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-+- Who is Igrwy -+- and what is that?

I was sickened reading the comments about Falwell. It reinforced the comment I heard one time, "the whole world is a big insane assylum and the "true" Christians are the caretakers." I have heard the comments of many people who are drunk with insanity. The deceived person is the last one to know. Please pray and ask God to open your eyes for you are truly blind.

Jeff

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Catherine thanks for a good commentary that takes in both sides of Falwell and the people swirling in his wake. Be they his devotee or devourer, both could take away something from your post.

"Why Jerry had to be so sick and die so early and leave us so quick?"

Probably because he ate junk food, was obese, took little exercise and had clogged up arteries. He also had a lot of unresolved anger about lesbians, gays, liberals etc. Most people attack the things that they fear most in themselves so I wonder what that says about the real Jerry Falwell.

In any case he had his full Biblical 3 score years and ten in a comfortable lifestyle, unlike so many people in the World who continue to suffer because of the greed of the "Christian" West. What about some sympathy for the suffering people of Iraq, Darfur, Gaza, Zimbabwe etc who need our prayer a lot more than the affluent Falwell family.

"Why Jerry had to be so sick and die so early and leave us so quick?"

Probably because he ate junk food, was obese, took little exercise and had clogged up arteries. He also had a lot of unresolved anger about lesbians, gays, liberals etc. Most people attack the things that they fear most in themselves so I wonder what that says about the real Jerry Falwell.

In any case he had his full Biblical 3 score years and ten in a comfortable lifestyle, unlike so many people in the World who continue to suffer because of the greed of the "Christian" West. What about some sympathy for the suffering people of Iraq, Darfur, Gaza, Zimbabwe etc who need our prayer a lot more than the affluent Falwell family.

"Why Jerry had to be so sick and die so early and leave us so quick?"

Probably because he ate junk food, was obese, took little exercise and had clogged up arteries. He also had a lot of unresolved anger about lesbians, gays, liberals etc. Most people attack the things that they fear most in themselves so I wonder what that says about the real Jerry Falwell.

In any case he had his full Biblical 3 score years and ten in a comfortable lifestyle, unlike so many people in the World who continue to suffer because of the greed of the "Christian" West. What about some sympathy for the suffering people of Iraq, Darfur, Gaza, Zimbabwe etc who need our prayer a lot more than the affluent Falwell family.

I'm in no mood to be charitable about the passing of Falwell. He was one of those who claimed that AIDS was God's punishment on homosexuals. Anyone who claims that someone's death is God's punishment is morally guilty of murder.

Before too many readers get riled up, please remember that quite a number of posters choose words intended to "troll", or provoke a response. They are not necessarily posting reasoned arguments intended to persuade others, nor posting their own consistent, heartfelt feelings. One must expect a lot of noise from a public internet, and interpret words and their worth accordingly.

With that said, I am a Christian and was not much of a fan of the public Jerry Falwell. While I do not question that he did some good, I also do not question that his words (perhaps ill-reported) caused a lot of pain. I also believe that there are a great many people who seek to use religious belief to manipulate, just as there are others - as there always have been - who are threatened by religious conviction.

I believe we are seeing a lot of both in the public reporting of Falwell's death. On the one hand, there are those of conservative religious convictions who are seeing very clearly the ugliness of hate being spewed on the occasion of someone's death. On the other hand, we have some who are seeing someone whose name (with Pat Robertson's and the Ayatollah Khomeni's, for two examples) has become synonymous in many circles with the ultimate in religious excesses in politics.

The real people are being lost in favor of perceptions of whom and what they were. Those who manipulate perceptions, and increase the noise and misunderstanding, are increasingly made to seem influential. I believe this is why Christ, so often, preached that godly men must be in this world, but not of it.

As C.S. Lewis wrote, it is "sweet, sweet poison" to be able to add "thus saith the Lord" as an exclamation point to our own personal dislikes. I believe that such underlies much of the venom being spewed against Falwell and his memory. As others have pointed out, much of the understanding (including my own) of Falwell and what he actually said and stood for was always based upon a simplistic hearing, or listening to commentators (which nearly always signifies a simplistic (mis)understanding).

