McCain Spiritual Advisor: “Islam Must be Destroyed” April 8, 2008

John McCain’s controversial Hagee endorsement may soon prove itself to be small potatoes. When Pastor John Hagee endorsed McCain back in February, McCain chose to fall into silence as his reaction to his sought-after evangelical nod, being taken by surprise by the ire raised from Catholic and other groups at Hagee’s inflammatory rhetoric. Indeed, Hagee’s hardline stance on Israel, insisting on a 100% Jewish return to the West Bank and saying that giving part of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority was tantamount to turning it over to the Taliban, moved the American Reform Jewish movement head Eric Yoffie to call him an “extremist” whose organization was harmful for Israel and whose views spelled disaster for the Holy Land.

Some Israeli politicians were quick to defend Hagee, with one prominent Israeli rabbi saying that the rapprochement between Christians and Jews was “one of the miracles of the 20th century.”

But Hagee, for all his abrasiveness, has nothing on Rod Parsley, McCain’s “spiritual guide”.

The president of the Chicago Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, writes in the Washington Post’s On Faith that one must be extremely wary of this man, and precisely what it is that he stands for:

John McCain should immediately renounce Rod Parsley not only for his astounding hate mongering against Islam, but also for his extreme views on a range of issues including his denunciation of separation of church and state….In his writings, Parsley has called upon Christians to actively confront the “false religion” of Islam with the aim of destroying it. He urges his readers to realize that a confrontation between Christianity and Islam is unavoidable: “We find now we have no choice. The time has come.”

According to press reports, the leader of the movement - the senior pastor of a large church in suburban Columbus [Parsley] - casts the 2006 elections as an apocalyptic clash between ‘the forces of righteousness and the hordes of hell.’ The fear and loathing in his message is palpable: He denounces public schools that won’t teach creationism, require teachers to read the Bible in class, or allow children to pray. He rails against the ‘secular jihadists’ who have ‘hijacked’‘ America and prevent school kids from learning that Hitler was ‘an avid evolutionist.’

Parsley, according to the Rocky Mountain News’ Dave Kopel, believes that “one of G-d’s purposes in creating America was to fight a holy war against Islam”, and in Silent No More, says:

“I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore.“

Parsley urges war between Islam and “Christian civilization”:

There is no difference between violent Islamist extremists and moderate Muslims, he argues.

“I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is,” he writes. “In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam.”

The Center for Moral Clarity website reads, under the heading “Does Rod Parsley hate Muslims?” (a question I’m sure he must get often):

Does Rod Parsley hate Muslims?
Rod Parsley loves people and hates the belief systems that keep them from the truth. Islam is a false, dangerous religion which intends, through violence, to conquer the world.

There are two types of Muslims in the world – those who love peace and radical Muslim extremists, who interpret the Quran as a license to impose Islam by force upon all who are not adherents.

Peace-loving Muslims need the full support of all Christians. In fact, many peace-loving Muslims are appalled at what is being done in the name of their religion. They were horrified by the events of September 11, 2001, and they are appalled by the actions of suicide bombers across the world.
Christians must provide understanding, cooperation, support and friendship to peace-loving Muslims throughout the world who share our desire for democracy and peace.

For a more detailed look at Islam and an appropriate Christian response, see chapter 5 of Rod Parsley’s book “Silent No More…”

Sigh…

The word “denounce” should not come out of anyone’s mouth quicker than it should emerge from McCain’s. And the fact that it still hasn’t leads me to wonder, much like the Rev. Dr. Thistlethwaite:

Parsley cannot be a “spiritual guide” for a reputable candidate for President of the United States. Senator McCain must immediately renounce Rob Parsley and all his extreme and dangerous views, not only his hate mongering views of Islam, but also Parsley’s fundamental opposition to core American democratic principles.

And we all need to pay a LOT more attention to what the so-called conservative “base” is actually advocating.

Exactly.