Franklin Graham Should Not Be Allowed To Speak At The Pentagon: Military Religious Freedom Foundation

DENVER — A watchdog group objected Tuesday to an evangelist's invitation to speak at the Pentagon next month, saying his past description of Islam as "evil" offended Muslims who work for the Department of Defense and the appearance should be canceled.

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said inviting evangelist Franklin Graham to speak May 6, the National Day of Prayer, "would be like bringing someone in on national prayer day madly denigrating Christianity" or other religious groups.

It would also endanger American troops by stirring up Muslim extremists, Weinstein said.

Graham is the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham and president and CEO of both Samaritan's Purse, a Christian international relief organization in Boone, N.C., and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in Charlotte, N.C.

He said through a spokesman that he will be a guest of the Pentagon and will speak only if he's still invited. A military spokeswoman said she was locating officials to respond to the criticism.

After the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Graham said Islam "is a very evil and wicked religion." In a later op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal, Graham wrote that he did not believe Muslims were evil because of their faith, but "as a minister .... I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against the terrible deeds that are committed as a result of Islamic teaching."

Graham hasn't changed his views on Islam, said his spokesman, Mark DeMoss.

DeMoss quoted Graham as saying, "As the father of a son serving in his fourth combat tour, I'd be glad to know someone was leading a prayer service at the National Day of Prayer, or any other day."

Weinstein, the foundation president, also criticized the Pentagon's working relationship with the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a Colorado group that organizes Christian events for the prayer day, designated by Congress.

Weinstein said that while he doesn't object to the day of prayer, the Pentagon chaplain's office has effectively endorsed the task force by using its materials and routinely inviting its honorary chairman to speak at the Pentagon. Weinstein said that amounts to preferential treatment in violation of Defense Department rules.

Graham is honorary chairman this year for the National Day of Prayer Task Force, based in Colorado Springs. A spokesman for the task force didn't immediately return a telephone message.

Weinstein said the task force is entitled to organize Christian-oriented events. But he said the Pentagon chaplain shouldn't be closely affiliated with the task force because it requires that all its events be conducted by Christians, although those with other beliefs are welcome to attend.

A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled last week that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional because it amounts to a call for religious action. The judge did not bar any observances until all appeals are exhausted.

Comments

[PNOGUY]

11:15 PM on 05/26/2010

From George Washington's farewell address: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

[kattyM]

12:48 AM on 04/26/2010

Zionists are very strong even in US senate.

Read this articles and judge by yourself if these statements were possible in any other country's senate than US. A senator of a country put down his own president to please PM of another country, just can happen in US!

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2010/04/25/israels-man-us-senate

[kattyM]

09:41 AM on 04/25/2010

We have to fight extremism, not religions.

Religions bring spirituality and inner peace for believers and will not harm non-believers.

Extremism on the other hand creates hate inside the believers and destruction for believer and non-believers alike.

We have to fight extremism, Christian Evangelical Right, Zionism or Wahabism are all extremism since all of them produce hatred towards others.

Muslims should start with the country that produced Wahabism, the ideology of Al-Queda. Wahabism is neither Shia or Sunni. It is created by Britain to fight both Shias and Sunnis.

http://www.iranmilitaryforum.net/index.php?topic=3531.msg24809#msg24809

[kattyM]

01:20 AM on 04/24/2010

At least BUSH has the honesty of declaring the ME wars is a crusade.

You are only fooling yourself with this devision of Church and State.

No religion can survive with trinity into 22 century. Either go back to Christianitues original roots or no amount of military power can save an obsolete ideology.

[curiousdwk]

02:03 PM on 04/23/2010

It's amazing how many un-Christian actions and attitudes are sponsored by "a Colorado group that organizes Christian events".

[curiousdwk]

02:02 PM on 04/23/2010

It's amazing how many un-Chirstian actions and attitudes are sponsored by "a Colorado group that organizes Christian events".

[wm1066]

12:22 PM on 04/23/2010

Having grown up listening to his father I have to say when I heard him speak I had my doubts as to the validity of Christianity. With people like him (and his ilk) in charge I can't see Christianity lasting to the 22th century.

[PNOGUY]

11:10 PM on 05/26/2010

I think Voltaire said just about the same thing several centuries ago.

[Linda Ferris]

08:43 AM on 04/23/2010

Do not confuse evangelists with intellectuals as demonstrated by Franklin Graham. He has the IQ of room temperature!!!!!

