The danger of religious certainty
• Christian Fundamentalism
Check out the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Web site (www.billygraham.org), and you will see it spelled out: "A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith."
Or read what the Rev. Franklin Graham, president of the international relief organization Samaritan's Purse and chief executive of that association named after his father, has to say on the subject: "While I respect the rights of all people to adopt their own beliefs, I would respectfully disagree with any religion that teaches people to put their faith in other gods."
There is no ambiguity there. If you believe in Christ, your faith will save you. If you believe anything else, you are in a cult – and you are in trouble when it comes to eternity.
The Rev. Graham and Gen. Boykin, of course, are free to believe what they like. In the Rev. Graham's case, one might say it is in his job description. Gen. Boykin's situation is trickier, given that his new job as the Pentagon's deputy undersecretary for intelligence requires him to deal with a number of predominantly Muslim countries.
Robert Jensen, The Dallas Morning News: Absolute religious certainty is dangerous - abroad and at home
Earlier: Will we have religious wars?