That Falwell's followers were used politically is another point. But let us not blame "organized religion" for this. Organized government, organized journalism, organized lobbyists... Pretty much anything men organize can and is usually corrupted. Religion, like money, like land, like good reputations, or anything desirable, is used by some.

Mr. Falwell was raised by atheists. That means he came from a lack of religious belief and feeling. Any one of us who comes from a family background we had to rebel against will understand this, and understand and express (if honest) how much we have to work to build foundations of our own choosing. Mr. Falwell built quite a bit. How much of that was incomplete is another point. Perhaps I will be one of the few commentators who calls Mr. Falwell a "rebel".

If we can choose to ignore those words which are posted for their sensationalism, and discuss some of the valid and valuable points Mr. Falwell's passing raises in our debates, wouldn't that be a good thing? And despite whether one is "anti-" or "pro-Falwell", it's up to each one of us to be better than that which we complain of.

Mr and Mrs Burns wrote:
"You may not like the man. The question is do you believe in GOD and the Bible?"

No, I don't beleive in god or the Bible, and I certainly didn't like Jerry Falwell.

Your point?

Brother Jerry was not a man of hate. In case you don't know ... God hates sin, but loves the sinner. Brother Jerry preached the true word of God. My prayers go out to his family, and for the Children of God who are mourning this great loss. May he rest in peace!

I have lived in Southwest Virginia all my life and Falwell was nothing more than an embarassment. I remember in some of my travels around the country, I would meet someone and start talking to them, eventually telling them where I was from. About 8 times out of 10 the person would say, "Oh...Jerry Falwell country..." or something even worse. I am not a hateful person, but in this case I am quite sincere when I say about Jerry Falwell's death, good riddance. He was nothing put pure evil. May he rot in hell.

No one's mind or heart will be changed by these postings. Although I think many of us have decided to take our gloves off out of sheer provocation.

It's getting harder and harder to live by the Platinum Rule, ain't it?

I am learning that the rules of political engagement have changed in America. It is now nastier, more personal and so very often off-topic. For example, WHAT does an opinion on abortion have to do with fighting a war? Apparently, plenty nowadays. Consider any mess we're in now and I can tell you that it's because of rabid partisanship on both sides. Of course Democrats and liberal types have been slow to this change. We blinked. We lost elections. We thought we'd "play fair" and hand off the 2000 election "for the sake of the country."

What a big fat mistake.

"Reverend" Falwell did not play by any rules. He helped develop the politics of personal destruction. Regardless of how you fee about him, you should really consider this one of his largest (not "greatest") accomplishments. If you think he's just the best thing sinced sliced cheese, well good for you. If you don't, I consider you my friend and a real American.

fallwell's new home is in the firey depths, where all of the gay angels in heaven can laugh at him.

Falwell's legacy will be shared by anyone on the edge of mental balance. People who weave their way through the Scriptures picking out what they like and ignoring what they don't. Talking tough about the hate in the bible and ignoring the lines that bring us together. Talking tough about conflict and supporting this country and yet not being able to bring themselves to serve in the military. The conservatives in this country abound who don't walk the talk. One may add Falwell's name to the long list of ChickenHawks in this country from John Wayne to Dick Cheney. That is their legacy.

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Dr. Jerry Falwell, long time Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and President and founder of Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia has died and went home to be with the Lord. He was called home to Christ today at the age of 73, the very same age as my father, who presently is recovering in the hospital in Honolulu Hawaii from a massive heart attack.

I greatly respected Jerry Falwell for his courageous stand for Biblical Christianity is a pagan and godless world. Jerry Falwell was a giant amongst mere mortals and ascended to the pinnacle of world influence during the late 1970's and throughout the 1980's, as Falwell's, Moral Majority became a highly organized and steadfast force against the forces of insidious evil that threaten to destroy this country from within, such as homosexuality, abortion and the complete destruction of Biblical Morality.

I personally have a great debt to pay Jerry Falwell, since God used men like Falwell, Billy Graham and Josh McDowell to understand Christianity better when I was a teenager.

I greatly mourn the loss of this Evangelical Warrior and Crusader for truth and justice in American Civilization.

