Back in 2001 Graham said, "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." When NBC News asked him to clarify his comments, Graham reportedly said that "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." I have yet to hear him say he was speaking of radicals or extremist Muslims. No, rather, he lumped all of Islam into one evil religion.
Franklin Graham recently re-stated his criticism of Islam, saying, "Muslims do not worship the same 'God the Father' I worship." He also made a comment about Hinduism, saying, "No elephant with 100 arms can do anything for me. None of their 9,000 gods is going to lead me to salvation. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can have some big kumbaya service and all hold hands and it's all going to get better in this world. It's not going to get better." I'd like to know what he means by 'fooling ourselves'.
How do these statements demonstrate love and peace, which most Christians like to say they are about? They don't. Graham's version of religious truth, which is practiced by many people in the U.S., seems more about being right and less about being meek, a peacemaker, or non-judgmental of others. It hardly encourages people of other faiths to respect him. Even the Apostle Paul is attributed with the saying, “I became all things to all men, so that that by all means possible I might save some." Obviously he doesn't believe in Islam and neither do most Evangelical Christians, but I don't find it wise to disrespect an entire religion if your goal is to preach God's love. It's kind of like saying, hi, you are evil, and I really love you, so think as I do. Why would calling Islam evil be a problem, because people identify with their faith. They don't see it as separate from who they are because it's part of their identity.
If I asked Mr. Graham about the benefit of his remarks, I'm sure he would respond with a well rationalized response justifying his righteous remarks. When one believes they are holding absolute truth, it's very easy to condemn others, or pity them. People like to justify their statements and/or actions. No one likes to admit they made a mistake.... especially one as obvious as his. This is, after all, a time of war within two countries that value Islam and, by the way, are currently full of U.S. soldiers trying to get along with the population.
At another event Graham went on to criticize Obama for giving preference to black charismatic and Pentecostal pastors over "mainstream" evangelicals and "the historic Christian majority" of the country. I have a hard time with the obviousness of this bias. Now we have a white evangelical Christian complaining about black Christians being given more preference. Do I need to spell out the problem with his statement?
Personally, I don't know Mr. Graham, and he might be a better person then my article implies, but one's thoughts and beliefs are valid predictors of one's actions. His recent and past statements demonstrate the kind of harm that results from thinking and believing as he does. No good can come from calling Islam evil or mocking Hinduism's gods. In my opinion, he could do better by meeting with Muslim leaders in the U.S. to show his willingness to understand their religious views so he could check himself for bias before he speaks so brashly about a religion he was never a part of. I would expect no less of any other religious figure/leader if they treated Christianity in the same manner.
Bill J.
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