Emir Caner

Last updated

Emir Caner (born August 25, 1970) is the eighth and youngest president of Truett McConnell University, a private Baptist university in Cleveland, Georgia. [1] [2] Since 9/11, he and his brother Ergun Caner have been credited with playing a significant role in cultivating "Islamophobia" and "militant nationalism" in the evangelical Christian community.

Contents

Early life

Caner was born to a Turkish father named Acar and a Swedish mother named Monica. He grew up in Gahanna, Ohio. [1]

Education

Caner earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Criswell College (1993), an M.Div. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (1995), and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Texas at Arlington (1999). [3] Caner's dissertation was entitled “Truth Is Unkillable: The Life and Writings of Balthasar Hubmaier, Theologian to the Anabaptists.” [3]

Academic career

Prior to arriving at Truett McConnell, Caner held the following academic positions: Assistant Professor of Church History and Anabaptist Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina (1999–2004); Associate Dean of The College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, North Carolina (2004–05); and Dean of The College at Southwestern, Director of the Center for Free Church Studies and Professor of History at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (2005–08). [3]

Politics

Caner has been a member of the Council for National Policy, a conservative political advocacy group. [4]

In 2018, Caner announced that Truett McConnell would no longer sell Nike apparel in its campus bookstore because of the athletic company's hiring of Colin Kaepernick. [5]

Caner is a member of the steering council for the Conservative Baptist Network, a group of southern Baptists that opposes critical race theory and aligns itself with the political positions of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. [6] [7]

Under Caner's leadership, Truett McConnell regularly hosts events focused on political conservatism, such as the Todd Starnes Faith and Freedom Celebration, which has featured former National Security Council member Oliver North (2018), former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (2019), and former Trump administration press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (2021). [8] [9] [10] Another similar event held at Truett McConnell was the 2020 Conservative Baptist Network's Pastor Prophet Patriot event that featured Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, Pastor Brad Jurkovich of First Bossier in Bossier City, Louisiana, and evangelist Tim Lee. [11]

Controversy

Caner and his brother Ergun became the focus of controversy after the publication of their 2002 book Unveiling Islam: An Insider's Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs. In it, the Caner brothers stated, among other things, that they were raised in “radical Islam” in Turkey, which was verifiably not true. [12] Ergun drew much of the criticism for the factual errors and other discrepancies in the book that called into question the brothers’ exposure to, and practice of, the Muslim faith. The controversy eventually cost him his position as dean of the Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School in 2010. Despite some critics pointing to Emir's complicity in the spread of this embellished upbringing, he avoided the same type of consequence. [12] [13] [14]

In addition to the above controversy, former Southern Baptist Convention president Jerry Vines cited Emir and Ergun Caner's book for the source of his claim at a 2002 pastors' conference that the Islamic prophet Muhammad was "a demon-possessed pedophile." [15] [16] Vines' statement elicited outrage and claims of Islamophobia from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. [17] Emir Caner defended the book, saying, "We have attempted to give an honest and compassionate portrayal of the tenets of Islam without any compromise or equivocation." [18] Caner also stated that Muhammad was a "warmonger" and Islam was "at its core, a violent faith." [19] Such statements have led scholars to identify Emir and his brother Ergun as leaders in pushing evangelical Christians to embrace Islamophobia and militant nationalism in the post-9/11 era. [20] [12] [21]

Personal life

Caner met Hana Titerova (born 1975) in Mikulov, Czech Republic; they married in 2000. [3] [22] They have three children: John Mark, Daniela, and Anna. [1]

Books

Related Research Articles

The Christian countercult movement or the Christian anti-cult movement is a social movement among certain Protestant evangelical and fundamentalist and other Christian ministries and individual activists who oppose religious sects that they consider cults.