Rest in Peace, Mighty Warrior, I shall see you in heaven, where God will wipe away every tear away from our eyes and the former things are passed away,

Go now, Dr, Falwell, into the loving arms of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who awaits you with open arms, beyond the Crystal shore.

All my prayers are with you Brother Falwell, your stand for truth and righteousness was once of the major reasons Ronald Reagan came to power in the Conservative Resurgence of 1980. I will always remember you mighty warrior. May God bless you now for the works of your hands.

Please pray for the family, friends of Jerry Falwell, a titan of righteousness in a sea of wickedness.

Jerry Falwell taught me a lot about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jerry Falwell and men of God like Billy Graham taught me spiritual answers to life's most important questions including, "Who am I?", "Where did I come from?" , "What is the meaning of life?", "Where will I go after I die?", "Is there a God?", "Is Jesus Christ the Son of God and did He die on the cross for our sins and rise again from the dead in order to give us eternal life through faith in His name?" and "Have I acknowledged that I have sinned against God by breaking His Ten Commandments?"

The matter of your eternal destiny and relationship with God through Jesus Christ is a matter of paramount importance. Jerry Falwell would have asked, the following: Have you repented of your sins and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you realized that have broken God's Holy Law, that you are a sinner who deserves to be sent to hell for eternity because of your sinful rebellion against God? Have you also heard about the Good News Tim, that though "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" and "The wages of Sin is death" the great news is that the "Free Gift of eternal life is through Jesus Christ our Lord"

The Bible says, "But God demonstrates His own love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for Us" (Romans 6:23).

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you shall be saved" (Romans 10:9)

"Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

"So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17).

"Truly these times of ignorance God has overlooked but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

I thank God for Jerry Falwell a faithful Evangelist, Pastor and preacher of righteousness whose network of Conservative Evangelicals and other social conservatives gave impetus for the Reagan Revolution. May Jerry's Falwell's vision for America be carried out in our generation.

As for Jerry Falwell, "the wages of sin is death", and Jerry has now been paid in full.

No, Anonymous, God hated his only son, Jesus, and had him tortured to death. A classic Oedipal drama.

Thomas
"God hates with love" God hates sin period,its the only thing He hates.

If God will burn me in hell out of love, then so be it...if he will love the likes of Falwell and Robertson, if he will let murderers and rapists to heaven and deny me, then so be it - he still isn't my God. If I am bound by his laws, then so be it, but his representatives are just like me, the Bible has taught them nothing. If you think that you have the monopoly on truth and justice, then so be it. However, when you reach for the helping hand that God denies you, those you condemned will not help. If your God leaves you in the dark, then in darkness you will dwell, but that is the fate that you have made. God is not perfect - he is flawed and hateful just like man, and man does not decide justice, so if your God is subject to his creation, then he is therefore not my God. You wonder why I am an atheist. There is no love in your religion.

If God will burn me in hell out of love, then so be it...if he will love the likes of Falwell and Robertson, if he will let murderers and rapists to heaven and deny me, then so be it - he still isn't my God. If I am bound by his laws, then so be it, but his representatives are just like me, the Bible has taught them nothing. If you think that you have the monopoly on truth and justice, then so be it. However, when you reach for the helping hand that God denies you, those you condemned will not help. If your God leaves you in the dark, then in darkness you will dwell, but that is the fate that you have made. God is not perfect - he is flawed and hateful just like man, and man does not decide justice, so if your God is subject to his creation, then he is therefore not my God. You wonder why I am an atheist. There is no love in that religion.

And you, Thomas, Twitchell, know the real gospel?

That was one long, drawn-out post, and you got it all wrong.

There is a God, but IT is not Jesus Christ, or Allah, or Jehovah, IT is IT. And IT loves everybody equally because we all came from IT and we all will return to IT.

"You were right Luke, you were right."

These maladaptations are not the cause of calamities, they are the result of calamity. The calamity of sin.

The entirety of the human race is as evil as it can get. What it produces it produces in kind. Even the good that it does is nothing more, the Scriptures say, than filthy mentrual cloths.

For Billy Graham to give a positive account of Jerry Falwell, is laughable. Billy Graham said, "They may not know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something they do not have, and they turn to the only light the have and I think that they are saved and they are going to be with us in heaven." To this Robert Schuller remarked, "What, what I hear you saying, that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into human hearts and soul and life, even if they have been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you are saying?"
Billy Graham responded, "Yes, it is."

