Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says the world could be approaching its end — but we may be able to change course.
When Carson was asked by journalist Sharyl Attkisson if he believed the “end of days” was near, he said, “You could guess that we are getting closer to that.”
“You do have people who have a belief system that sees this apocalyptic phenomena occurring and that they are a part of it, who would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if they gained possession of them,” Carson told Attkisson, a former CBS News reporter.
She followed up by asking if the end times could be avoided or whether it is prophesied.
Carson said he would always choose to believe the situation can be improved.
“I think we have a chance to certainly do everything we can to ameliorate the situation,” Carson said. “I would always be shooting for peace. I wouldn’t just take a fatalist view of things.”
The retired neurosurgeon also mentioned his Christian faith and membership in the 7th Day Adventist Church.
Carson said he believes strongly “in godly principles of loving your fellow man, caring about your neighbor, developing God-given talents to the utmost so that you become valuable to the people around you.”
He reiterated his position that elements of Islam such as Sharia Law are incompatible with the American Constitution because it “subjugates women in a pretty substantial way” and punishes by death acts of “adultery and homosexuality.”
Attkisson asked Carson about the fact that more Muslim refugees in Syria have been granted Visas compared to Christians in Syria. Catholic News Agency reported that over 900 Muslims from Syria have been granted asylum compared to about 20 Christians, she said.
“I don’t think our policies make a whole lot of sense,” declared Carson. “Why would you bring them into a country that they are dedicated to destroy?”
On the issue of separation of church and state, Carson said “there should be a line drawn” while also noting “there shouldn’t be a Constitutional reason why a person can’t live a public life of faith.”
“I want people to see me as an honest person, a person who is actually willing to express what they believe” Carson told The Hill. “The way I look at it, if people don’t like that, I’d rather not be in office. I don’t want to be in office under false pretenses, just saying things people want to hear so I can get elected.”