John Flipse Walvoord was a Christian theologian, a pastor, and the president of Dallas Theological Seminary from 1952 to 1986. He was the author of over 30 books, focusing primarily on eschatology and theology, including The Rapture Question, and was co-editor of The Bible Knowledge Commentary with Roy B. Zuck. He earned AB and DD degrees from Wheaton College, an AM degree from Texas Christian University in philosophy, a Th.B., Th.M., and Th.D. in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Litt.D. from Liberty Baptist Seminary.

Charles Jerry Vines is an American preacher and former pastor of what was then the nation's third largest Southern Baptist church, the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida. Like his former co-pastor Homer G. Lindsay Jr., Vines is well known for his conservative and sometimes controversial public stances, as well as his wide-reaching influence in the Southern Baptist Convention and the local political arena. He retired from the First Baptist pulpit on February 7, 2006, and was succeeded by Mac Brunson. On February 4, 2007, Brunson named Vines Pastor Emeritus of the church.

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is an association of evangelical denominations, organizations, schools, churches and individuals, member of the World Evangelical Alliance. The association represents more than 45,000 local churches from about 40 different denominations and serves a constituency of millions. The mission of the NAE is to honor God by connecting and representing evangelicals in the United States.

Stanley James Grenz (1950–2005) was an American Christian theologian and ethicist in the Baptist tradition.

Mark A. Gabriel is an Egyptian-American lecturer and writer on Islam who lives in the United States. He is the author of five books critical of salafi Islam, including Islam and Terrorism, Islam and the Jews, and Journey into the Mind of an Islamic Terrorist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criswell College</span> Christian college and divinity school in Dallas, Texas

Criswell College is a private Baptist Christian college and divinity school in Dallas, Texas. The college's stated mission is to provide ministerial and professional higher education for men and women preparing to serve as Christian leaders throughout society, while maintaining an institutional commitment to biblical inerrancy.

Ross Richard Clifford AM is an Australian Baptist theologian, political commentator, radio personality and author. A former lawyer who later joined the ministry, Clifford became a campaigner on moral issues while a suburban Sydney pastor in the 1980s. He has served as head of several religious organisations and as an occasional media spokesperson. He unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Council in 2003 for the Christian Democratic Party. Until mid-2010 he had a radio program on Sydney station 2CH.

John D. Hannah is an author and professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. His official title is "Distinguished Professor of Historical Theology, Research Professor of Theological Studies." He served as the department chair of Historical Theology for over twenty years and has taught at DTS since 1972.

David Otis Fuller was an American Baptist pastor. He was a graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and Princeton Theological Seminary. He pastored Chelsea Baptist Church in Atlantic City, New Jersey and the Wealthy Street Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Walter Wilbert Welch was an American pastor and educator. He joined the teaching faculty of Cornerstone University in 1941, becoming president in 1959, and Chancellor in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Washington Truett</span> American clergyman

George Washington Truett, also known as George W. Truett, was an American clergyman who was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, from 1897 until 1944, and the president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1927 to 1929. He was one of the "most famous Southern Baptist" preachers and writers of his era.

Millard J. Erickson, born in Isanti County, Minnesota, is an Evangelical Christian theologian, professor of theology, and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodrow M. Kroll</span>

Woodrow Michael Kroll is an evangelical preacher and radio host. He was the president and Bible teacher for the international Back to the Bible radio and television ministry. He was president of Davis College in Johnson City, New York, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael R. Licona</span> American historian

Michael R. "Mike" Licona is an American New Testament scholar, author, and Christian apologist. He is Professor of New Testament Studies at Houston Christian University, Extraordinary Associate Professor of Theology at North-West University and the director of Risen Jesus, Inc. Licona specializes in the resurrection of Jesus, and in the literary analysis of the Gospels as Greco-Roman biographies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baptist Church Dallas</span> Church in Texas, United States

First Baptist Dallas is a Baptist megachurch located in Dallas, Texas. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. It was established in 1868. The church is considered influential in Dallas and among evangelical Christians in the United States, because of its community involvement through 21 missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ergun Caner</span> Swedish-American academic, author, and minister

Ergun Michael Caner is a Swedish-American academic, author, and Baptist minister, who became well known for his book, co-authored with his brother, on Islam and his claims that he was a devout Muslim trained as a terrorist. He emigrated to the United States at age four and claimed to have converted to Protestantism in the early 1980s.

