Monday, May 10, 2010

Wishful Defense of Ergun Caner

Ergun Caner's worst enemies are folks who have been trying to defend him by attacking his critics and ignoring the serious issues. The following is an example:
The original charge was that he was NOT a Muslim. Then when the records proved that he was, the charge changed to a Devout Muslim. Once something is proven the charges have had a way of progressively growing and adjusting. Truth has never been the issue. An agenda is the issue.
(as stated by him in a comment on this post) Peter Lumpkins is running with the same basic idea on his blog. Both Mr. Lumpkins and the author of the comment above are either unaware of the issues, or are trying to hide the truth.

The charges from the vast majority of Christian critics has never been that Dr. Ergun Caner was not a Muslim. There is indeed a question about how devout he was (based on a number of embarrassing errors he has made when it comes to discussing various aspects of Islam in his oral presentations), but that's not the main issue. The main issue has been Ergun Caner's various autobiographical embellishments, such as claiming he was born in Istanbul, Turkey (link to clip where he claims that) or that he grew up in Turkey (as reported here), and that he has debated Abdul Saleeb (a Christian pseudonym) and Shabir Ally, although the evidence that has been located places Dr. Ergun Caner in Sweden from birth to about age 3, and then in Ohio from then until his graduation from high school, and that Dr. Caner has never debated (except by email) any Muslim scholars (of course, this last item is a matter of there being an absence of evidence, but recourse to the usual sources has produced no results).

There may have been a few Christians who looked at the pattern of inconsistencies and asked themselves whether anything Dr. Caner said was true. However, the first issue raised by Dr. White was whether Dr. Caner had really done the debates he was claiming to have done. In a so-called Apology (link to discussion), Ergun Caner vaguely acknowledged the fact that he did not do the debates he had claimed while insisting that he had never intentionally misled anyone. Then, without warning, even that vague statement was removed from Dr. Caner's website.

Now, while certain SBC insiders try to hide their heads in the sand and imagine that the issues are going to disappear, the story of Caner's embellishments is getting picked up in an increasing number of news outlets:

Christian Right's Favorite Muslim Convert Exposed as Jihadi Fraud

Muslims, Christians

Liberty directors support seminary president amid charges of misrepresentation

Bloggers Target Seminary President (Subtitle: Liberty's Ergun Caner accused of false statements in his testimony about converting from Islam.)

Is Religious Right’s Star Ex-Muslim a Serial Liar?

Some of us in the "Religious Right" (though this blog doesn't get political, it certainly is religious) can point out that we called Dr. Caner to repentance before these articles started being published. Folks who have been sticking their heads in the sand and thinking that because they have established that Caner was from a Muslim father they have addressed the problem are in for a wake up call as the issues surrounding Dr. Caner's record of describing himself comes under increasingly more detailed scrutiny.

Let's hope that those who consider Dr. Ergun Caner their friend will act like friends to him. If faint praise is the worst sort of insult, these faux defenses that say, in effect, "There, we've proved Dr. Caner was a Muslim, there's nothing further to address," are the worst sort of criticism - not only because they insult the intelligence of the readers, but because they encourage Dr. Caner to continue on his present course.

-TurretinFan

7 comments:

mercytruthandjustice said...

At best, those who might be on the outside (of Christianity or at least outside of the SBC) and looking in might wonder, if Ergun Caner’s quote/unquote allies, are so careless or thoughtless in handling factual information surrounding Caner (earthly things) how could they ever be entrusted with handling the Scriptures and those things pertaining to eternity and godliness? They, by ignorance, laziness, or deceit, effectively have ruined their own credibility. Now, at worse, they are viewed as liars, cheats, and charlatans defending their own “sacred cash cow” and hidden agendas and make a mockery of the veracity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (or at least the call to holiness synonymous with the Christian faith).

Pilgrimsarbour said...

A couple of years ago I purchased Caner's book Unveiling Islam. I am now in that very frame of mind that I dare not trust anything he has to say regarding Islam, so I won't be using that book ever again as a reference tool when discussing issues with Muslims.

Pilgrimsarbour said...

John Ankerberg himself was responsible for having Part 3 of Mohammad Khan's videos removed from YouTube:

http://debbiekaufman.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/john-ankerberg-has-had-part-3-of-mohammads-videos-removed/

What in the world is going on with these folks? Is there anyone involved in this matter that we can trust to do the right thing?

BibleWheel said...

