After death of 15-year-old Braxton Caner, the online Christian watchdog world assesses whether one of its own went too far.
The unexpected death by suicide of Ergun Caner’s 15-year-old son, Braxton, is prompting discussion among Christian online “watchdogs” over whether public criticism of the son’s ex-Muslim speaker turned college administrator father went too far.
Caner, president of Brewton-Parker College, has faced scrutiny for making false statements in his personal testimony of conversion from Islam. Last month, Caner lost his legal attempt to remove critical videos from YouTube, and was ordered to pay $34,000 as a warning to people who “seek to suppress criticism” via frivolous lawsuits.
Last month, one of Caner’s most vocal critics, Montana pastor J. D. Hall, extended his criticism to include Braxton’s online behavior and how it reflected on Caner’s parenting. The spokesman for Brewton-Parker College, Peter Lumpkins, responded that it was “time to stop social media abusers.”
Last week, Caner tweeted a photo of himself baptizing a 6-year-old Braxton, along with a note: “No words. No sermon. No funny quotes. No answers. No note. Nothing but excruciating pain & the assurance that I’ll see him in Glory.”
Rick and Kay Warren, who lost their son Matthew to suicide in 2013, tweeted their sympathy. The couple has spurred evangelical efforts to address suicide and mental health—a need underscored last December when pastor Isaac Hunter, the son of prominent pastor Joel Hunter, took his own life.
Prominent Caner critic James White called for a cease-fire after Braxton’s suicide.
“Sadly, I have already seen some using this event as a pretext for criticism—not of Ergun Caner, but of those who have sought honesty and integrity in his life,” …
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