Billy Graham Faces A Backlash Over Removal Of Mormon-Cult Webpage

[Avatar4321]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/billy-graham-faces-backlash-over-mormoncult-removal/2012/10/24/2f9ca0c6-1e1b-11e2-8817-41b9a7aaabc7_story.html

Thought a follow up story would be good. Looks like not everyone agrees with Rev Graham.

[Mark Beesley]

I read this article last night, and I agreed with those who were critical of Graham. His was obviously a political move intended to benefit Romney's bid for the White House. They admitted as much. So it seems rather myopic and shallow to take what is essentially a theological position for purely political purposes.

[ERayR]

I read this article last night, and I agreed with those who were critical of Graham. His was obviously a political move intended to benefit Romney's bid for the White House. They admitted as much. So it seems rather myopic and shallow to take what is essentially a theological position for purely political purposes.

Of course it was for political purposes. It is obvious that Mr. Romney's ideals are more in line with Mr. Graham's ideals than are Obama's. He obviously thinks preventing four more years of Obama is worth the compromise. So much so that he felt it necessary to remove that theological difference for those who wish to follow his lead. These are the kind of decisions and compromises we make on a regular basis.

[blackstrap]

Politics makes for strange bedfellows.No untoward meaning intended.

[The Nehor]

Remember that Billy Graham is old and sick. This may not be his move. Out of nowhere suddenly he seems to have gotten much more political. I (and many others) believe his son is trying to. Use his legacy to build a politically influential ministry he can control. The latest actions by Billy Graham do not match what he has done in the past.

[cdowis]

For evangelicals, berating Billy Graham is like Catholics dissing the pope. Through his globe-trotting crusades and passionate preaching, the nearly 94-year-old evangelist has converted countless Christians and almost single-handedly ushered evangelicalism into the modern age.

As Christ told us, we should leap with joy. His prophecies are continuing to be fulfilled.

[ERayR]

Remember that Billy Graham is old and sick. This may not be his move. Out of nowhere suddenly he seems to have gotten much more political. I (and many others) believe his son is trying to. Use his legacy to build a politically influential ministry he can control. The latest actions by Billy Graham do not match what he has done in the past.

Or perhaps it is an old man realizing and rectifying mistakes of the past. Old does not equal senile.

[Damien the Leper]

No thanks...I'd rather not get into bed with either of them....or Obama for that matter.

[thesometimesaint]

Electing anyone to high political office is like marriage. The crazy aunts, uncles, and cousins are just an added benefit.

[The Nehor]

Or perhaps it is an old man realizing and rectifying mistakes of the past. Old does not equal senile.

Doubt it as his son seems bent on political success it makes sense to hitch the cart to Romney for a bit. I suspect the same thing with Billy Graham's supposed stance on same-sex marriage laws (again Graham was against homosexuality but rarely let his comments get political). I am not basing this on a single data point.

Also, it is pretty much certain at this point he is senile. His son is calling the shots.

[The Nehor]

No thanks...I'd rather not get into bed with either of them....or Obama for that matter.

Please do not turn this into a thread about homosexuality.

[Damien the Leper]

Please do not turn this into a thread about homosexuality.

You're a jerk! LOL. That's not what I meant nor implied, Nehor.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I read this article last night, and I agreed with those who were critical of Graham. His was obviously a political move intended to benefit Romney's bid for the White House. They admitted as much. So it seems rather myopic and shallow to take what is essentially a theological position for purely political purposes.

I have noticed how PC it has been for us to eat our own...

[Sky]

It just goes to show how pervasive the "Mormonism is a cult" mantra still is in some circles.

[mrmandias]

I read this article last night, and I agreed with those who were critical of Graham. His was obviously a political move intended to benefit Romney's bid for the White House. They admitted as much. So it seems rather myopic and shallow to take what is essentially a theological position for purely political purposes.

I disagree that 'cult' is a theologically determined matter. Some evangelicals try to make it one with silly definitions of the word 'cult,' but in both scholarly and popular use 'cult' is a sociological term, not a theological one.

[Mark Beesley]

I disagree that 'cult' is a theologically determined matter. Some evangelicals try to make it one with silly definitions of the word 'cult,' but in both scholarly and popular use 'cult' is a sociological term, not a theological one.

I agree, but I don't think Graham's ministry intends to make a scholarly statement when it designates some group as a cult. I really think they are making what they believe to a theological statement, but I could be mistaken. That being said, Graham would likely say now that the decision to remove the cult designation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was more sociological than theological. I remain cynical.