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Subscribe to RSSGOP candidate Rick Santorum's recent comments on President Obama's "theology" continue to generate conversation, and the Rev. Franklin Graham joins Morning Joe to discuss whether the president is a Christian, Christianity in the Middle East, government overreach with religious institutions, and why he thinks Santorum is a Christian.
Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham and a prominent evangelical leader in his own right, waded into contentious waters Tuesday when asked for his views on the religious beliefs of President Obama and the GOP hopefuls.
Graham, the CEO and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, told a Morning Joe panel he couldn't say for certain that Obama is a Christian.
“You have to ask him. I cannot answer that question for anybody. All I know is I’m a sinner, and that God has forgiven me of my sins," Graham said. "You have to ask every person. He has said he’s a Christian, so I just have to assume that he is.”
But Graham also said he couldn't "categorically" say Obama wasn't a Muslim, in part, because Islam has gotten a "free pass" under Obama. Graham also said the Muslim world sees Obama as a "son of Islam," because the president's father and grandfather were Muslim.
According to Edina Lekovic, director of policy at the Muslim Public Affairs Council, being born in a Muslim family doesn't make one a Muslim. A person has to make an active choice to become a Muslim, Lekovic said.
Obama has said again and again that he is a Christian, both as a presidential candidate and as president.
“I’m a Christian by choice,” Obama told a group of New Mexico voters last September, answering a question from a member of the audience. He said he has embraced his faith even though growing up, “my family didn’t, frankly. They weren’t folks who went to church every week.”
In Chicago, Obama was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ for years, but he quit in May 2008 after videos of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s racially-divisive sermons surfaced on the Web.
“Our relations with Trinity have been strained by the divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which sharply conflict with our own views,” Obama and his wife Michelle wrote at the time.
The debate over the president's faith was brought up again on the campaign trail this Saturday, when Rick Santorum told a Tea Party crowd in Columbus, Ohio, that Obama's agenda is "not about you. It's not about you. It's not about your quality of life. It's not about your job. It's about some phony ideal, some phony theology. Oh, not a theology based on the Bible, a different theology, but no less a theology."
Related: Santorum defends 'theology' remark, Hitler inference; blames media
When pressed by reporters after Saturday's comments, the former Pennsylvania senator said he did not imply the president is not a Christian, but said the president was trumping religious freedoms.
Graham told the Morning Joe panel that he and Santorum share the same moral beliefs, and that he's confident Santorum is a fellow Christian.
"His values are so clear on moral issues, no question about it," he told the Morning Joe panel.
Graham spoke with a little less confidence about Gingrich's faith, and cast doubt on whether Romney's Mormonism is compatible with Christianity.
"I think Newt is a Christian, at least he told me he is," Graham said. He added that Romney's Mormon faith is not recognized as part of the Christian faith by most Christians, but he wouldn't give his own view.
Romney has stood by his faith, saying Mormonism's values are "as American as motherhood and apple pie."
"I believe in my Mormon faith," Romney said in a 2007 speech, "and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers. I'll be true to them and to my beliefs."
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For Obama to be Christian and set in Jeremiah Wright's church for 18 years makes me wonder, Jeremiah Wright spews filth, hatred and racism, and America knows that to be true. Obama only quit attending this horrible mans church only after he made President, it just would not look good for Obama now, but for 18 years it was perfect fit. A book is known by it cover, is it not?
No, stclaire, the saying and reality is "you can't judge a book by its cover".
Then judge Obama by his actions, and they too stink to high heaven.
St Claire
If you post was an attempt to display your ignorance - then pat yourself on the back because you were successful!
b dune, when some one does believe your way you then think you have the right to attack and call others name, so your ignorance is showing not mine.
gee st claire - don't sell yourself so short - your ignorance was displayed magnificently!
Actually Claire. the attacks were started by you aimed at the POTUS. If you do not like his actions in office or as a person, guess what.. you don't have to vote for him. And I am assuming you are a Christian, since you co-opted sainthood, but your words and post do not reflect a pious nature.
st claire
seems like someone took you and your hypocritical preaching out back of the woodshed...
stclaire: Rev. Wright never said anything about America that the prophets didn't say about Israel. What is a minister to do when he believes his nation has turned away from God and that, therefore, God will curse that nation? Should a minister who believes this remain silent? Would anyone in his congregation who hears that message--and perhaps disagrees with it--be rendered permanently unfit for public office?
I'm a Southern Baptist and often visit the Billy Graham Training Center near Asheville, NC. I have the utmost respect for the Rev. Billy Graham who learned at an early age that mixing politics and religion is a bad idea. Maybe someday soon his son Franklin will realize how unChristian his rhetoric seems to outsiders.
Obama is responsible for fanning the flames. Obama Spit on the 1st Amendment, freedom of religion.
Obama scares many people, but it has more to do with his "fundamental" change, than religion.
Thank you for posting the truth.
Provide one example of how President Obama has violated the first amendment of the US Constitution.
