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 Franklin Graham's has previously raised doubts about President Obama's Christianity.
February 28th, 2012
10:38 PM ET
Franklin Graham apologizes for questioning Obama's faith commitmentBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor (CNN) - The Rev. Franklin Graham on Tuesday apologized for publicly raising questions about President Barack Obama’s Christian faith, saying “I regret any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president, Mr. Obama.” The statement from Graham came in response to a letter from faith leaders associated with the NAACP that said Graham’s statements “have enormous negative effects for America and are especially harmful to the Christian witness.” In a television interview last week that provoked huge media attention, Graham appeared to question the sincerity of Obama’s Christian commitment. "You have to ask him,” Graham said, pondering whether Obama is Christian. “I cannot ask that question for anybody." CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories In the February 21 interview on MSNBC, Graham repeated earlier statements about Obama’s ties to Islam, while denying that the president is a Muslim. "Under Islamic law – Sharia law – Islam sees him as a son of Islam," Graham said. “Because his father was a Muslim, his grandfather was a Muslim. ... That's just the way it works." In their Tuesday letter to Graham, the NAACP faith leaders, which included the presidents of the National Baptist Convention USA and the National Baptist Convention of America, took aim at the MSNBC interview. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter “We were disturbed and disappointed by statements … that questioned whether President Obama is a Christian,” the letter said. “Rev. Graham also seemed to imply that the president may be a Muslim, despite the fact that the president has repeatedly expressed his faith and belief in Jesus Christ.” In his statement on Tuesday, Graham said, “The president has said he is a Christian and I accept that (and have said so publicly on many occasions).” “I apologize to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election—for his faith has nothing to do with my consideration of him as a candidate,” Graham’s statement continued. Graham, an evangelical Christian who is the son of evangelist Billy Graham, also rejected the idea of voting for a candidate on the basis of a shared religious faith. “I would support a Mormon or a Jew who supported the defense of marriage defined as being between a man and a woman over a Southern Baptist or Presbyterian who did not,” he said. In the MSNBC interview, Graham said most Christians would "not recognize Mormonism" as part of Christianity in response to a question about whether Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a Mormon, is a Christian.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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He would have been better off just saying "I regret any comments I have ever made" and ending it there.
Yeah cause truth hurts.
My point exactly! It hurts him so much, so he rarely tells any.
Dear Franklin,
We say the following prayer five times a day just for you:
The Apostles' Creed 2011: (updated by yours truly and based on the studies of historians and theologians of the past 200 years)
Should I believe in a god whose existence cannot be proven
and said god if he/she/it exists resides in an unproven,
human-created, spirit state of bliss called heaven??
I believe there was a 1st century CE, Jewish, simple,
preacher-man who was conceived by a Jewish carpenter
named Joseph living in Nazareth and born of a young Jewish
girl named Mary. (Some say he was a mamzer.)
Jesus was summarily crucified for being a temple rabble-rouser by
the Roman troops in Jerusalem serving under Pontius Pilate,
He was buried in an unmarked grave and still lies
a-mouldering in the ground somewhere outside of
Jerusalem.
Said Jesus' story was embellished and "mythicized" by
many semi-fiction writers. A descent into Hell, a bodily resurrection
and ascension stories were promulgated to compete with the
Caesar myths. Said stories were so popular that they
grew into a religion known today as Catholicism/Christianity
and featuring dark-age, daily wine to blood and bread to body rituals
called the eucharistic sacrifice of the non-atoning Jesus.
Amen
(references used are available upon request)
Hit report abuse on every reality post
And Jesus and I say this one for you, "Father forgive him, he knows not what he does."
Truth=Jesus, you can't live by parts of the BIBLE. Though shalt not kill=death penalty;applauding republicans. What about not judging others. I'm disappointed in Graham, his father probably blasted him really good.
From Professors Crossan and Watts' book, Who is Jesus.
“While the brute fact that of Jesus' death by crucifixion is historically certain, however, those detailed narratives in our present gospels are much more problematic. "
“My best historical reconstruction would be something like this. Jesus was arrested during the Passover festival, most likely in response to his action in the Temple. Those who were closest to him ran away for their own safety.