We cannot take the word of the heretic BG even if the SBC built a statue for his followers to faun over. Jerry Falwell's rejection of the foundations of the protestant faith, do not subject him to praise, either, and while he was alive his praise of Billy Graham, was so much smoke and mirrors.

For the many good things they did we can laud, but we with equal volume must denounce their unfaithfulness to the Word of God.

Those of you who know Schuller, mentor and friend of Rick Warren, may not be aware of his occult teachings. The lack of critical review on the part of Falwell speaks more loudly than all that he did well, however.

His innability, or unwillingness to confront the errors within himself and the SBC, and evangelicalism in general, will follow all that he has done.

"How ironic it would be if it turned out that Jerry was WRONG all these years, and God really does love everyone equally."

You see this kind of ignorance, of the American people so clearly displayed in this thread. Jerry Falwell did preach equallity of the love of God for all people. The problem is, it is not true. God has one kind of love for his bride, another for pretenders. Jerry Falwell's message did penetrate society and it was a false Gospel that lead people to make foolish statement like "God is love, therefore he loves everyone, and everyone equally." This is not true.

Who Falwell was to God, and who he is now, is not ours to judge. As is apparent by the comments here in these threads, good judgement is not in great supply. We are required none the less to judge righteous judgment. The ignorant voices on both sides will be silenced one day, of that we all know to be true. The ignorance of Jerry Falwell is silenced, but his words will live on, in hearts, in minds, on paper. His righteous judgements, also.

None of that has anything whatsoever to do with the truth. Jesus, the Word of God said, "Father, sanctify them by your Truth, Your Word is Truth...I am the Way the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by me....No one is able to come to me unless the Father draws him, and him I will raise up at the last day."

The truth is God hates and he does so in love. "Thus you also have those who hold to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate...But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate...Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated...six things the Lord hates...." He hates sin and he hates the one who rejects his covenant and clings to sin. He will not destroy them in hell because he loves them! Noone, save the athiest, can say that God loves the evil doer, as is so abundantly clear in this thread. Each person's conception of God is that he hates those who hate one another for evil motives. Hate, however, requires truth and for something to be hated requires that something else trascends it as worthy of love. Since it has been amply demonstrated here that none of us is worthy, it leaves only the arbiter or Truth who is worthy, and that is God.

This is the judgement then, that light is in the world but men love darkness rather than light. They erect statues to venerate men, they tear then down to venerate ideas and indoing so they do not honor God who dwells in upproachable light, whose image can neither be discovered nor distroyed. That, they hate. And they not honoring God as God, he gives them up to their sin, to do to themselves and to others what pleased them and not him. His wrath against sin is being poured out, and that wrath is the sins of mankind, good and bad. One day it will be summed up in the Wrath of the final judgement of the world.

One thing that Falwell never told anyone is that God is an equal opportunity hater. He hates us all. In his love he chose some that he might also show his favor. And he shows his love in this, that while we were dead is sin, Christ died for us. For God loved the world in this way that he gave his only Son that those who were believing in him might not perish under the weight of the wrath of God that is being poured out against all ungodlyness and men, which included Jerry Falwell, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. This holy Son of God was give to the Father for the sins of His bride, and none other. Because of this the nations rage and plot the destruction of his holy ones. To them he has said, "If you are believing, then you have eternal life, but if you are not, you are condemned already." Those of the resurrection know him as risen, those who are dead do not. If today you hear this, repent of your unbelief, confess with you mouth what your heart knows as the TRUTH, and you will be saved.

Far and away people like Falwell have a zeal for God, but it is without knowledge. It beckons the selfish, for those who see the provision of the Lord as a means to escape, and not as the means by which God is glorifying himself through his creation. But, he was lightyears beyond the darkness of this world, simply by his acknowledgement that he had a Lord who owned him.

It is this that separates the believer from the unbeliever. We have been set free from the slavery and the condemnation due our sins, and have been made slaves to righteousness that is found only in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. It is not we who are righteous, we are sinners, in Christ alone is there Righteousness, in him alone is eternal life.

