, between the fall and the consummation, which is to say we're sinful and fallible. We goof up. But when there's a long standing pattern, you don't know what of what the speaker has said you can believe. Everything he says is called into question.
No, that’s not quite right. One of the very first people to raise the issue was James White, a very conservative apologist who actually HAS debated some of the people Ergun claims to have debated.
You should actually look at the evidence. Do you think a jury of a variety of people cannot come to a verdict on a liar?
Wow, this is really disappointing. I saw Caner speak at an apologetics conference last year, and he was fantastic. A real shame if he’s felt the need to embellish in order to add impact to his presentations. And if true, he needs to come clean. It’s starting to feel a little like a retread of the Mike Warnke business.
You absolutely are right, he is a very gifted speaker. I listened to him in 2001-2002 after 9-11 when he spoke at Good News For Israel and I loved it.
But sounds like he made up the “former jihadi” thing after 9-11 just to use that to promote himself. And his brother Emir is doing it too unfortunately.
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