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Mainstream Baptists strongly disagree with Jerry Falwell’s recent
characterization of Mohammad as a “terrorist.” Jerry Falwell, Jerry Vines,
Franklin Graham and the leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention do not
speak for all Baptists or for all conservative evangelical Christians.
Their intemperate remarks poorly represent the spirit of Christ, fuel
hostilities between people of different faiths, and endanger the lives of
Christians around the world.
Rather than pointing
fingers at people of different faiths, we should dialogue with them
respectfully and demonstrate the love and grace that God revealed in Jesus
Christ. |
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While we do not hold to the tenets of Islam, we vigorously defend the right
of all persons to worship freely according to the dictates of their own
consciences.
Most Baptists in Texas and Virginia and Mainstream Baptists across the U.S.
oppose attempts to influence our nation’s foreign policy to conform with
highly questionable interpretations of “end times” biblical prophecies.
Many of us support
the right of Palestinian Arabs to live freely in a homeland of their own.
All of us affirm the right of every person to live in peace — free from all
forms of terrorism — and under just governance. |