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.
Franklin Graham is to be congradulated for not siding with those 'who partake of the cup of devils'. All persons of faith, who take the 'Old Testament' seriously, understand that the God of Abraham is deeply opposed to the demonic worship of the indigenous tribes of the middle-east. His name is Yahweh, not Allah (the Arabian moon-god).
Whether Franklin Graham is a bonifide spokesman for the author of the Bible remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain; in this case he has stood with those who honor the ONE TRUE GOD and GWB has found a place with those who are giving rise to the antichrist.
"..."It wasn't Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn't Lutherans...it was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith..."
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Sounds like the truth, to me....
Is this supposed to be "evidence" of Graham being "in Presidential Hot Water?" Sorry, but this is even less reliable than the reports on the military action that are built solely on reports from "unnamed Defense Dept. officials" and "State Dept. officials speaking on condition of anonymity."
I'm upset with the President hosting Muslim religious activities in the White House, I think he's gone way too far with that, but there's absolutely no substantial evidence that he's upset with Franklin Graham for his statements, at least not in this report.
-penny
Obviously Franklin Graham is a FAR BETTER STUDENT OF HISTORY than the son of a 33rd degree mason/NWO(CFR)/Rockefeller conspiracy pawn.
Regarding religion, if all are true then none are true. Time will tell. In the meantime, God loves us all, wishes that none should perish, but is the designer of free will and lets each man ("man" as defined "mankind") decide for himself.
Bush is a wonderful person and is doing exactly what he should do AND say. (it would be difficult for me to pull of that Ramadan thing, I am not sure I am comfortable with it, but I'd need many more details to condemn it, and even then, I'd condemn it as a Christian, not as an American)
Bush is the Comander-in-Chief of a country who values freedom (well...freedom UNDER GOD anyway, that's the part the left leaves out). The freedom of religion is paramount. Bush is just displaying the fact that you have the right you believe any cockamamee (sp?) thing you want to in this county. I doubt he has a problem with what Graham said. If he did then the principle he is displaying regarding freedom of religion would be in contradiction, i.e. you can believe Islam but not Christianity.
All religion worth anything is mutually exclusive of other religions. In my view, there are essentials and non-essentials to christianity. You MUST believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah because "there is no other name whereby ye must be saved". (something like that). Infant versus adult baptism is a non-essential (though it could root in the essential---another debate).
Only one foundational religion will turn out to be right. Otherwise they are all lies. However, within a faith there is much diversity of thought and that's another matter. \
Still, God wants a willing heart just as much as He wants a pure heart. It is God's job to punish those who get it wrong, not ours. History has taught us that people like to take over God's roll in that matter but then they end up accountable for that sin too.
That said, I do take issue with something from the article. It says "there were prayers to Allah last night at the White House where President Bush hosted a formal Ramadan celebration with dozens of Muslim leaders".
It seems to me that is contrary to George W Bush's faith. One can promote freedom of religion without participating in the ceremony to (in the words of his own faith) is a false god. First Commandment bars his involvement.
God as mentioned in the Old Testament is the same God as mentioned in the New Testament. This conflict does not arise from participation in Jewish holy celebrations (provided he is not required to deny Jesus).
Will George be dressing up for the next solstice for a Pagan/Wiccan ceremony?
The left eats this type of photo op up (promoting "unity"), whereas to me it is nothing but a farce as there is little that he can say at an event such as this, honestly believing what he is saying, and not conflict with Christianity.
He should not shun Muslim religious leaders but it is not his world. He can't help but be an outsider at an event such as this.
The President of the United States is elected to LEAD the nation, not to function as its titular head performing at the will of the 'globalist ecumenical elite'. If he isn't man enough to speak out against Saudi-financed aggression against the West he deserves little respect.
GWB is where he is for a reason. He openly proclaims the name of Jesus Christ and readily bears witness to the salvation he has found in Him. While it is true that Islam itself is a religion promoting violence, much of the Muslim community hold to what peaceful teachings there are in that religion. It is to these people he extends his invitations. What purpose would shunning the millions of Muslims serve other than to put more roadblocks in the way from an evangelical standpoint?
George W Bush may very well do things that directly or indirectly bring about the rise of the Antichrist, but they will not be done with that end in mind. He is doing his best to lead this nation according to God's will. He is here for a purpose which neither you nor I know at this point.
WHAT???
We already have one...it was declared long ago by the Islamists, and we have heretofore refused to take it seriously. How can anyone continue to do so, after the events of 9-11?
Those who claim that this isn't a war between Islam on the one side, and Christianity and secular Western culture on the other is either willfully ignorant, or is participating in a propaganda operation that ultimately will fail, because all it is serving to do is prop up the enemy, and give them standing and credibility in the eyes of the world.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I pray for W to have uncommon wisdom...
I too have consistently prayed for this very same thing...but when he does something foolish, such as playing kissy face with the Islamists, and opening up our White House for their prayer service to Allah, I will call it the foolishness that it is.
...and that he follow whatever instructions God gives him, even when it doesn't make sense..
In a free republic, that is a recipe for disaster. God would never instruct anyone, leader or not, to violate His commandments...you know...You shall have no other gods......
God works in mysterious ways, and they aren't our ways.
I assure you, God did not tell President Bush to have a prayer service to Allah.
Franklin Graham can speak his mind as an evangelist, and he should.
Indeed. I offer him my warmest congratulations for having the courage and the wisdom to have done so.
I happen to agree that Islam is not a peaceful religion, but a deception.
So, you agree with Graham, and disagree with the administration's position vis a vis Islam...great, I'm with you there.
That said, I do not believe all Moslems are radical, but deceived and in need of Christ.
No thinking Christian I know would disagree with that statement.
I'll put my money on the second statement. This isn't to say that there aren't some truths (moral truths) in each, but all religions are based on faith. Nobody really knows, and anyone who claims to know is BSing you.
LOL!
You are right, all religion is based on faith. Atheism is based on faith as well, however. You cannot prove God doesn't exist. Perhaps you are saying you are Agnostic? Either way, I firmly believe in the freedom of non-religion.
Our country espouses Freedom Of Religion.
If another country has tied their religion to their government, that is their problem. We deal with their rulers, not their god.
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