Christian Leader spews hate and anger

GRAHAM'S SON NOT HOLDING BACK ON ISLAM - TOP Jim Jones, Star-Telegram, 3/25/06http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/living/religion/14176450.htmWhen I heard the Rev. Franklin Graham speak in New Orleans two weeks ago, he focused on proclaiming the saving power of Jesus Christ with only a hint of criticism of Islam."Muhammad didn't die for your sins," he told thousands at the New Orleans Arena. "Buddha didn't die for your sins; Krishna didn't die for your sins. It's Jesus."But while in New Orleans, Graham again blasted the Muslim faith under the glare of television lights as he told ABC's Nightline that he hasn't changed his mind about Islam, which he called "a very evil and wicked religion" in 2001."I know about Islam," Graham said March 15 on Nightline. "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."Graham, 53, is making a name for himself in the shadow of his famous father, the Rev. Billy Graham, but he's doing it in a different way. He's brasher, blunter and much less politically correct. Unlike his father, who never uttered a discouraging word against Islam or any other faith, Franklin Graham has joined Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, the Rev. Jerry Falwell and others as being among the most outspoken against Islam.After Sept. 11, 2001, 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 wicked and evil religion."Graham also has said he disagrees with President Bush's statements that Islam is a peaceful religion.In several interviews, Graham has said the Quran, the holy book of Islam, teaches violence. Also, he says Muslim leaders have failed to speak out enough in criticism of Islamic terrorism.Ibraham Hooper, spokesman for America's largest Islam advocacy group, the Council on American Islamic Relations, said Graham is helping divide the faith community."If he's going to step into the role played by his father, I think he's going to have a very difficult time," Hooper said this week. "Billy Graham had a long record in public life, and I have not heard one word from him in a critical way about Islam or any other faith. Instead, he positively asserted his own beliefs."Hooper said Franklin Graham is paying no attention to the many efforts by his organization and other Islamic groups that have denounced suicide bombings and other Islamic terrorist acts. (MORE)