I do not presume that there were any high-level confrontations between Caiaphas and Pilate and Herod Antipas either about Jesus or with Jesus. No doubt they would have agreed before the festival that fast action was to be taken against any disturbance and that a few examples by crucifixion might be especially useful at the outset. And I doubt very much if Jewish police or Roman soldiers needed to go too far up the chain of command in handling a Galilean peasant like Jesus. It is hard for us to imagine the casual brutality with which Jesus was probably taken and executed. All those "last week" details in our gospels, as distinct from the brute facts just mentioned, are prophecy turned into history, rather than history remembered."
Luke 23: 34 i.e. "Father forgive them........." is a single attestation found no where else in the scriptures and therefore historically untenable.
Then there is this:
JC's family and friends had it right 2000 years ago ( Mark 3: 21 "And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.")
Said passage is one of the few judged to be authentic by most contemporary NT scholars. e.g. See Professor Ludemann's conclusion in his book, Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 24 and p. 694.
Actually, Jesus was a bit "touched". After all he thought he spoke to Satan, thought he changed water into wine, thought he raised Lazarus from the dead etc. In today's world, said Jesus would be declared legally insane.
Or did P, M, M, L and J simply make him into a first century magic-man via their epistles and gospels of semi-fiction? Most contemporary NT experts after thorough analyses of all the scriptures go with the latter magic-man conclusion with J's gospel being mostly fiction.
Obviously, today's followers of Paul et al's "magic-man" are also a bit on the odd side believing in all the Christian mumbo jumbo about bodies resurrecting, and exorcisms, and miracles, and "magic-man atonement, and infallible, old, European/Utah white men, and 24/7 body/blood sacrifices followed by consumption of said sacrifices. Yummy!!!!
So why do we really care what a first century CE, illiterate, long-dead, preacher/magic man would do or say?
Hey Graham,
Your "God" of the Bible does not exist. Stop feeding the masses your load of bull. Who cares if the President or future President believes in the one-eyed green god that lives on the dark side of the moon? Keep your delusions private. I don't want to hear about it.
Then tell you liberal media. They asked him!
Al youre going to regret of what youre saying later in life Remember no one is perfect on this planet except the man upstair
Dave,
Read the Bible. Your "man upstairs" is far from perfect.
Most right wing republican who associate with the religious right are incapable of thinking clearly and for themselves. They require others to tell them what to say. And many are cowards of which Franklin Graham is one. Notice Graham didn't say, "I think Mormonism is a cult." Most born again Chritians will have no problem saying "they believe" Mormonism is a cult and not hide behind the skirts of the Church as a whole as Graham did in this quoted article. And Graham has changed his tune so many times regarding President Obama's stated faith and Christianity that by his very words clarifies he should be trusted with any opinion. A man who canstantly changes, the Bible says is not to be trusted.
Its a well known fact that all preachers and ministers sons and daughters are devils workshop.
I firmly believe Obama's a muzzie. I have no issue with it at all. I also believe he's not a natural born American citizen.
Muzzie as in monkey
So sayeth the right wing retard.
You're one of "God's" finest.
Don't "believe" that Hawaii is a state, then?
OH CRAP THAT MEANS I'M NOT A CITIZEN! NOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo......
Someone get HawaiiGuest a green card, stat!
Why do you believe that? You however are neither muslim or Christian I assume. How can these people deliberately lie in the name of God. Oh I forgot, they also said they were good God fearing Klan!
Franklin Graham's comments disgust me. I'd read earlier that he hemmed and hawed about whether or not Obama was a Christian but he quickly answered in the affirmative when asked about whether or not Santorum was a Christian. He said that Santorum's moral values leave no doubt about his faith. Is Franklin Graham aware that moral values do not determine Christianity. Many non Christians have a higher moral code than Christains. In fact, many non Christains live a higher moral code than the sons of world renowned evangelical leaders. And that's all well and good but moral values do not make you a Christian.
