Billy Graham
July 19th, 2009 at 06:36pm
Billy Graham is one person who I have been suspicious of for quite some time. There’s just something about him which, to me, doesn’t seem right. I suppose the easiest way to summarise my feeling is that I’m not convinced that he comes in earnest or that he believes a lot of what he says.
Billy Graham, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the name, is one of the most famous (perhaps the most famous) evangelists of the last hundred years. He is an Evangelical Christian from North Carolina.
My suspicions have grown in strength significantly today with the news from The Washington Post that late psychic Jeane Dixon’s belongings are up for auction.
Dixon, who died in Washington in 1997, was at one time the most celebrated psychic in America, if not the English-speaking world. She was also a fixture in Washington, a grand doyenne who corresponded with presidents and was one of Nancy Reagan’s astrologers. She grew wealthy as a nationally syndicated columnist and author of seven books. Her most famous prediction was the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
[..]
On July 26, virtually everything the prognosticator owned in her Dupont Circle townhouse will be sold to the highest bidder. After a five-day exhibition starting Tuesday, all of the items — Dixon’s 19th-century alms box, files of typed transcripts of her visions, her Chanel hats, 80 pieces of furniture and her 1993 datebook filled with celebrity birthdays and astrological notations — will be sold to the highest bidder.
[..]
Dixon kept everything. There are several letters from Ronald Reagan to Dixon and her husband, James, a Washington real estate executive who died in 1984, plus books, letters and telegrams from Billy Graham, Brigitte Bardot, Betty Ford, John Glenn, Joan Crawford, Richard Nixon and Harry Truman.
(emphasis mine)
Psychic activity, a form of Divination, is outlawed many times in The Bible, indeed Deuteronomy 18:12 says:
For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
And yet here we have Billy Graham writing to this psychic many times.
I’ve made up my mind, you can draw your own conclusions.
Samuel
Entry Filed under: General News,Samuel's Editorials
3 Comments
1. davky | July 20th, 2009 at 4:06 am
This post surprised me a little, Samuel… I’d be interested to know more about your suspicions regarding Graham.
Just one thing, though… I’m not surprised that the 20th century’s leading spiritualist to have letter or telegram contact with another leading spiritualist. Just as my (former) Presbyterian minister met, dined and exchanged emails with the local Islamic and Jewish clergyfolk. Just as Churchill corresponded with Hitler. Rudd corresponds with Turnbull. etc etc.
I did read one of Graham’s books 15 years ago and saw one of his televised sermons once (very, very impressive orator), but other than this I don’t know anything about him.
Under the ‘controversy’ subheading on Wikipedia, various issues are addressed – none of which I find particularly offensive, wrong, illegal or immoral.
So, anyway, (I’ve done rambling posts here lately, sorry!) I’m curious as to your distaste for Billy G…
2. Samuel | July 20th, 2009 at 4:32 am
I don’t mind him, and I have no doubt that as a result of his actions over the years, many people have found religion.
I hear his radio show, which usually features portions of his public speeches, most weekends as it goes to air just before a show that I’m involved in, and my suspicion of his motives is mostly based on listening to his speeches.
Listening to him, I get the impression that his speeches are an act, and that his appearances, speeches, etc have more to do with benefiting him than actually delivering a spiritual result. He just sounds to me like he is saying things which he doesn’t truly believe.
I have nothing more than a personal impression…but I base this impression on hearing a lot of people delivering similar messages to him, and the rest of them sounding a lot more “convinced” (for lack of a better word) than he does.
Davky, as you said, he is a great orator…I think he is one of the best speakers in the world, and I don’t really take issue with him, I just don’t believe he is in earnest.
I could be completely wrong…and if I am, that’s great. In fact, in many ways I hope that I am wrong.
Ultimately this is just one of those very strong feelings which is hard to physically quantify.
And don’t worry about rambling…I like rambling, rambling is good.
3. Samuel | July 20th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Oh, and the corresponding with a psychic thing. Billy Graham doesn’t strike me as the type to send “repent or else” letters and telegrams, which leaves me wondering why he would be corresponding with her when she is one of the most consulted psychics of the 20th century. It just seems, to me, to be contrary to his message.
As I said in my last comment, this is all assumption and gut feeling. I have my reasons…but I’m not expecting people to agree with me. I’ll quite happily admit that, when it comes to opinions, this one is definitely out on a limb.