# Billy Graham; he's one of the good guys, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085 "2012-09-28T01:47:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/1 "2012-09-28T01:47:17Z")
I don’t see anything in [Billy Graham](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham)’s past that leads me to believe that he isn’t a decent Christian who lives and abides by true Christian values. He’s not in it for profit or to fleece the public. He seems to embody everything the Christian faith espouses, without denigrating other religions. I think Billy Graham is a fine human being: convince me otherwise. (His son will be speaking in Ottawa shortly, and again they seem like decent folks.) And for the record I’m atheist, but Billy Graham seems like a nice guy who is seeking peace in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/2 "2012-09-28T01:52:31Z")
I think people can dig up things on just about anyone, but yes, Billy Graham is a great guy and the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/3 "2012-09-28T01:57:48Z")
He was deeply involved in the American civil rights movement at a time when few white evangelicals would have anything to do with it. He’s also famous for bailing Martin Luther King, Jr. out of jail. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/4 "2012-09-28T02:03:13Z")
[Billy Graham’s net worth is apparently $25 million.](http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/billy-graham-net-worth/) I am not going to say that that is completely a bad thing, but it doesn’t seem like a completely appropriate thing, either. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/5 "2012-09-28T02:09:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > [Billy Graham’s net worth is apparently $25 million.](http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/billy-graham-net-worth/) I am not going to say that that is completely a bad thing, but it doesn’t seem like a completely appropriate thing, either. And from the same site, Howard Stern has a net worth of $500 million, and Rush Limbaugh has a net worth of $300 million. You don’t want to know what Oprah’s is, and I don’t get your point. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/6 "2012-09-28T02:10:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I think people can dig up things on just about anyone, but yes, Billy Graham is a great guy and the real deal. Franklin Graham, however, seems to be quite the [evangelical asshole](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Graham#Controversy). > [@](#): > > In March 2011, Graham said the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan “may be” the second coming and Armageddon. > [@](#): > > On August 19, 2010, when asked by CNN correspondent John King if he had doubts that President Barack Obama is a Christian, Graham stated, “I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim. The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name.” > [@](#): > > Graham supported North Carolina Amendment 1 which was passed by a voter referendum on May 8, 2012, prohibiting same-sex marriage and all domestic partnerships.[25] Graham responded to Obama’s May 9, 2012, statement of support for same-sex marriage, saying, “President Obama has, in my view, shaken his fist at the same God who created and defined marriage. It grieves me that our president would now affirm same-sex marriage, though I believe it grieves God even more.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/7 "2012-09-28T02:20:50Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > [Billy Graham’s net worth is apparently $25 million.](http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/billy-graham-net-worth/) I am not going to say that that is completely a bad thing, but it doesn’t seem like a completely appropriate thing, either. Is that all? Yeah, I thought he’d have a bit more than that. I’ve always thought of him as one of the good guys. Went to hear him preach once about 20 years ago. I was impressed. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/8 "2012-09-28T02:40:23Z")
Billy seems on balance, to be the real deal. His son Franklin, who took over the family business seems to be a real piece of work. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/9 "2012-09-28T03:23:06Z")
He’s pretty much what he seems to be. He’s generally always spoken out for civil rights and ecumenism – which REALLY pissed off the fundies. He’s the one who posted bail to help get Dr. King out of jail in Birmingham. He’s had his moments, though (at one time back in the 1970s, he made some pretty heavy anti-semetic comments to Nixon about the Jews controlling the media – although he later appologized, and his actions, in support of Israel and speaking against trying to convert Jews bears that out). He IS against same-sex marriage, although you have to cut the guy some slack, when you realize you have a fundamentalist preacher in his 90s. But he does seem like he’s more interested in trying to help people and preach unity rather than get involved in politics. (Franklin’s a douche) ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/10 "2012-09-28T03:36:35Z")
Billy’s in a class by himself. His wife was pretty badass, too. I don’t have much of a problem with Franklin and I really respect his work with Operation Christmas Child. Billy’s my favorite, though. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/11 "2012-09-28T03:59:04Z")
My local big city paper carries Graham’s column. I was delighted to see the following comment in the Indianapolis Star’s Let It Out Column just yesterday (paraphrased): “If the horoscopes say the column is for entertainment purposes only, why doesn’t Billy Graham’s column also say that?” Can’t give you any dirt about Graham, but I find his column to be tripe. Nothing but stock answers that offer no real solution to the reader’s inquiry. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/12 "2012-09-28T05:53:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > And from the same site, Howard Stern has a net worth of $500 million, and Rush Limbaugh has a net worth of $300 million. You don’t want to know what Oprah’s is, and I don’t get your point. I guess my point is that $25 million would help a lot of his flock instead of helping him be a rich old white man. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/13 "2012-09-28T06:02:36Z")
meh, he is one of the ones you need to watch. Sheep in wolve’s clothing, he would have us teaching intelligent design if he had the chance. But yes his civil rights stuff is very Christian. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/14 "2012-09-28T06:04:36Z")
Someone should start a poll. Four options: 1) Is Billy Graham Muff Cabbage? 2) Billy Graham is not Muff Cabbage? 3) What, exactly, is Muff Cabbage? 4) Maybe I’m better off not knowing. My vote is split between 1 & 3. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/15 "2012-09-28T06:18:54Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > meh, he is one of the ones you need to watch. Sheep in wolve’s clothing, he would have us teaching intelligent design if he had the chance. Cite? That contradicts what I’ve found [here](http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=108229) (“On the subject of evolution, Billy Graham has consistently maintained throughout his ministry that Christianity and evolution are compatible.”) and [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theistic_evolution#Evolutionary_biologists_who_were_also_theists) (“Various biblical literalists have accepted or noted openness to [theistic evolution], including theologian B.B. Warfield and evangelist Billy Graham.”). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/16 "2012-09-28T07:09:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I guess my point is that $25 million would help a lot of his flock instead of helping him be a rich old white man. True. But at the same time, he never tried to defraud his followers. Unlike Oral Roberts, who claimed that God would “call him home” unless he raised a certain amount of money by a certain date; or Jim Bakker, who sold accommodations that did not exist at his Christian theme park; Billy just preached, and his message boiled down to what Bill and Ted told us some years ago (and which we’re told Jesus taught two thousand years ago): be excellent to each other. That’s not a bad message, and I try to be excellent to others daily. “Being excellent to each other” seems to be all Billy Graham wants. Oh, he’ll take monetary contributions, but they are not his motivation. There are evangelists whose motivation seems to be money, but Billy Graham does not seem to be one of them. As such, I’ll call him one of the good guys. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/17 "2012-09-28T07:27:17Z")
Atheist here. Mother Theresa was scum to me, but Billy Graham is a mensch. Yes, his column is mostly a waste of ink, but he’s a stand up guy. And in at least one column he made it clear that non-Christians will get into heaven, which almost makes the rest of them worth it if he softened the heart of one fundamentalist. Too bad his son is a real asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/18 "2012-09-28T07:28:28Z")
O sure he’s great, just Google “Billy Graham Nixon Tapes” and you’ll see how charitable he is about Jews. When the camera is on him and he knows it, he’s awesome. When he doesn’t know it? Hmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/19 "2012-09-28T13:18:20Z")
I think Billy Graham is a genuinely good person. His biggest flaw is vanity - he likes being a celebrity. But that’s not a deal breaker for me. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085/20 "2012-09-28T13:42:39Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > O sure he’s great, just Google “Billy Graham Nixon Tapes” and you’ll see how charitable he is about Jews. When the camera is on him and he knows it, he’s awesome. When he doesn’t know it? Hmmmm. That was around forty years ago. It appears his thinking has evolved beyond that, he did apologize for those remarks, and his later stance regarding Jews is more charitable than that of many of his colleagues. If he had continued to disparage Jews I’d find that upsetting, but it seems to me he’s had a change of heart and I don’t see a call to judge him harshly on that issue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-graham-hes-one-of-the-good-guys-right/636085.md?page=2)