I was taught that what makes you a Christian is found in John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I thought Christianity was based on belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of Almighty God where Jesus was crucified yet God raised Him from the dead on the third day to bring us redemption and salvation.
Franklin also insists on mentioning that in the world of Islam, Obama was born a Muslim due to his paternal lineage. Is Franklin aware that no one can be born a Christian or inherit Christianity but rather we must choose Christianity where if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
I wonder how does Franklin define Christianity???
Grace does not cover deliberately supporting abortion and sodomy. Obama's stand he makes clear that's why he hum hawed because he didn't want to tell the truth because of the reprocussions of it. Like this blog.
Truth=Jesus
How can you determine what Grace will or will not cover when 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Right on Lakisha!! Put the armor on case the demons are gonna attack you!!
Romans 6
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Truth=Jesus... Heavensent, is that you? You're forgetting to end your posts with 'amen' again. That's carnal.
sam...........AMEN!
Thank you, my day is now complete.
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.
What a man needs to confirm the faith of another is the declaration as stated above and your association.
Again, the faith of my parents does not authomatically translate to mine. Once I am an adult, I have to declare my own faith and believe it. So please remember you are not a Christian because your parents or your ancestors were. You are a Christian if you believe and confess Jesus Christ (by words and actions).
God bless America.
Can you see in the mans heart? Nope, but we can see his fruit as Jesus said.
I think that figs taste terrible.
Jesus cursed the fig tree.
Westboro has it slightly wrong - "God" hates figs.
@Truth=Jesus – all politicians and 'religious leaders' show their fruit by accident, sooner or later, if they have a webcam and a Twitter.
sam...that's why you need to keep your eyes on Jesus. AMEN!
Come on CNN, you left out the most important part of the interview! Graham said that he didn't know that Obama was a a Christian because he didn't know what was in his heart, and said that he holds that view for everyone. However, two or three minutes later he asserted that Santorum and Gingrich were Christian.
Why would you leave out that part that exposes his hypocrisy?
Because Art, CNN has no soul and are only interested in pandering to chaos not order and exposing hypocrisy. If they were interested in that then they would write a book on themselves.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Love Solomon for his wisdom.
Some wise guy. He owned se.x slaves you know?
Well, bigots, going back to someone's parents and grandparents to assign someone a label, that you will then use to hurt them makes about as much sense as, say, HILTER marching Christians to the gas chamber because one grandparent was a Jew. I saw this interview and the commentators grilled him on this and he kept saying it over and over and they were so incredulous it watch painful to watch.
Now that Graham has "apologized" to the president, pucker up for Romeny because you owe him an apology for saying he isn't a Christian either.
Does going back to President Obama's father being Kenyan makes him a muslim? Don't try the Hitler line with us. Santorum already tried that.
Proverbs 19:9 ESV A false witness (liar) will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
Matthew 7:1-5 ESV / 26 helpful votes
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Watch yourselves.
Ah yes, we all remember "Hilter." From back in Wrold Wra Tow, right? Dyslexics, untie!
@Truth=Jesus...........I reported you for badgering. I encourage everyone else to do the same.
Aww. cry, cry.
Badgering....Having a conservative Christian view that is not allowed. I love how liberals can't take an opinion different from their own. I could sit on here all day and bash graham, and Jesus, and God and I would be more than welcome. You are all sad that share this view and so un-american.
@Truth=Jesus.........do you enjoy being a hate troll?
@Truth=Jesus...........I think you are doing an excellent job of trashing your Jesus. and probably everybody else on here does too.
A conservative has the same freedom of speech as a Liberal. Who is trying to stymie that freedom here?
How? Cause I don't bow down to you and your hate filled opinions and agree that Graham is a piece of trash and Jesus and God are a fairytale. Go tell it to your atheists buddies. You're guilt trip don't work on me. I know what I have stood for and against here and it is a bunch of people bashing God and men of God.
"iberals can't take an opinion different from their own" That's a lie, and I hope it pleases your pagan deity. If you report abuse on this troll, he will be deleted.