Those of you who hated Falwell, it is because you hate God. You hated Falwell because your own deeds were evil and Falwell, who in and of himself was evil also, shown the light of Christ on you sin. And you love your sin more than you love the light. I did not particularly like Falwell nor his secular civil religion. But, his appeal to an absolute, like a light in a dark room, sent the cockroaches scurrying and the rates skretching to the "safety" of their self- defined darkness. Darkness beckons to darkness, for in the darkness, who knows what is right?

In the end, those who hate are closer to the life of God than the athiest who has no object of hate except himself. Jesus said that he would have us hot or cold, rather than apathetic. Those without feeling are beyond remedy. Those who hate, still feel, and are still the objects of his affections should he choose to reveal himself to them. It was those who hated him that he died for, though he did not reveal himself to all. Only to some are given the right to become the sons of God. Those who are born by the will of God, from above, by the Spirit, to them it has been granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom, but to the others it has not. This is the Truth, the one which Falwell rejected. It is the heart of Christianity, the reason for the proclamation of the good news to those who have ears to hear. Those who killed Christ, killed him because he called them children of their father the devil, which we all are. Some of us, he has slain by the brightness of his coming and called us out of sheol, and has given us new life according to the Spirit of Christ. As he said, he has life in himself and gives to whom ever he pleases, not that they choose him, but that he has chosen them. Jesus did not pray for the world, but in John 17.9, he excludes it. The world is scheduled for destruction and John the baptist was the one who came making the ways of the Lord straight, warning men to flee the coming judgment.

If you hear this voice, today, as long as it is called today, do not harden your heart as you have done before. Instead, ask for mercy and you will go home justified, as we hope that Falwell was.

Do not be deceived, Falwell's death is the occassion of my writting this, and you would not be reading it, if it was left in your control. Hear this, The Lord our God is one Lord, and his name is Jealous, his name is Jesus the Christ.

I really wish they would have never posted this topic and allowed discussion on the passing of Falwell.

Reading the many posts on all the different threads has almost taken my faith of the inherent good in people away.

I am repulsed by the hatred so many of you are spewing. He does not derserve to be that reviled. He was neither Hitler, nor Stalin, nor Amin, nor any of those other murderous souls that roamed and still roam the earth.

Be very, very ashamed of yourselves.

"False-hearted judges, dying in the webs that they spin,
Only a matter of time, 'til night comes stepping in."
-Bob Dylan

"False-hearted judges, dying in the webs that they spin,
Only a matter of time, 'til night comes stepping in."
-Bob Dylan

John said, "Jerry Falwell clearly condemned homosexuality as sin - a sin like adultery, greed, lust, lying, cheating and stealing - as well.." But the empasis was on homosexuality with less said about the rest. This was marketing, pure and simple. Rally the mindless around a common enemy and they will join you and even send you money.

Christ is a lot more about homosexuality as a sin but if you look at the Christian hucksters like Falwell/Dobson/Haggard/Robertson/Swaggart, Baker, et. al, homosexuality is sensational and gets them votes, members and money. They have hijacked the name of Jesus Christ for their own greed, power and political agendas, using the manipulative tactics of fear like Karl Rove and Adolf Hitler.

Anon:

"Explains it all, doesn't it?"

Actually Psychology used to consider homosexuality a Character Disorder marked by emotional immaturity and hysteria.

Wouldn't it be ironic (and quite amusing) if Falwell was remembered in history as a closet gay?

Help spread the word.

Many believe that Falwell was a closet gay. The rumour is that he was so angry with himself for being unable to fight his gay tendencies that he took his frustrations out on the gay community.

Explains it all, doesn't it?

Jan said it and I believe it.

I have no ill will towards honest Christians who practice what they preach.

But I am willing to mix it up with those who are hypocrites. But you know, it's not even hypocrites who are the problem.

It's a man who built a congregation, a school, a religion-based industry on narrow-minded "principles" of what he thought we should buy into. He had no regard for humanity at large, just his narrow base.

In fact, Falwell simply used the direct-marketing principles laid out by Herschell Gordon Lewis more than 3 decades ago. Among those direct-marketing concepts are:

1. Fear is one of the greatest motivators.
2. Exclusivity--only "special" people get this offer.
3. Tailor your offer not to a broad public, but be specific and tailor it to a smaller, focused list of potential customers who share common traits.

