Graham released his fifth book, The Name, on Aug. 6. The Name chronicles the criticism Graham has undergone for his public use of the name Jesus. The book also studies the Biblical and historical usage of the name Jesus and explores the effect the Graham family name has had on Franklin's life.
"After all these centuries, just why is the Name of Jesus so controversial and still stirring such a brew of conflicting passions?" writes Graham, president and CEO of international relief organization Samaritan's Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). "Answering that question is the single task of this book."
In The Name, Graham examines a number of issues related to the life and impact of Jesus: The crucial differences between Islam and Christianity; the Christian's role in the worldwide battle against HIV/AIDS; the persecution of Christians under Sudan's Islamic government, and the spiritual impact of Sept. 11 and America's war on terror.
In the book, Graham writes: "Islam--unlike Christianity--has among its basic teachings a deep intolerance for those who follow other faiths."
Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas says the chapter on Islam is "one of the best things I've read on the subject of a religion, philosophy political agenda that too many are afraid to speak about. Franklin Graham tells the truth about Islam, its beliefs and objectives. Franklin is warm and friendly, but he is no diplomat. He says what he believes and thinks. In Washington, especially, that is unusual and welcome."
According to Thomas, "Graham openly and powerfully speaks of Jesus Christ and his salvation, no matter whom he is talking to. And he practices true compassion through his Samaritan's Purse organization. This is a remarkably open and direct man."
The Media Sting
Graham most recently drew criticism when, on Aug. 14, he said that Muslims had not apologized enough for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. In addition, he challenged Muslim leaders "to offer to help rebuild Lower Manhattan or compensate the families of victims to show they condemn terrorism.
"How come the Muslim clerics have not gone to ground zero and had a prayer vigil and apologized to the nation in the name of Islam?" Graham reportedly asked.
While not a Muslim hater, Graham does shoot straight in discussing the key differences between Islam and Christianity. According to The Washington Times, Graham said in an interview, "I have many Muslim friends, but I want the people of this country to know that the god of Islam is not the Christian god. The god of Islam is not a father. The god of Christianity was the father of Jesus Christ."
About the onslaught that resulted from his using the name of Jesus in the 2001 Presidential Inauguration prayer, Graham said, "I am a Christian. Don't ask me to pray like a Hindu. I am not a Hindu. Don't ask me to pray to Muhammad. I am not a Muslim. I am a Christian. That is who I am: a believer in the greatest man that ever lived - Jesus Christ - a Jew."
New York Times writer Nicholas D. Kristof accused Graham of "bigotry" and engaging in "hate speech" in July when Graham said of Islam, "I believe it's a very evil and wicked religion." According to Kristof, "[I]t's a cheap shot for us to scold Arabs for acquiescing in religious hatred unless we try vigorously to uproot our own religious bigotry."
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. replied to the Times that Graham is "anything but a religious bigot" and that his "greatest concern is to see all people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ."
In The Name, Graham explains his core frustration: "Tolerance has become the new watchword of our times. It is heralded as perhaps the highest virtue in Western culture that glues people of differing backgrounds and ideologies together for the sake of promoting cultural unity. We are told by the media and the government bureaucrats to be tolerant of everything and anything except the gospel of salvation, all in the name of political correctness.
"It seems almost ironic that Christians are not being tolerated by such a 'tolerant' society. So I admit I get frustrated and a bit defensive when I encounter intolerance toward the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
