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Last week, The Blaze reported about Sean Stone's conversion to Islam while visiting Iran. As we explained, the young filmmaker made the decision to become a Shiite Muslim while working on a documentary in the region. Stone, who is the son of Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone, sat down with Bill O'Reilly on Monday night to discuss the experience, while weighing in on Iranian relations with the U.S.
Among the points of discussion, Stone tackled the word "conversion," which generally encompasses any move from one faith to another. Rather than fully embracing this as a characterization for his own recent faith change, he differentiated. Rather than calling it a "conversion," per se, he maintained that the Jewish, Christian and Muslim God is one in the same and that he has merely "accepted" a new religion.
"I've always believed in the same Judeo-Christian God," Stone said. "And it’s a misunderstanding of Islam to say Allah is a different god. It's just a different name for the same one."
In addition to discussing his personal faith "acceptance," Stone also delved into the meetings he held with Iran's top leaders. Rather than painting them in a negative light, he alluded to calm and peaceful discussions with them. Additionally, he maintained that these meetings were positive for America's image.
"They understood my point of view," he explained. "I think it really helped for the American image, frankly, for me being there and having these conversations -- having this dialogue."
O'Reilly took particular issue with Stone's meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who by all accounts is an extremist. The host went on to compare spending time with him to meeting with Hitler in Nazi Germany. In response, Stone attempted to temper some of Ahmadinejad's past stated views and commentary, but did admit that Holocaust denial is inexcusable.
"It's simplistic to say that he is a fanatic," Stone said.
The young filmmaker went on, despite O'Reilly's disagreement, to support allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Watch the interview, below:
(H/T: Mediaite)Want to leave a tip?
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