Louis De Votie Newton was President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1947–1948) in the United States, Baptist preacher, and author, as well as vice president of the Baptist World Alliance.

Scott Miller Gibson is an American pastor, theologian, and educator who currently serves as a professor of preaching, is the holder of the David E. Garland Chair in preaching, and is director of the Ph.D. in Preaching Program at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He was previously the Haddon W. Robinson Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (1991-2018). Gibson is an author, lecturer, preacher, and conference speaker specializing in homiletics.

Kamal Saleem is the pseudonym of a Lebanese-American self-claimed former Muslim terrorist. He is a convert to Christianity and minister who evangelizes to Muslims.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Truett-McConnell College hires former Muslim as its president". www.gainesvilletimes.com. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  2. ↑ "Emir Caner". Truett McConnell University. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Staff Directory". Truett McConnell University Bears. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Council for National Policy Membership Directory" (PDF). 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Truett McConnell will not sell Nike apparel". The Christian Index. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  6. ↑ "Steering Council". Conservative Baptist Network. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  7. ↑ Roach, David (30 October 2020). "Movement Wants to Make Southern Baptists Conservative Again". News & Reporting. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  8. ↑ "'There is no freedom without faith': Gov. Huckabee Speaks at TMU's Second Annual Faith & Freedom Celebration". Truett McConnell University. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  9. ↑ Hardy, Wayne (September 23, 2021). "Sarah Sanders to visit TMU Friday at Faith & Freedom". White County News. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ↑ Gregory, Jenny (2018-03-30). "TMU to feature Tomb of Unknown replica at Faith and Freedom Celebration". Now Habersham. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  11. ↑ Hart, Dan. "Pastor Prophet Patriot: 'This Is Our Moment'". FRC Action. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  12. 1 2 3 Smith, Christopher Cameron (2014). ""Ex-Muslims," Bible Prophecy, and Islamophobia: Rhetoric and Reality in the Narratives of Walid Shoebat, Kamal Saleem, Ergun and Emir Caner". Islamophobia Studies Journal. 2 (2): 84–86. doi:10.13169/islastudj.2.2.0076. ISSN   2325-8381. JSTOR   10.13169/islastudj.2.2.0076.
  13. ↑ Riley, Jennifer (29 June 2010). "Liberty Univ. Demotes Ergun Caner After Investigation". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  14. ↑ Burleson, Wade. "Experts in Islam? Is Emir Caner Complicit in Brother Ergun Caner's Embellishments?". Istoria Ministries Blog. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  15. ↑ McMullen, Cary (June 29, 2002). "Pastor's Comment Appalling At Best". Lakeland (FL) Ledger. p. D-1. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  16. ↑ "CNN.com - Muslims angered by Baptist criticism - June 13, 2002". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  17. ↑ Sachs, Susan (2002-06-15). "Baptist Pastor Attacks Islam, Inciting Cries of Intolerance". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  18. ↑ Oh, Susie L. (June 6, 2003). "Christian Authors Writing Books on Islam". Lakeland (FL) Ledger. p. D-3. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Converts Take Heat for Book About Islam". Lumberton (NC) Robesonian. July 26, 2002. p. B-6.
  20. ↑ Du Mez, Kristen Kobes (2020). Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. Liveright. pp. Ch. 13. ISBN   978-1-63149-573-1.
  21. ↑ Cimino, Richard (2005). ""No God in Common:" American Evangelical Discourse on Islam after 9/11". Review of Religious Research. 47 (2): 162–174. doi:10.2307/3512048. ISSN   0034-673X. JSTOR   3512048.
  22. ↑ "Hana Caner – comparing America to life under Communism". The Christian Index. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  23. ↑ "2003 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners". Christian Book Expo. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.