Rev. Billy Graham. Now's there's a man who has used his faith to unite people in a positive way

[bluestateguy]

No, he was not perfect--none of us are--and yes, there have been times when he said things that I disagreed with. But he is a good man with good intentions, nor did he make a career out of demonizing people with whom he disagreed. When he made mistakes in life, he owned up to them. I've just always liked the guy.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Used faith to unite people?

Well, I suppose if you don't count Jews.

:shrug:

[donco6]

2. Self delete

Ooops. Sorry.

[DemKR]

4. Billy Graham did this??? the hurricanes

Sorry I don't remember this. Do you have a link to his statement?

[JuniperLea]

7. You got a link?

I never heard of such a thing from him.

[Rosemary2205]

12. I think that was FRANKLIN Graham, the kid, not Billy Graham.

And he didn't actually BLAME gays for Katrina. He said he hoped God would use the disaster to lift the moral fiber of NOLA.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/04/cnna.graham/

KING: When you use words though, sort of like, "God has a plan, God has a purpose," I don't assume you're trying to say that this storm happened and hit New Orleans because of any activity of its people?

(Franklin) GRAHAM: No, I certainly don't. I would never say that this is God's judgment on New Orleans or any other place. In the scripture Jesus mentioned some men that were killed in Jerusalem when a tower fell. And he asked the question, "Do you suppose they were worse sinners than all the others in Jerusalem because they died this way?" And he said, "No." He said, "But unless you repent, you, too, will perish."

And I believe God has a plan and purpose for everything in life. And sometimes there are storms in life. And we have to look beyond those storms and just trust God, that God will use this storm in a way that will benefit the people of New Orleans and the people of Louisiana and Mississippi in a much stronger way in the years to come.

There's some good things that can come out of this, even though we don't see it right now. I believe New Orleans will be a much stronger city in the years to come.

[DemKR]

3. Agreed, I respect him

He doesn't politicize anything. He's very kind and he respects everyone. Can't say the same for his son, Franklin, though. Don't know where he went wrong with him!

[JuniperLea]

5. Good call...

He never preached hate, only love.

I saw him preach when I was a fundy kid... very compassionate man.

[xchrom]

6. billy graham was central in the fight against desegregation -- central

in the fight against having the ten commandments removed.

he is a partisan player -- extremely partisan.

like paul weyrich -- he is pivotal in rethinking about using people of faith to divide and conquer.

[JuniperLea]

Linky?

I don't remember this at all.

[buff2]

10. I heard him say one time he voted Democratic

Rev. Graham is a Democrat. Nuff said.

[terrya]

8. Hey, he helped George W. Bush swear off alcohol.

And find religion.

If you believe that story.

[tanyev]

15. And if he hadn't done that, Dubya would be passed out on the floor

of some Texas honky tonk instead of living in the White House.


Darn.

[theoldman]

9. When I die people will also say good things about me.

I just hope they will be honest and not lie like Graham.

[Justitia]

11. Well, he said he thought AIDS was a judgment of God & some other nasty stuff about Jews.

So, I guess if you can overlook that stuff....

[Spazito]

13. I would have to question this: "used his faith to unite people in a positive way"

Only those of a faith he espoused, otherwise he was less than uniting, imo:

snip

In the taped conversation, Mr Graham said the Jewish "stranglehold" on the media "has got to be broken or this country's going down the drain".

"You believe that?" Nixon replies.

"Yes, sir."

"Oh boy. So do I. I can't ever say that but I believe it," Nixon says.

"If you get elected a second time, then we might be able to do something," Mr Graham replies.

End of snip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1850077.stm

Be sure to read his comments on the subject of Jewish influence in Hollywood in the linked article, they are, dare I say, anti-semetic, imo.

[MasonJar]

14. Billy, I admire you, but if you are talking about Jerry in this statement

you are way off base. This is not to demean the dead, but to honestly comment that Falwell never united people through his brand of Christianity. Neither did he represent the teachings of Christ.

[Lint Head]

16. I will let the dead be so, but Rev. Graham is alive and his son

Franklin Graham is associated with TBN and organization that has rip off millions. Paul and Jan Crouch have threatened people. They have prayed for people to die that oppose them. It's public knowledge reported in the Tennessean in Nashville, TN. I was told of a situation years ago where the Graham organization took money from a man that had Alzheimer's. The man's son tried to get the Graham people to return the money because it was his life savings and he needed it for care. They refused. These con men use the name of Jesus Christ, a man that gave everything to the poor, for their own greed. Don't believe everything you see on television. :dem: