# Franklin Graham: A Chip Off the Old Blockhead **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 5, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816 "2005-10-05T01:43:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/1 "2005-10-05T01:43:06Z")
> [@](#): > > RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Evangelist Franklin Graham said Tuesday that Hurricane Katrina could lead to a spiritual rebirth of a sinful New Orleans. Graham, the son and designated successor of the Rev. Billy Graham, said he doesn’t believe the devastating storm was a punishment from God for what he sees as the city’s ties to satanic worship and sexual perversion. `I'm not saying that God used this storm as a judgment,'' Graham said. But he said the city's Mardi Gras revelry and ties to voodoo were adverse to Christian beliefs. `New Orleans has been known for years as a party town,’’ Graham said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from his office in Boone, N.C. `It is a city that has strong ties to the gay and lesbian movement, and these types of things.'' On Monday, Graham delivered a similar message in an appearance in Lynchburg: `There’s been satanic worship. There’s been sexual perversion. God is going to use that storm to bring revival. God has a plan. God has a purpose.’’ God apparently hates old folks, too: KO’ing them in nursing homes, refugee buses, NY State tour boats . . . Sooner or later he’s gonna get Franklin’s dad. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/2 "2005-10-05T02:07:17Z")
So God sent a storm to NO as part of a “plan” to address the city’s “sin.” So why did He also wipe out the rest of the Gulf Coast? Does God just have really bad aim? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/3 "2005-10-05T02:09:38Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > So God sent a storm to NO as part of a “plan” to address the city’s “sin.” So why did He also wipe out the rest of the Gulf Coast? Does God just have really bad aim? He had to to get them damned inbreeding freaks in Mississippi, too. Graham’s an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/4 "2005-10-05T02:16:40Z")
Here’s hoping the Graham empire comes crashing down, and the heir apparent has to live out his days living in a cardboard box behind a supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/5 "2005-10-05T02:24:55Z")
Dubious, given the survival of the French Quarter. Jaweh must need to update His Holy Maps. 'Sides, if He Really Wanted To Prove His Point, He would’ve turned the fleeing New Orleanoids into pillars of salt. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/6 "2005-10-05T02:26:07Z")
Is it safe to assume Graham believes that God hates black people too? (And for any combative apologists claiming that I’m racist for pointing this out, here’s a quarter, to call someone who gives a fuck). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/7 "2005-10-05T02:52:04Z")
Hmm. Anyone seen Dr. John, lately? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/8 "2005-10-05T03:27:31Z")
So why doesn’t God, say, just make the party people drop dead? Why do people who think God punishes sinners on Earth think he can’t just do it efficently without also harming non-sinners? Their God is a clumsy murdering ox, like the retarded guy from “Of Mice And Men”. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/9 "2005-10-05T03:28:46Z")
Guess Franklin wants some publicity. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/10 "2005-10-05T03:49:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Hmm. Anyone seen Dr. John, lately? With luck, he’s working on some spells to teach Franklin a lesson. ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/11 "2005-10-05T03:58:15Z")
My Lord, don’t you dumb fucks know how to read what was fucking quoted in the OP? > [@](#): > > Rev. Billy Graham, said he doesn’t believe the devastating storm was a punishment from God > > ``I’m not saying that God used this storm as a judgment,’’ I’m surprised you people can type with your knees jerkin so hard. I find it refreshing that a fundy has finally quit using God as their personal mass murderer. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/12 "2005-10-05T04:27:10Z")
I wish that Franklin Graham _were_ a chip off the block! His father is far more liberal in his thinking. I have heard the Rev. Billy Graham state that Christians should not be sitting in judgment. He has also said that he doesn’t think that God will exclude people of other faiths from heaven. Franklin does not appear to have learned humility yet. Don’t put Billy Graham in the same league as Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell. His purpose and his message, as a whole, have been far different. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/13 "2005-10-05T04:29:59Z")
> [@AFAIKnow](#): > > My Lord, don’t you dumb fucks know how to read what was fucking quoted in the OP? This is a whoosh, right? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/14 "2005-10-05T04:32:53Z")
Gotta go with **AFAIKnow** on this. Clearly, Graham is saying that he _doesn’t_ believe that God sent the hurricane. He is saying exactly what a minister SHOULD say: that now that the tragedy _has_ struck, that he believes God will use the situation for His Glory. Or whatever. I’m a bleeding-heart, Commie Pinko Liberal Agnostic, and even I can see that there’s nothing to see here, folks. Of course he has to add in all the “satan worshipping” but that’s what his parishioners want to hear and that’s what he’s gotta go with to get his message across. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/15 "2005-10-05T04:45:38Z")
> [@trublmakr](#): > > Clearly, Graham is saying that he _doesn’t_ believe that God sent the hurricane. He said no such thing. He said it wasn’t sent as a judgment. But the people who have said that New Orleans was judged for its sins cited the same sins Graham happened to mention. Graham said it was not a judgment, but said New Orleans was known for its sinful behavior and now had a chance to distance itself from it. He used a different word, but managed to say something very similar. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/16 "2005-10-05T04:51:35Z")
What do you expect him to say? He’s a fundamentalist, that’s what they do. He said he doesn’t believe it was sent by God, as punishment or judgement. Naturally, he’s going to denounce the partying and homosexuals and different religions practiced. It’s only expected that a fundamentalist would pray that God uses the situation to change that sinful city into what he wants and his parishioners want. If he’d actually said, as some people seem to think, that he _did_ believe Katrina was sent by God, there’d be a point to all this. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/17 "2005-10-05T04:57:52Z")
> [@trublmakr](#): > > What do you expect him to say? I don’t understand the question. Is he somehow unable not to be a moron? > [@](#): > > If he’d actually said, as some people seem to think, that he _did_ believe Katrina was sent by God, there’d be a point to all this. What you’re missing is that the statements come across as equivalent, with the exception that Graham appears to have been smart enough to be tactful. Perhaps if he’d just said that New Orleans could rebuild and be holier and not made the same direct references to gays that a number of bigots have made, he would not have left anybody with the impression that he shared their sentiments. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/18 "2005-10-05T05:00:43Z")
He’s a moron enough to think that voodoo practicioners “worship Satan” and that homosexuality is “sexual perversion.” He also says that God is “using that storm to bring revival” which seems to contradict his rather tepid qualification that he isn’t saying that God sent the storm as a judgement. If God can control the weather (something Graham would have no choice but to concede under his own belief system) AND God is “using this storm,’” then what part is God not in control of? What part did God not plan? Notice he didn’t say that God DIDN’T send the storm as punishment, he’s just says “I’m not saying he did.” A sort of non-denial denial if you will. Franklin Graham has said moronic things before about Islam and Judaism. He’s a retard and a bigot. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/19 "2005-10-05T05:08:05Z")
It just doesn’t come off as offensive to me. Just Fundamentalist. This is what these people do. I’m glad that one of them can talk about Katrina and _not_ say that it was the power of God unleashed to wipe away sin in that part of the country. That’s a step forward! At least he didn’t say, “These people are so poor. And so black…” Now _that_ was offensive! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816/20 "2005-10-05T05:16:01Z")
> [@trublmakr](#): > > I’m glad that one of them can talk about Katrina and _not_ say that it was the power of God unleashed to wipe away sin in that part of the country. He didn’t say that? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franklin-graham-a-chip-off-the-old-blockhead/324816.md?page=2)