What is your opinion of the Rev. Billy Graham?

[bluestateguy]

I really don't know much about the man or his history. Much of what he did was before my time, and now he is reducing his public appearances. Anyway, it always seemed to me that he steered clear of getting involved in divisve culture war issues and electoral politics. It doesn't seem like he openly identifies with the modern day religious right (his son Franklin is another matter). Bill Clinton had kind words for him in his book, and apparnenly he, Hillary and Chelsea had a private prayer session in the White House with Rev. Graham about 10 years ago. I am missing something here, what do you all think?

[Sean Reynolds]

1. I don't like or dislike him.

He isn't like Fatwell, or the other Christian Right zealots. At least from what I can tell.

[judge_smales]

2. Hard for me to say

becasue I don't pay too much attention to evangelists, but as those types go I always thought he was OK. That might only be becasue comapred to Fallwell and Bakker anybody would look good.

My overall feeling is pretty positive though.

[amazona]

3. he steered clear of nothing and was a big wig w/ nixon

He's on the Nixon tapes chipping in with the anti-Jew stuff.

I have no use for Billy Graham. He might put a better face on it in public than Falwall but he's just as nutty as the rest of them.

[tomreedtoon]

4. A master of mass-marketing.

Much as I may dislike right-wing evangelists, at least they take a stand. Graham has been known to be extremely flexible in his opinions, especially when a buck is involved.

The most notorious one I can remember was when he had a big revival in Las Vegas, and announced that he saw nothing intrinsically against gambling in the Bible. This seemed to be sucking up to the existing industry in the town where he was doing his reviving.

Graham survived the scandals of the evangelicals like the Bakkers, Oral Roberts and Jimmy Swaggart because he kept himself separate from them. He mostly preached about forgiveness and inspiration. His was a "feel good" kind of religion.

It might be his own beliefs, but I can't shake the feeling that he simply wanted to mass-market religion, and looked for the least offensive common denominator. And while I think religion should be an individual's own business, I also think religion is supposed to rest on firm principles that shouldn't be changed to meet a marketing trend.

I'm conflicted, in other words. Graham didn't do people any harm, but I wonder if he really did them much good, either.

[jjmalonejr]

5. Mixed

He seems like a genuinely decent person, but with the same warped politics as any fundamentalist.

However, I have to give him credit at least for taking a less divisive path than most evangelists. I think he dipped his toe into politics early, but quickly realized the Republicans were using him for their own agenda, not necessarily because they shared the same values and principles. Since then, I think he's been less willing to get too deeply involved in the political process.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. His headquarters used to be in Minneapolis

and the local clergy appreciated him because he encouraged people to become more active in their current churches or to seek out whichever local church filled their needs instead of insisting that they become Southern Baptists.

I'm not a fan of TV evangelists, but he's been the best of a mediocre to bad lot.

[SaveElmer]

7. It's his son Franklin who is the whack job

Typical fundie type...only Jesus followers go to heaven...everyone else to hell...blah blah blah

I've heard him on the radio a couple times being interviewed and I just want to reach through the radio and strangle the guy.

[Ilsa]

8. I can't stand Franklin.

He's indulging himself with his father's legacy, just as he has indulged himself all of his life. Billy Graham's daughter (paraphrased: "we deserved 9-11 for being an evil nation") and son are two of the most hateful people in religion, IMO.

I hold no ill will towards Billy Granham, though. I think he was sincerely trying to do the right thing.

[jukes]

9. i wdnt buy his used car

he's an opportunistic carney, hustling the gullible.

[mitchum]

10. A huckster with good hair and a great voice

[WI_DEM]

11. I don't dislike him like Falwell and the rest

he seemed to be moderate by comparison.

[AlFrankenFan]

12. I've got nothing against him

I think it's the fact that he said that it is not our place to decide who goes to hell that puts him in my good book, no pun intended. Another thing is he ain't like ol' Patty and Jerry, so he's fine with me.

[moof]

13. Possible proof of god and the devil

The creep is still alive because neither of them wants him.

Also he thinks all the Jewish people are going to hell.

He is part of the Reason that crook murder war criminal Nixon got elected and he double crossed Harry Truman by revealing details of a private meeting Truman granted him.

He aslo seems to belive in ghosts and that can't be that good.

He is an athiest a thousand times over since he does not believe in any of the other gods lots of other people believe in.

Lets see Nixon and Bush pal, thinks the jews are hell bound
thinks it's ok to kill people as long as it's the right people
steals money from people that can ill afford to do without it