Your right wing talk show hosts are what scare many people. Why wouldn't you be scared? They operate in lies, suggestion, and outlandish hypothetical situations. That is why I am asking for you to find an example for yourself. The only way to stop living in fear is to turn off the fearmongers. Seek the truth.
Paul
"Obama scares many people"
Unfortunately for you Paul, the cast of characters the GOP has put forth "scares" even more people!
btw - when you said "Obama spit on the 1st amendment"....I'm sure even you couldn't stop yourself from laughing!
Santorum is such a hypocrite. So.... He doesn't realize he is imposing HIS religious beliefs on many of us who don't share the same beliefs as him. What happened to separation of church and state. Anytime you put religion in the mix, something is going to be effed up. Look at the middle east, After 1000s of years, they still cannot settle their religious differences. THAT is why (or at least one reason why) we (the United States of America) HAVE separation of church and state. I hope he wins the nomination (which he never will) . It will be fun to watch PRESIDENT OBAMA kick his butt in debates.
Franklin Graham is one nut that did fall far, very far, from the tree. Why on earth did Morning Joe have this self-righteous fool on? As Mike Barnacle said, Graham is missing a few pages from his Bible.
Graham's remarks are not going to change anyones mind. They are only going to give comfort to the poor souls that have chosen to place their faith in his opinion. Of course, they will vote per his opinion, too. Everybody has to feel like they are on the winning team.
Just like his father: a mystifier.
Obama is a secret atheist or agnostic. Just like the majority of Christians!
The USA is not and never will be a Christan nation PERIOD!
The Repubs are out of fear creating talking points and are now scrapping the bottom with these bottom feeders.
I wonder what Graham's opininon is on Judging others?... Oops now I know..
Franklin Graham = Ignorant and Backward!
Why does this Graham guy get to determine who is a Christian or not? What does this Graham guy know about how the Muslim world sees anything? I hope God judges him severely for the hate and lies he spews. What would Jesus do? Not bear false witness, for one thing.
A lot of Obama's doubters were brought out by his spending millions to seal his records. Why was it necessary and what Pres. has done it before?
That's been debunked. It's Republican propaganda.
The drone program is very pro-Islam. I kills multitudes of Muslims daily in multiple countries. Better rethink that statement...
Do we really have to have this discussion. This is not worthy of my time. Unfortunately, it will have to be worthy of the President's time, because there exists individuals that have debased their intelligence to the level below that of little children. In fact, I think children can assess the importance of this issue better then some adults. I just hope the president handles this one with respect and dignity. No need to give the powerful Republican Christians, such as Mr. Graham any excuses to strike the President. Economy is picking up, unemployment is steadily trending downward, dow over 13000 points since before the recession, they've got to find some issue that can stick during election season!
And, why should the religious beliefs of anyone other than yourself matter to anyone other than yourself? Personally, I have great hopes that we elect leaders that will do good for our society as a whole, not just the fringes. There should be no conversation on religion, woman's healthcare issues, or similar social issues - I want to know how they will deal with the economy, international relations, etc. Doesn't matter if the person is an evangelical buddhist with an islamist partner and 3 eyes - their actions vis a vis all of humanity should be the criteria.
I sincerely hope the President's personal attorneys are busy drafting a law suit alleging slander against this right wing nut job who should keep his mouth shut!
Graham says he believes Newt is a Christain 'because he told me so' but he's not sure the President is even though the President says he is. I wonder if Rev. Graham even realizes just how that ridiculous sounds? He's ok with believing ole Newty with the personal life he has led but the President who is pretty squeaky clean, oh noooo....
Article Six of the Constitution (that the right wing supposedly holds so dear): "...no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
So why, exactly, is any candidate's religious affiliation important in terms of their running for the President of the United States again?
Really Road...care to share with us the aspects of Marxist doctrine the President aspires to? Funny, the right-wing said the same thing about FDR. In fact, they said the same thing about Teddy Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Boy, we've sure had a bunch of Marxist presidents haven't we?
Care to provide a link to the proof that the President spent millions to seal this records? Or is this just another right-wing drive-by?
During the height of the cold war, when the great struggle against communism and socialism was fought, the Presidents were all to the left of Obama. All of them.
Considering that the Republicans don't even have a Protestant among the front runners, I think it's odd that they would decide to make 2012 a referendum on religion.
It is truly sad that this charlatan has access to a public forum to express his views. Republicans have clearly revealed the insanity that has taken over the GOP. They're on a path to self destruction...the sooner the better. This man is not only a fool he's dangerous.
Paul, its actually great that people like Graham have a public forum. It allows the rest of us to see into their hearts and decern their lack of christianity. I swear, it seems that atheists act more christian like then Graham
I guess he learned from his father that there is no god so there is no hell you can lie ,cheat and steal all you want and live the life of luxury from the fears and money of the people who believe you.
I wonder what sins he's been forgiven for because I'm pretty sure lies, bearing false witness and stealing are still on his agenda.
Oh so the fascist drug abusing holier than though so-called paper minister has an opinion.
Religion is stupid. Religion is also supposed to be one's own business in the US, and nobody else's. Religion, according to the Constitution is not a consideration in eligibility to hold office. But most of all, Graham is a moron.