Worked great for the GOP & Rove, too! I still don't understand why direct-marketing is the great uncovered story of modern American politics--and sadly, religion as practiced by the likes of J.F.

Jan, my point exactly. Every hateful word he deserves.

Charles:
Charles, you say "There is a Latin phrase which I cannot remember that means "Of the dead speak no ill.""

Well, there's a bible phrase that is even better known, and Falwell knew it well: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Falwell made a lifetime and a fortune out of throwing rocks at others. You expect a man who sowed hatred his entire life, to be accorded peace from those who were his targets?

May his sorry carcass roast in the fires of hell. Perhaps politicans have done worse, but they do not purport to be the messengers of God.

As a Christian and a Southern Baptist, I didn't always agree with Dr. Falwell. I did consider him as a man of passion and vision. He preached with great passion, he expanded with great vision. As a baptist minister I can see the controvesy left behind by some of his words. But I can also see the work of his hands.

It should make us think what will be said about us when we are no more.

As a Christian and a Southern Baptist, I didn't always agree with Dr. Falwell. I did consider him as a man of passion and vision. He preached with grat passion, he expanded with great vision. As a baptist minister I can see the controvesy left behind by some of his words. But I can also see the work of his hands.

It should make us think, what will be said about us when we are no more.

Jerry Falwell made his considerable fortune trafficking in hate and intolerance. He grew fat and gluttonous while others starved, always sporting the rich ways that his pius guise made possible. I can imagine his rich-man's diet eventually clogged his arteries and made fat deposits around that cold heart inside his fat chest, not the fake heart he wore around on his sleeve. He and his kind, like Elmer Gantry, are vermin who feast on mankind, no better than spiritual vampires who live by killing others.

You want to blame the downfall of society on atheists and pagans and homosexuals. The reason that half of all marriages end in divorce isn't because of gays. The reason families don't sit down and eat but instead go to McDonalds isn't because of gays. The reason there is violence on TV, religious wars, and starving people isn't because of gays.

That's not knowledge, my friend. You don't KNOW anything. You assume. Lots of observations came true. Lots of things written in the Bible are OPEN TO INTERPRETATION. That's why there are hundreds of Christian "sects". If many are called in this day and age - I would believe NONE are chosen. The track record of sin? The same ones you perpetuate? OK...good for you. Ever heard of "lead by example"? Guess not.

My Mother taught me, 'if you don't have anything good to say about someone, say nothing.'
..................................................................................................................... My condolences to the family.

NEWS FLASH LUKE, like i said, you either think they are crazy old men,or you take an honest look at how much they said came true. the bible also says many are called but few are chosen. i dont know why these things are true, i just know they are from the track record of sin. the potter reserves the power to make some things for glory and some things not.

How come you can't spot obvious fakes like Falwell, Bush and Cheney, people of America? Could it be that you're faking too, that your "religion" is just the fig-leaf you use to cover your tiny souls?

Falwell is gone, but you're still here in your ignorant millions, ready to bully, to hurt, to punish, to lie, to wage war. What do they teach you in those churches anyway, that blinds you to the simple truth? What are you going to give us next? Fascism? Holy War? The Inquisition? Or something so terrible there's no name for it yet?

Look in the mirror, America, if you can stand the sight. Look the self-righteousness in the face, look at the slovenly thinking, the laziness, the ignorance which we're famous for all over the world. Hideous, isn't it, like a baboon's ass as the poet says.

Take a good, long look. Drink it in. Now go and pray to your god, if you can.

News Flash Gary, the Bible was written by people too. I guess you didn't get them memo.

He stated what he thought was right, so are we in saying that he was an intolerant bigot. You throw this "have you no shame?" nonsense at those you label as liberals but you have been just as cruel and hateful to the LIVING. I am not praying for him. He is the antithesis of everything I believe in, so why should I be respectful. To say that the cause of 9-11 is gays and liberals? He isn't worthy of the water in my spit - which I would love to let grace his grave. Good riddance. Godspeed Pat Robertson, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Ann Coulter. Let them meet the God they so fervently believe in.

