Billy Graham

He was one of the few American TV evangelists never to have been caught up in a sexual or financial scandal.

RIP with the Lord

A pillar of the religious evangelical right-wing; and a man obsessed with personal salvation as a goal rather than (as per the message of Jesus) social justice.

Not the sort of Christian who inspires my admiration I am afraid; but I respect the views of those who feel he was a great man. I do not.

Me neither Luckygirl

Me neither - he was utterly homophobic as well

Worth 25 million on his death shouldn’t we share our wealth with those in need

No - he wasn’t that type of Christian - it was all about the end of the world stuff and 4 horsemen etc etc. He took anti-statism to a new level. I bet he voted for Trump.

He believed ‘gayness’ could be reversed with therapy 👎🏼
His wife had to give up Her ministry to follow him and his daughters were not allowed to go to further education as he believed women should be home makers 👎🏼
He was far too involved with politics in my opinion 👎🏼
He did believe in integration in his country so he gets a star for that👍🏼 but spoke badly about Jews, so star gone 👎🏼

Anyway he was a leader to many so rest in peace old man

Yes he did desegregate his congregations eventually but then did not support the Civil Rights Movement as being so anti-statist he didn’t think it was up to the state to take action but for our ‘hearts to change’ yes KKK he was looking at you.

But where did he lead them?

My DM and DF went with a group from the church to see/hear him at a giant rally in Glasgow. My DM returned 'evangelised' and immediately joined a bible study and prayer group. The group used to meet in our livingroom on Tuesday nights, while we were confined to upstairs and not allowed to pass through to the kitchen to get a cup of tea. As teenagers, especially if we had any friends round, it was excruciatingly embarrassing to hear DM and her friends, leading prayers in a 'put on', slightly American, 'Holy' voice.

DF was not impressed and summed the great man up thus: 'He couldn't sell pan sets at the Barras'

Not at all unusual for those born 1919 to grow up with views that homosexuality is wrong.

He thought it could be cured. He was wrong

He thought you’d end segregation by changing people’s hearts and not legislation - wrong again

unusual to not open your mind within that long life and unusual to not accept God makes all people whichever way and certainly not usual to try and use conversion therapy on gays and to preach that Aids was probably punishment by God He also said men shouldn’t be alone in the company of or eat with women other than their wives to avoid temptations

It was his life, his personal faith,I am in no position to judge his faith . I am not comfortable with Evangelicals but accept they may not be comfortable with me.

Well I’m quite happy to judge him given his record and beliefs. Not on my list of people to be admired to say the least.

I prefer to respect the fact this thread was started by a poster
Who wished to pay respects

If it was his personal views I would have no problem with him Anniebach nor judge him at all. but it’s his views that have been preached to millions that are worrying All the little kids getting their Samaritans purse Boxes which people make up not realising they have religious texts and scrips added and promises of hell fire and damnation if they don’t go to church etc I m afraid the Evangalists only see their view as right and everyone else as wrong and damned, if they think differently

Sorry BlueBell but a seperated thread could have been started to criticise the man. This thread was started by a poster who chose to pay respects in Religion/Spirituality section

So this board is just to say good things about dead people even if some of us think he wasn’t all that good? Well that’s not going to happen.

We often have RIP threads on GN and I’ve never seen them on this board before

He was born a hundred years ago and his thoughts and views were shaped by the era and culture into which he was born. I have met many, many people who came to faith at one of his rallies and whose social action has had tremendous impact.

A lot of what has been said above is news to me. I think many people became Christians as a result of his teaching about kindness and charity. Not sure so many joined right wing or homophobic groups as a result of his teaching.

Do all threads have to be critical? Can we not look for the good in people whose intentions were honourable and based upon the era in which they were brought up?