Shortly after the attacks of September 11, Graham had commented, "I don't believe [Islam] is a wonderful, peaceful religion." Asked by NBC News on Friday to clarify his statement, he repeated his charge that Islam, as a whole, was evil.Posted on 11/21/2001 9:28:59 AM PST by truthandlife
In what is believed to be a first in American history, there were prayers to Allah last night at the White House where President Bush hosted a formal Ramadan celebration with dozens of Muslim leaders.
The Ramadan event was another effort by the Bush Administration to prove its war on terrorism is not a war against Islam. However, conservative voices like Gary Bauer have been sharply critical of that effort. He says he has heard from a number of people within the U.S. intelligence community who are shocked and demoralized that some of the Muslim leaders who have been spending time with the President have been known to speak out in favor of terrorism.
Bauer notes that while these people are getting the red carpet treatment at the White House, reports indicate the President is distancing himself from one of the country's best-known evangelicals. According to reports, Franklin Graham upset the Bush Administration when he recently referred to Islam as being "wicked, violent, and not of the same God."
Shortly after the attacks of September 11, Graham had commented, "I don't believe [Islam] is a wonderful, peaceful religion." Asked by NBC News on Friday to clarify his statement, he repeated his charge that Islam, as a whole, was evil.
"It wasn't Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn't Lutherans," he told NBC News. "It was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith."
In a follow-up statement yesterday, Graham said he is deeply concerned with "the teachings of Islam regarding the treatment of women, and the killing of non-Muslims or infidels."
The son of Rev. Billy Graham and the designated successor of his father's extensive evangelical ministry, Graham delivered the benediction at Bush's inauguration in January. As NBC News observed, "A presidential friend and supporter now finds himself at odds with both the Muslim world and the message from the White House." But conservative columnist Chuck Baldwin calls Graham "a breath of fresh air" for standing firm and not apologizing for his statements.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reports a Muslim advocacy organization has sent a letter to Graham inviting him to meet with them to discuss his remarks. In the letter, Nihad Awad of the Council on America-Islamic Relations says, "Negative impressions of Islam are most often based on a lack of accurate and objective information."
Positive Outcome
As a national holiday approaches, President Bush says Americans of various faiths will be "joined in prayer" this Thanksgiving. "On this holiday, we give thanks for our many blessings and for life itself," Bush said. "Thanksgiving reminds us that the greatest gifts don't come from the hands of man, but from the Maker of heaven and earth. This week, American families will gather in that spirit."
Since the September terrorist attacks, church attendance has increased and there have been more prayer gatherings on Capitol Hill. Evangelist Pat Robertson believes people have been shocked into examining what their true values are.
"What we're seeing is that this awful attack, as horrific ... and as heart-rending [as it was], is bringing about one of the greatest spiritual revivals in the history of America," Robertson says. "[T]he churches are full ... people are turning to God, they're turning to their families, they're turning to the fundamental values, and they're getting away from all this fluff of the last decade."
Robertson made his comments today on CNN.
A quick scan of Google produced the following:
In 1978, Sadat, Begin, and United States President Jimmy Carter held
discussions at meetings arranged by Carter. The discussions resulted in a major agreement that
included plans for Israel's withdrawal from all of the Sinai. The agreement also called for the
creation of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The peace treaty was signed in 1979, and
Israel completed its withdrawal from the Sinai in 1982. The treaty also called for
self-government for the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank of Jordan. Sadat and
Begin shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to end the Arab-Israeli conflict.from http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/worldbook/atozhistory/s/481330.html
One of the hardest days in the life of Golda Meir was October 6, 1973
- the beginning of the Yom Kippur War. It was a great tragedy for
Golda Meir. In June, 1974, Golda Meir retired from political life.
Quark, do you make it up as go along or is the world fantasy to you?
Praise His Holy Name
XeniaSt
Well said! I think there are many people on this thread that need a strong dose of HUMILITY. If GWB was wrong in hosting this Muslim feast, and I believe he was, we can pray that he be convicted of that sooner, rather than later. King David was a man after God's own heart, yet he sinned grievously--and was forgiven for it. One of the strong aspects of his story was his humble and broken-hearted response to God confronting him with his sin.
I've seen plenty of evidence that GWB's faith in Christ is real, and he articulates his belief in the gospel and demonstrates how real it is to him.
I once listened to a presentation by Muslims offered in a rather liberal church that I had grown up in. I believed what they said about their faith because I didn't know better and hadn't been taught well. Does that mean I wasn't a Christian then? I hardly think so, and I have since learned more and understand more about the exclusivity of the Christian faith.
The Bible speaks very plainly about the stronger and the weaker brother, and while I think the President is very strong as a believer in certain areas, he is not as strong in others. That does not somehow disqualify him as a Christian...thankfully, the blood of Christ covers all the sin in a believer's life.
-penny
Do you understand that is the risk here? Thousands are watching his acceptance of this heathan religion and judging it on that basis. Many of them have no other basis for comparison, no one to teach them the truth.
The Islamic clerics say that they have had alot of converts becuase of the positive treatment they have gotten in the press and by the politicians (Bush being the chief).
I do not believe that someone is a Christian just because he says so. Were you one when you believed the Muslims..I do not know. But the fact you went to a church proves nothing.
To me the biggest problem with this is it proves that W does not pray for guidence,he seeks it from political advisors..and not very good ones at that..
Clinton is a BINO. Most likely, he thinks it would not be politically good for him, if he went by his true belief: atheism. I do not know positively that he is an athiest, but I suspect he is.
If you are not with Jesus Christ, then you are against us.
While I mostly agree with your postings, I think you are wrong here. GW is not trying to convert anyone to Islam. He repeats the same theme..."Islam is a peaceful religion". not the truth the way or the light.
This may just be a political tool to bind Islam into acting in a peaceful manner or facing the consequences. The Lord sometimes allows for a bit of deception to occur especially in times of war or struggle. I do not understand it, but it is in the scripture.
Having said that, I agree entirely with Franklin Graham's statements.
Hope you are right.
It does influence my view of Bush meeting with the Islamic leaders for prayer, however, this is a free country and he is president to all the people, including Muslims. It is not against the law to think and believe violent things, it is only against the law to act on it.
That said, I am not sure either that the prayer time was a wise thing to do. At the same time, the last thing we want is to really make this a war against Islam. As Christians, we can persuade, as President, Bush really cannot. Not on an issue of religion anyway. We all have a different role to play in this.
I don't know. He might have. Problem was Islam started 600 years after Christ died. Had Christ been around, he might have been good buddy with Muhammad.
I tend to believe his profession of faith.....i believe it is personal with him but he is convicted enough that it comes through at times....not phoney like some who are social christians....
Man.....I wish that I was born that smart, instead of so good lookin'....
Trouble is...I missed out on that as well.
Certainly nobody who claims to be a Christian would ever post the above false accusation against GW.
Especially since the Bible tells us that one of the things that God HATES is one who bears false witness against another.
How disgraceful. Please don't tell us you claim to be a Christian.
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