That badger was a liberal feminist atheist, and there were no witnesses. I swear it was consensual! You'll never convict me of 'badgering,' you dirty -what? Harassment? Not best iality? I knew that.
@Truth=Jesus
Apparently, your finger-pointing is incorrect. I am not an atheist. I am a Jew and how the hell did you know I am female? I know what you are and you were hired by Opus Dei/Santorum/Jindal.....Yeah, I am on to you and all the O.D. hate trolls. You should know that if Jesus were truly the Son of Man and the saviour of mankind, I am certain He would be ashamed to know people like your kind terrorized the world population with religious fanatacism and tried to bully everyone into your beliefs. You are certainly no better than those nutcases up in Kansas who picket the funerals of fallen soldiers. If your Jesus were here I am certain he would say "I don't know you." If I am wrong and He is the son of God spoken of in the King James Bible, then I am sure he would say "I don't know you." Either way, you should pray to your God to soften your heart because there is no love in it for your neighbor. I don't care if your opinion is different from mine......I just don't want you to force yours on me. Many people feel the same way I do but people like you terrorize them into turning away from God. That is why so many atheists are mad at Christians...they have been terrorized by your kind. You should pray and take your meds.
FranklinG, you have just insulted every Christian converts of their faith & conviction because of their non-believing forefathers. Please change your profession or else Feds should take away your non-profit status. You are a disgrace to be called son of Rev.Billy Graham. "That's just the way it works."
Speak for yourself!
TO JJ@LA
You are so right Franklin Graham cannot walk in his father's bed slippers let alone his shoes. He is no where near the measure of his father who has a place in the hearts of so many Christians around the world.
Franklin Graham should learn that misrepresentation is actually lieing and yet he calls him self a man of God. He is so heavliy involved in politics that one would wonder how much time he spends doing God's work. Does he even care about all Christians? How could he be when is so intent on wearing his politics on his sleeve. I guess that there are no independents or Democratics that need to be introduced to God's word – maybe his church is only for Republicans. If he wants to be a politician then he shoud run for office and stop using the pulpit to promote his political agenda.
God is his judge and he doesn't expect him to be his father. The Christians need to look to the cross of Jesus and get him in their hearts and quit putting their faith in man. Let he without sin cast the first stone. We need some men of God in politics, don't you think! How many starving children did you send money to today. Did you proclaim Jesus is lord to thousands today? Do you have any right to bash him?
"Did you proclaim Jesus is lord to thousands today? " Why would I lie like that? You are enough proof that Jesus died for nothing. One bad Christian proves they are all bad, right? Same as liberals.
alliegator....you're just in rebellion. calm down.
".you're just in rebellion" You know nothing about anything or anyone as far as I can tell. Even your attempts at condescension are inaccurate.
wrong, you put it in writing, anger and rebellion to God.
"anger and rebellion to God." Sure I am, and you are obviously rebelling against the One True God, Mohamed. You can SAY you don't believe in Him, but that's just your anger and rebellion. I can tell from your words, like 'anger' and 'rebellion.'
Jesus still loves you gatorman! Nothing you can do!
The One True Great Pumpkin is coming! All shall kneel before Him in his Most Sincere pumpkin patch, and be saved.
"Jesus still loves you gatorman" Sure, and so do Cthulhu, Thor, Zeus, BAAL, Sauron, and Voldemort. All equally real and they ALL love me, I'm so lucky. PAC-MAN and Mario lve me too, and Elvis is smiling down from Heaven on all His children. Even My Little Pony loves me! Everyone loves me except poor old Jesus=Love.
Have to disagree with you on Voldemort. He liked snakes, not gators.
That's right! I forgot the Great Pumpkin and the Great Gazoo! They love me too. Oh wait, I'm in rebellion against the Great Gazoo, I totally disbelieve in Him now. But Iron Man is real. Iron Man, Iron Man, does whatever an iron can, can he swing from a thread, no he can't 'cause he's made of lead, look out, there goes the iron man. That's a hymn.
nope, i love you too!
I'm leaving. You are all devil worshipers. I'm frightened. Waaaah.