JESUS accepted and lived under the law,the only one to be successful at the attempt,thereby making him the only person able to take our sins on HIMSELF. GOD is the one who defined what sin is. it is revealed in the old testament.take it, or leave it as some stuff some old crazy men made up,i believe them,because i would have no other way to be called to look into GODS charactor. anything else, you made up yourself.

Oh my, have we offended some "real" Christians? Oh my, please forgive us. Will you pray for us? Pretty please?

Do you have any idea how angry some of us are at the ESTABLISHMENT that has given us endless war in Iraq? An ESTABLISHMENT that has hijacked BOTH government and religion to kill our hard-won freedoms? An ESTABLISHMENT that enriches itself at the expense of others? Can I provide you a CLUE at our discontent with people who parade around celebrating Christ while working against His principles? And YOU are offended? YOU?

Good! Glad to finally get your attention.

Let Jerry's passing start the conversation. Bring it. He's a public figure, his family must realize that by now. If you want your family to mourn in peace, don't be a jerk your entire life.

John McCain had it right the first time, Jerry Falwell was an agent of intolerance. Morals and values my foot.

Jerry Falwell taught HIS interpretation of what the Bible taught; that did not necessarily make his teachings infalible, true or Christian, for that matter.

Jerry Falwell taught HIS interpretation of what the Bible taught; that did not necessarily make his teachings infalible, true or Christian, for that matter.

5/16/07

god is just Dog spelled backwards: "I don't know with certainy wether there is or is not a god, but I'm convinced that anyone who claims to know what the word "god" is, is a fraud, dellusional or a practicing hubrist"

Mikki- Really ? That proves 'Pharisee' did a good job on some of us to 'confuse' !

Mikki

Condolence to the family and friends of Rev. Falwell. Many of the moral issues he spoke out about, are valid and are of God. We tend to disagree when it deals with our own or our family member's life style. Suddenly we tend to see things we want to do or be a part of as being clean because we want it to be and we want to be justified, BUT! God has the last word and Rev. Falwell, no matter if we liked him or not, he was about something that a lot of us shy away from. I believe when he came to the gates of heaven, the Lord God said to him, ' Well done thy good and faithful servant. Yours is the Kingdom of God.

I have rarely seen such an outpouring of vitriol for a person who has passed. I did not agree with Rev. Falwell's views, but I find the excoriating remarks made by so many here reprehensible. There is a Latin phrase which I cannot remember that means "Of the dead speak no ill." Dr. Falwell is gone, no doubt to a far better place than this corrupt world and so many of the hate-filled people who inhabit it. No matter what one's predilections may be, surely people who have a shred of love for mercy and forgiveness can desist from espousing such unseemly remarks as I have read here. I am not a religious person in any orthodox way, but I am certainly not going to rejoice because of Rev. Falwell's passing. I agree that there are Washington politicians who are doing far worse than he ever did. Personally, I am getting a bit tired of these militant homos who come flocking out en masse every time something occurs about which they feel justified to flaunt their views in our faces. I do not have one thing against persons who are homosexual. In fact, I have friends who are. I realize that the Rev. Falwell made hurtful (and, I concede, hateful) remarks about the homosexual community. But the man is gone from our midst. And I find myself in agreement with Hillary who posted here. Let us, in a country that purportedly loves mercy and justice and forgiveness, pray for the repose of Rev. Falwell's soul. He did what he could according to his "lights." If he hurt an element of our population in his ministry, he will, no doubt, answer for it somewhere in the never-ending, wherever and whatever that is.