[jeeperscripes]

08:05 AM on 04/23/2010

take an historical journey thru the past and see the torture, abuse and murder perpetrated by the christian church..that's why I despise all religions equally...

[PNOGUY]

11:11 PM on 05/26/2010

Maybe you should take time to read this: http://article.nationalreview.com/434850/global-moral-decline-and-whos-to-blame-for-it/dennis-prager?page=1

[r5mike]

10:02 PM on 04/22/2010

I am a Christian who has been a firsthand witness to Islam for over 40 years.
I grew up in an Islamic country before immigrating to the US at the age of 40.
During those first 40 years of life I was exposed to endless hatred and discrimination because of my religion.
I have lived now for about 20 years in the US where Muslims are treated very differently from Christians in any Islamic country and the only reason being that this country has had its principles based on the Holy Bible by its founding fathers.
Today, many Americans are not religious, yet many of the American ways of life were derived from Christianity.
During the first 40 years of my life I heard the media speak every day about how to destroy the US: the only obstacle against Islamic rule of the whole world.
Major Nidal Hassan is a US citizen and a Muslim who decided that his duties to his religion take precedence over his duty to his country, why? Because the country he lived in is non-Muslim.
I agree with Mr. Graham that Islam is evil, however we must not treat evil by evil, that is what the Lord teached us.

[holyheretic]

10:58 PM on 04/22/2010

Dear r5mike

You wrote: "Muslims are treated very differently from Christians in any Islamic country and the only reason being that this country has had its principles based on the Holy Bible by its founding fathers."

Our heroic Post Christian Founding Fathers considered the Christian Bible “dunghill”. They gifted us with a Godless Constitution. That is why we are a strong country.

In weaker Muslim societies it is only natural that during recent past they resented and felt threatened by Christians. Muslims are weak because their holy book is too sacred and so they do not have a Godless Constitution.

That is why they were subjected to being colonized and monopolized by stronger Christian nations. In the West science prevailed against superstitions.

--

The Truth of Thomas Jefferson - Priests Are the Greatest Enemies to the Doctrine of Jesus

"The truth is, that the greatest enemies of the doctrine of Jesus are those, calling themselves the expositors of them, who have perverted them to the structure of a system of fancy absolutely incomprehensible, and without any foundation in his genuine words. And the day will come, when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter."

- Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, Apr. 11, 1823

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In the East God Won - The high cost of organized ignorance.
http://whengodwins.blogspot.com/

[DeeBee2]

01:33 AM on 04/23/2010

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do..."

[kattyM]

01:12 AM on 04/24/2010

You did not had a correct understanding of Quran and now you do not have a correct understanding how Christians behave towards Muslims in ME.

It is a blessing that you converted for all of Muslims!

[PNOGUY]

11:14 PM on 05/26/2010

I think you should take a few more English lessons before posting your unintelligible ideas here on HP. Christians in Muslim countries are persecuted, Bible studies are prohibited and Bibles are confiscated. Compare that to how Muslims are treated in the USA. Perhaps we should tell Muslim-dominated countries that we will treat Muslims as Christians are treated within their borders.

[holyheretic]

06:41 PM on 04/22/2010

TO A PHILOSOPHIC EYE, THE VICES OF THE CLERGY ARE FAR LESS DANGEROUS THAN THEIR VIRTUES.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&tbo=p&rls=en&tbs=bks%3A1&q=the+vices+of+the+clergy+are+far+less+dangerous+than+their+virtues.&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

(John XXIII, 1414) The most serious charges were suppressed ; the Vicar of Christ (Pope John XXIII, 1414) was accused only of piracy, murder, rape, sodomy, and incest.)

Edward Gibbon 1737-1794

Edward Gibbon (April 27, 1737[notes 1] – January 16, 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament. His most important work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, was published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&tbo=p&rls=en&tbs=bks%3A1&q=the+vices+of+the+clergy+are+far+less+dangerous+than+their+virtues.&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=”

[holyheretic]

06:38 PM on 04/22/2010

"THE CLERGY, BY GETTING THEMSELVES ESTABLISHED BY LAW AND INGRAFTED INTO THE MACHINE OF GOVERNMENT, HAVE BEEN A VERY FORMIDABLE ENGINE AGAINST THE CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF MAN."

