Franklin Graham cut from Pentagon event; let’s keep him out of our schools and the White House

Published On: April 23, 2010|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

Accessibility Notice

This post was created on the previous version of the MRFF website, and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. If you need help accessing this content, please reach out via email.

Dear MRFF staff:

Please pass this message along to Mikey Weinstein.  I was appalled this morning when I read the headline, “The Army rescinded its invitation to evangelist Franklin Graham for the upcoming National Day of Prayer at the Pentagon over controversial remarks he made about Islam.”  Billy and Franklin Graham, as well as many other evangelists, propagate hate and ignorance in the name of god by simply telling untruths, lies or nonsense.  I addressed this problem in my recently published book, “Is Our Vision of God Obsolete? Often What We Believe is Not What We Observe.”

My book does not specifically deal with the lack of separation of church and state in the military or the military’s overt lack of religious tolerance.  It makes the case to keep “God” out of high school science and the White House.  I became aware of “God” in the military after watching the documentary “Constantine’s Sword” and was quite angry when Ted Haggard claimed he had the right to proselytize anywhere, including our nation’s military academies.  I was upset to learn the Air Force Academy’s administration let him do it.  (BTW, I also read James Carroll’s book with the same title.)  My book deals primarily with the history of the Bible, such as those used by the evangelicals, and its lack of historical accuracy.  Based on modern science, I question the Bible’s relevance in the 21st century.  Too much of the Bible conflicts with modern scientific discovery.  Yet the evangelicals continue to use the Bible’s myths and inaccuracies to spread ignorance and too often hate.  I extensively quote rhetoric espoused by the evangelicals.

Let me give a few examples.  Ted Haggard was defrocked for a homosexual relationship with as male prostitute.  But he taught children in “Jesus Camp” that people who engage in such behavior go to “hell.”  BTW, where is “hell?”  Pat Robertson claims the earthquake in Haiti was God’s wrath to punish the Haitian people for their “pact with the devil” to free them from the French.  This is outright racism again blacks.  Most native Haitians are black.  Robertson predicted the end of the world several times in the last 10 years.  We are still here.  Jerry Falwell claimed God’s wrath was responsible for Hurricane Katrina to punish a “society which tolerates homosexuality.”  This is homophobia as well as nonsense.  Billy Graham claims that it is the work of the devil which is responsible for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.  One evangelist claims natural disasters are the result of God’s wrath while another calls it the work of the devil.  Who is right?  Franklin Graham claims that when we get to “heaven,”  god will assign us jobs.  I hope “God, Inc.” has a good heath care plan.  It will need to cover our medical expenses for a long time.  There can be no maximums in medical coverage since we will be in “heaven” for eternity.  How does Franklin Graham know god’s plan?  “God” doesn’t even talk to the Pope.  I cannot understand why any educated or rational American would listen to preachers who seems to know little about the philosophy of Jesus Christ, and his teachings, or about “God” in general.  They clearly know nothing about science.  What the evangelicals say about Jesus not only conflicts with what most religious historians will tell you about Jesus, a charismatic Jewish preacher living in the first century, but the reason for the Crucifixion, which had a lot more to do with Roman politics and control (and taxation of) the Jewish people in Judaea than it had to do with “God.”

I would be happy to send Mr. Weinstein a PDF galley of my book if he is interested.  He can then use the search feature in Adobe Reader to quickly identify and jump to the sections which cite Billy and Franklin Graham as well as many other evangelists.  It might be of some use to him.  My book is about keeping “God” in the pews and science in the laboratory.  Perhaps some of my research can provide his organization with additional ammunition about why all religious beliefs ought to be left in the houses of worship and out of high school science as well as the American military.

Sincerely,
(name withheld)

Share This Story

Leave A Comment