Franklin Graham Reaffirms Scorn for Islam

By RICHARD N. OSTLING AP Religion Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
March 15, 2006, 5:18PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3726150.html

— The Rev. Franklin Graham, who outraged Muslims in
2001 when he said that Islam "is a very evil and
wicked religion," told an interviewer for Wednesday's
edition of ABC News "Nightline" that he hasn't changed
his mind about the faith.

Asked by ABC correspondent John Donvan whether Muslim
groups had succeeded in altering his outlook about
Islam, Graham said "No."

"Do they want to indoctrinate me? Yes. I know about
Islam. I don't need an education from Islam," he said.
"If people think Islam is such a wonderful religion,
just go to Saudi Arabia and make it your home. Just
live there. If you think Islam is such a wonderful
religion, I mean, go and live under the Taliban
somewhere. I mean, you're free to do that."

Franklin Graham is the successor to his father as head
of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, based in
Charlotte, N.C. He was interviewed Sunday in New
Orleans, where Franklin and Billy were leading an
evangelistic festival.

The younger Graham angered Muslims following the Sept.
11, 2001, attacks when he told NBC News: "We're not
attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us. The God of
Islam is not the same God. He's not the son of God of
the Christian or Judeo-Christian faith. It's a
different God, and I believe it is a very evil and
wicked religion."

In a subsequent Wall Street Journal piece, Graham
wrote that he doesn't think Muslim believers "are evil
people because of their faith. But I decry the evil
that has been done in the name of Islam, or any other
faith _ including Christianity."

That article said "the persecution or elimination of
non-Muslims has been a cornerstone of Islamic
conquests and rule for centuries." Graham said the
Quran "provides ample evidence that Islam encourages
violence in order to win converts and to reach the
ultimate goal of an Islamic world."

Some of Graham's fellow evangelicals subsequently
expressed concern that his comments might endanger
Christian missionaries working in Muslim countries,
strain interfaith relations and make America's war on
terrorism seem to be a Christian crusade against
Islam.

Billy Graham has avoided such comments about Islam and
President Bush has consistently depicted mainstream
Islam as a religion of peace.

Another U.S. evangelist, the Rev. Pat Robertson, said
of militant Muslims on his Monday telecast: "These
people are crazed fanatics, and I want to say it now:
I believe it's motivated by demonic power. It is
satanic and it's time we recognize what we're dealing
with."

"The goal of Islam, ladies and gentlemen, whether you
like it or not, is world domination," he said.