I've only read of alleged falsehoods. What has he been accused of lying about in reference to his past?
The allegations became more substantive as videos were made available and other documentation arose.
For starters, the issue about Dr Caner's degrees is a red herring. It is rather easy for publishers and the press to confuse a PhD and a ThD. Most people working for these outlets don't understand the nature of terminal degrees and often misreport. Dr Caner clearly has an earned PhD from University of South Africa (I believe that's the school.)
The primary issues about Dr Caner's credibility come from his repeated inconsistency about his biography since his rise to influence following 9/11.
ChristianityToday gave a fair treatment to the matter:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/julyweb-only/36-51.0.html
Dr Caner has stated he was a devout Muslim, raised in a radicalized Madrasa in Turkey until he received Christ at age 16. In fact, Dr Caner's parents moved to Ohio when he was 4. He was born in Sweden and his brother was born in Ohio.
Dr Caner never visited Turkey while a child due to a travel limitation on he and his brother due to their parents' divorce.
Dr Caner's mother retained primary custody and his father was only allowed 5 weeks a year with the boys, this is clearly noted in court documents.
He adopted a new middle name "Mehmet" when his legal middle name is Michael.
Dr Caner has falsely stated he has debated leaders of religious faiths in public forums yet when asked to provide documentation and evidence of these debates he has failed to do so.
Dr Caner has repeatedly made erroneous statements about the nature of Islam and Muslims and used false credentials to advise the government and churches following 9/11.
Dr Caner has spoken Arabic and used Arabic language as part of his testimony. I don't know Arabic. But I asked two people in my congregation who do to listen to his videos (I provided them multiple videos) and let me know what he's saying. They both came back, independently, and said he's using some words but it is mostly gibberish. We were considering having Dr Caner come speak at the time...he's a very entertaining speaker.
Currently Dr Caner is suing two individuals and YouTube who have provided online access to video documentation of these above claims to block access to these videos which have been obtained legally. This is a front page article at ChristianityToday right now.
Following an independent investigation, Liberty University demoted Dr Caner from the Dean of its seminary to a professor and stated there are clear evidences of false statements in Dr Caner's past work.
This is the primary case against him. He has never come clean about and it isn't gossip to talk about these facts in evidence. As one additional point: I'm not a Calvinist nor Reformed. Dr Caner was inappropriate in his attacks against Calvinists, but that isn't the basis of my opposition to this hire.
James White has had a lot of stuff about this and might be a good resource. I don't follow White so I'm uncertain as to the extent of his data.
So, what academic institution would be seen as credible after hiring this kind of spiritual and institutional leader?