@Pilgrimsarbour

Caner's book is subtitled "An Insider's look at Muslim Life and Beliefs." It should have been subtitled "An Outsider's look at Islam based on Ignorant Stereotypes" because it is filled with ludicrously false and biased anti-Islam soundbites that anyone who had been (or is) "inside" the Muslim faith would instantly recognize. As far as I can tell, almost everything Caner "knows" about Islam he learned from books. I'll be reviewing his book after I recover from the dysentery I caught while writing about his "Christian testimony" in this article:

Ergun Caner's Crimes against God and the Global Community

Anonymous said...

When I went to the links provided herein I was struck by the variety of comments being posted after the articles.

Here is one that struck my heart from a commenter after the Christianity Today article and it came across with a "ring" of Truth in it:::>

"....As a Liberty University alumni I'm not shocked. The school has compromised so many times on so many issues that I don't know where to begin. Erogunt Caner is steeped in pride and self-promotion. From the personal interaction I had with him I was repulsed by his responses....".

There was another comment by a "current" student who had taken two courses taught by Dr. Caner and their comment almost mirrored the sentiments of the one above.

As I have in other comments I have made about Dr. Caner, as others too, here are some more Proverbs I would cite that seem to me encase the representation of the eyewitness alumni's citation above:

Pro 8:12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Pro 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Pro 21:23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Pro 21:24 "Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

While I am mindful of the gravity of the situation Dr. Caner and Liberty University have in front of them, I am also mindful of the greatness of the abundant Grace and Gift of Righteousness that is available to them from God provided He has called and elected them to His Eternal Glory.

There are only two outcomes here.

One will bring God much Glory and restore a fallen brother to Godly Character.

The other will equally bring about the Glory of God!

I am praying in all sincerity for the first outcome and mindful of these Proverbs as well:

Pro 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Pro 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Pro 28:14 Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

One additional Proverb to note as a commendation acknowledging your work in this matter TF which has been fair, even handed and is highly commendable. You have done your part to "rescue" from calamity Dr. Caner:::>

Pro 24:11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
Pro 24:12 If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

Anonymous said...

TF:
"...and that he has debated Abdul Saleeb (a Christian pseudonym)".

I read that several times and each time it struck a cord with me.

I wasn't getting it.

Now that I have done my own research about who Abdul Saleeb is, it becomes clearer to me the error.


What a truly wonderful contrast between a "Truth telling" convert and one drawing attention to himself!

Reading Abdul's testimony brought such joy to my spirit as I sensed the Presence of the Holy Spirit in him and by his words His Words were being heard.

That is in dire contrast to Dr. Caner's testimony.

What a difference the Holy Spirit makes.

Reading Abdul's testimony confirmed the writings of the Apostle Peter, for me at least, here:

1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1Pe 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

There was and is much "grace and peace" oozing out of Abdul's words!

What a remarkable reality of what Truth can do when He takes up residence in a man's heart!

Out of your belly shall flow "rivers" of Living Water!

Yahoo! Ah, pardon me, that was an exclamation because of the Joy of the Lord! :)

Anonymous said...

I hope this is appropriate to continue along the lines of the comments made and I have made already in here?

Today I was surfing the Caner articles on the net after listening to Dr. White's broadcast, the Dividing Line.

He said he has now been approached by mainsteam media??? or a news organization???? requesting his input.

I went looking for what is new today. After finding an article on this matter I read through quite a number of comments. One in particular caught my attention and underscores why we need to pray for Grace and Wisdom and to continue to lift up those men and women who God is giving voice to to represent the "Truth" and the Gospel.

This comment is from a Muslim. It is raw and revealing. It shows what is so devastating about this whole matter and how it is so impressive upon the soul of man:

"....I grew up with this guy in Columbus Ohio. We went to the same Islamic Center on Broad St. for a few years. Then his family stopped coming. Big deal so he is Christian. Big deal so he may have left Islam to be a Christian. It says nothing about the truth of Islam. but what is sad is that in any case and any religion he is an opportunist and a fraud. And I pray to God/Allah whatever you like that he burns in Hell for misleading people. What a pathetic coward he is. ...".

We know sincerely that Jesus Christ was neither an opportunist or a fraud. But here we have opened a door for an unbeliever to charge a Minister of the Gospel with such disgrace!

In any event, here's the Truth represented to the Apostle Paul by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. It is a testimony for the heart of anyone struggling to make sense of this fiasco birthed by both Dr. Caner and Liberty University:
Act 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Act 20:33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
Act 20:34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
Act 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"