"Have to disagree with you on Voldemort. He liked snakes, not gators." But I BELIEVE that Voldemort loves me! Doesn't that count?
"alliegator....you're just in rebellion. calm down." Seriously for once, this is the kind of stuff that's frightening in a psycho way. He's been taught that not believing in his stuff is "rebellion," so he just needs to force me to my knees and make me bow to his idol. Since he knows what's best for all of us, the obvious next step is the Spanish Inquisition!
"Spanish Inquisition!" I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition!
Prayer changes things .
The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs.-–
I guess if I would join in on bashing Graham like the rest of you then it would be welcomed but because I have a conservative Christian view it not welcome here. No who's trying to control who.
It's because you're a delusional religious nutjob that believes in fairy tales.
That's you opinion. Don't be voicing you opinion on this site. Right!
"because I have a conservative Christian view" You are no Christian, sir.
It's not about your views. It's that you're an asshole.
why cause I don't support your liberal views? Now you've just put yourself in the boat with me and Graham. Judger!
I have to agree with Sam, I guess. Maybe I am a prophet of Uranus?
Liberals are so fun, they can dish it out but can't take it.
LOL!
Watch this, everybody. He's gonna try converting me. This will be fun.
I wish I was a liberal, since they seem to have all the brains.
@Truth=Jesus.........Dude........listen........the reason most people such as myself don't want anything whatsoever to do with religion is because of comments made by people such as yourself. They are about as welcoming as dog crap on the bottom of a shoe. If you enjoy your religion demonstrate it with positive statements and stop dropping your belief bombs on the rest of the world. We simply don't believe what you believe. .....okay?!
what would you have me say. Obama is a Christian? I don't see that he supports abortion and sodomy. He is grand. I have as much a right to speak my mind as you. Log off!
Salvation is through Jesus, not me or you.
Guys like Truth=Jeebus are the tur ds in the punchbowl of organized religion. He's here to show us how little Jesus' love matters to him.
alligator....you're spreading the love for us all right! Scary.
Was it not Jesus who said, "Ye are of your father the devil?"
I never said that. Ozzie Osborne said that back in his Black sabbath days.
Get your quotes straight.
I thought it was Franklin Graham's wife who said that.
You are amazing.By their fruits?Any Christian would have to be guided by the 'flagship' the Sermon on the Mount in ALL aspects of their lives.How can you claim Jesus and be a right wing American?Being a conservative like David Cameron IS ONE THING-BUT BEING EVIL LIKE YOU and your ilk ?
I know there is a god becuase that is what I was told to believe when I was a child. And I'm still not mentally capable of thinking for myself.
that's obvious hippey, you can't even come up with an original name. You're so sad.
Hey, why are you slandering hippies? I, myself, was one. I had my long hair and beard. I lived the communal live with my buddies. We all pool all are wealth and shared everything. We feed the hungry, cured the sick, and never charge for it. I went around preaching about loving one another and taking care of one another…I was the first liberal hippy...like it or not.
that wasn't me... i would take cedit for my work. you best get used to people stealing handles – its the hot ticket around these parts.
i was enjoying our conversation earlier – i wouldn't want to sour it with petty insults...i save those for later.
but seriously, it wasn't me. i post under hippypoet and thats it. its been my handle for a very very long time now.
ok, I'll admit it...it was me.
It wasn't me either. Maybe it was one of the other fifteen guys using this name?
If Jesus was a hippie, someone would have killed him by pounding nails into His hands.
Franklin, Franklin, Franklin. Dude, your dad is the BEST. But you are a shame to all the hard and dedicated legacy he built. Please pray for our national and local leaders. Your behavior is so un-Christ-like. I stopped supporting your charitable/political organization, once you started attacking this president and his faith. You are such a HYPOCRITICAL FOOL. I had hoped you learned some from your Dad. I have not heard you question Romney's faith, or Gingrich's faith or lack of.
The media asked him. He didn't ask them.
Santorum is the second coming of Christ.
We all need to vote for him or we'll all suffer god's rath
True, I will vote for him for Pope of the United States.