Thomas Jefferson

http://books.google.com/books?q=+%22The+clergy,+by+getting+themselves+established+by+law+and+ingrafted+into+the+machine+of+government,+have+been+a+very+formidable+engine+against+the+civil+and+religious+rights+of+man.%22&btnG=Search+Books

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826)[2] was the third President of the United States (1801–1809), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and—for his promotion of the ideals of republicanism in the United States—one of the most influential Founding Fathers. Jefferson envisioned America as the force behind a great "Empire of Liberty"

To date, Jefferson is the only president to serve two full terms in office without vetoing a single bill of Congress. Jefferson has been consistently ranked by scholars as one of the greatest of U.S. presidents.

Bewildering Bible Legends
http://bewilderingbiblelegends.blogspot.com/

In the East God Won - The high cost of organized ignorance.
http://whengodwins.blogspot.com/

[holyheretic]

05:29 PM on 04/22/2010

The Father of the Constitution” placed legal Christianity on trial, and his Post-Christian predecessors, Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson did so as well.

"Experience witnesseth that ecclesiastical establishments,
Instead of maintaining the purity and efficacy of religion, have
had a contrary operation. During almost fifteen centuries has
the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has
been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence
in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both,
superstition, bigotry and persecution."

- James Madison
"A Memorial and Remonstrance", 1785

http://books.google.com/books?q=Experience+witnesseth+that+ecclesiastical+establishments,+++++Instead+of+maintaining+the+purity+and+efficacy+of+religion,+have++++++had+a+contrary+operation.++During+almost+fifteen+centuries+has++++++the+legal+establishment+of+Christianity+been+on+trial.++&btnG=Search+Books

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[BetsyRossLives]

10:20 PM on 04/22/2010

Sorry Madison didn't know my pastors.

[holyheretic]

01:43 AM on 04/23/2010

Please, BetsyRossLives, tell us about your pastors.

[DeeBee2]

01:47 AM on 04/23/2010

Madison was correct, and the statement stands correct today.. Funny how truth always stand the test of time. I do not believe the LORD rejects the "Christianity" of today as most do not worship Him "in spirit & in truth".

The LORD said the same thing in essence in Matthew 7.

Verse 14 "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

He also says " Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' . Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "

[holyheretic]

05:27 PM on 04/22/2010

Video : Christopher Hitchens smacks down Billy Graham, "the bigot"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubLu-9SicSM&feature=related

Sometimes referred to as "the Protestant Pope," Graham has often advised U.S. presidents.
http://www.theopedia.com/Billy_Graham

Graham has had a personal audience with every sitting United States President from Harry S Truman to Barack H Obama.

He visited in the Oval Office with Truman in 1950, urging him to counter communism in North Korea.

However, Graham and his accompanying pastors were not aware of Washington protocol; they appeased the press corps waiting outside with details of the visit,
with the three pastors even acquiescing to the calls of the press to kneel on the White House lawn, as if praying.

This led to Truman calling Graham a "counterfeit" publicity seeker, and Truman did not speak to Graham for years afterward.[5][13]
Graham has often told the story, usually as a warning that he would not reveal his conversations with world leaders.

Graham became a regular in the Oval Office during the tenure of Dwight D. Eisenhower,
whom he urged to intervene with federal troops in the case of the Little Rock Nine,[5] and it was at that time, on a Washington golf course, that he met and became close friends with Vice President Richard Nixon.
Eisenhower asked to see Graham on his deathbed.

Graham also counseled Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and the Bush family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham

[holyheretic]

05:22 PM on 04/22/2010

A book, “The Prince of War: Billy Graham’s Crusade for a Wholly Christian Empire,”
by Cecil Bothwell exposes the camera-mugging preacher as a serial warmonger.

“THE SHEPHERD ALWAYS TRIES TO PERSUADE THE SHEEP THAT THEIR INTERESTS AND HIS OWN ARE THE SAME.” - Stendhal

http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/15882/index.php

The Rev. Billy Graham, a darling of the Evangelical Right, has never seen a U.S. war that he couldn’t bless.

He once advocated that President Richard M. Nixon bomb the “dikes” in the north of Vietnam.

He also criticized the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. for speaking out against the war.

There were twice as many Vietnamese victims during America's war against Vietnam (1959 to 1975)
as during the Armenian Holocaust (1915–1916)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War

MEN NEVER COMMIT EVIL SO FULLY AND JOYFULLY
AS WHEN THEY DO IT FOR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS

Pascal, Blaise
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~ekashida/quotes.php

Pascal, Blaise (1623-62), French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist, considered one of the great minds in Western intellectual history.
© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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http://holyheretics.blogspot.com/