Billy Graham Weighs In
Though the venerable Christian evangelist Billy Graham is in his twilight years and semi-retired (his famous ministry is largely run by his son now), he still has time to answer concerned letters regarding religious Witchcraft.
“…if they are like other groups I’ve heard about, they probably take their beliefs very seriously. I have often asked myself why people like this turn their backs on Christianity and embrace something that is almost the exact opposite. Some, I know, do this because they’ve had a bad experience with a church, or they have become disillusioned by what they’ve seen of Christians. Others simply like to be unconventional, and this is one way of showing that they reject traditional values and ways of living. But others turn to groups like this because down inside they sense that something is missing in their lives, and they hope this will fill that empty place…”
Notice the difference between his answer, and the rantings of people like Laura Mallory, who recently weighed in on the peril of religious Witchcraft in the newspapers. While Graham obviously thinks modern Paganism is the wrong way to go, he doesn’t question the sincerity of our beliefs, or that many of us arrived at them due to bad experiences with other Christians or with a particular Church. The fact that a former firebrand such as Graham seems so “moderate” today speaks to the ongoing breakdown of civility and dialog in our culture.
3 responses so far
You’re right, Jason, this is quite striking. While Graham takes the standard evangelical line on “witchcraft,” he does so in a civil and respectful manner. How refreshing!
While it’s true that a bad experience with Christianity or a desire to be unconventional can lead people to explore Paganism(s), it would be a good thing if people like Graham knew that mature Pagan spirituality is a positive and loving path, and not a reaction against anything, or defined in opposition to anything.
That is refreshing indeed. It seems that there is an increasing pressure in society to conform to certain traditional lines of thought. It becomes expected – and this in itself causes people to speak out in a very harsh way.
It is almost as though the only accepted way to bring up a subject like paganism in the mainstream is by being extremely negative.
I think Billy Graham has indeed mellowed with maturity. I am no fan of his early stuff (at least the early stuff I have heard) but I have noted deep sensitivity in his more recent writings and have developed a belated but growing respect for him. I wish there were more people like him speaking for us in the public sphere.