I have rarely seen such an outpouring of vitriol for a person who has passed. I did not agree with Rev. Falwell's views, but I find the excoriating remarks made by so many here reprehensible. There is a Latin phrase which I cannot remember that means "Of the dead speak no ill." Dr. Falwell is gone, no doubt to a far better place than this corrupt world and so many of the hate-filled people who inhabit it. No matter what one's predilections may be, surely people who have a shred of love for mercy and forgiveness can desist from espousing such unseemly remarks as I have read here. I am not a religious person in any orthodox way, but I am certainly not going to rejoice because of Rev. Falwell's passing. I agree that there are Washington politicians who are doing far worse than he ever did. Personally, I am getting a bit tired of these militant homos who come flocking out en masse every time something occurs about which they feel justified to flaunt their views in our faces. I do not have one thing against persons who are homosexual. In fact, I have friends who are. I realize that the Rev. Falwell made hurtful (and, I concede, hateful) remarks about the homosexual community. But the man is gone from our midst. And I find myself in agreement with Hillary who posted here. Let us, in a country that purportedly loves mercy and justice and forgiveness, pray for the repose of Rev. Falwell's soul. He did what he could according to his "lights." If he hurt an element of our population in his ministry, he will, no doubt, answer for it somewhere in the never-ending, wherever and whatever that is.

I don't know with certainy wether there is or is not a god, but I'm convinced that anyone who claims to know what the word "god" is, is a fraud, dellusional or a practicing hubrist. Billy Graham is a joke and Jerry Foulwell was a vicious, bigoted, theocrat whose life summed up eveything that weakens America's true strength and virtue. He gets no pass because he's dead; and his existence argues against a belief in god, since the world and our country would be better places had that rabid Pillsburg Doughboy never been born.

I don't know with certainy wether there is or is not a god, but I'm convinced that anyone who claims to know what the word "god" is, is a fraud, dellusional or a practicing hubrist. Billy Graham is a joke and Jerry Foulwell was a vicious, bigoted, theocrat whose life summed up eveything that weakens America's true strength and virtue. He gets no pass because he's dead; and his existence argues against a belief in god, since the world and our country would be better places had that rabid Pillsburg Doughboy never been born.

I don't know with certainy wether there is or is not a god, but I'm convinced that anyone who claims to know what the word "god" is, is a fraud, dellusional or a practicing hubrist. Billy Graham is a joke and Jerry Foulwell was a vicious, bigoted, theocrat whose life summed up eveything that weakens America's true strength and virtue. He gets no pass because he's dead; and his existence argues against a belief in god, since the world and our country would be better places had that rabid Pillsburg Doughboy never been born.

With opinions like his, one would have every right to be embarrased of them.

5/16/07

Nico: "was Falwell more a 'Pharisee,' or just a 'money-changer'? Discuss."

Mikki's view- What is the difference ? 'Pharisee' and 'money-changer' is one and the same: Pharisee (or Jew) did help create 'Avistas' (in right to left writing of Sanskrit), then 'Bible' (the twisted-history) and new god 'Jesus' which resulted in 'Quran' (& Allah), and the 'Communist'- all for 'money' and control by dividing us in the name of 'GOD' ?

Any comment !

Mikki

Jerry said what needed to be said and what others
were afraid or embarrassed to say.

I'm sure Fred Phelps is balling right now. Boo hoo.

To: Ronnie

I don't hate black people; I hate their black skin. I don't hate black people; I just hate the black lifestyle. This is my attempt at irony, which I hope does not goe over your head.

Jerry Falwell will be remembered as a homophobe.

Homophobia is a specialized cult that many have tacked onto Christianity. If you are a practitoner or homophobia, then go ahead and embrace it as your religion, but please do not take the Lord's name in vein by saying that it is Christian.

I find it interesting that so many people feel compelled to hammer those who view Jerry Falwell negatively. He demonized his enemies - liberals, the ACLU, gays, etc. Blaming them for the world's ills. To turn around and claim that the people who were victimized by him are being unfair and uncivil is outrageous. His view of America as a nation under Christ is the antithesis of what the Founding Fathers and the Constitution intended. I personally find his view of a "religious" America anathema. He fostered one particular brand of Christianity that is, at base, intolerant and divisive. That it may [or may not] reflect an authentic reading of the Bible is irrelevant. If one does not accept the authority of the Bible then his attempts to christianize America according to his beliefs is exactly what the Constitution was established to protect us from. The "sympathy" that he is receiving in death pretty much reflects the "sympathy" that he delivered in life to those he felt outside the pale of his religious views. It would be hypocritical to mouth platitudes regarding someone who never spared his victims.

I am a Christian who just happens to be an African American. I will admit Jerry Falwell said a lot of controversial things. He held some very controversial views. But on the whole, his commentary regarding the anti-American social agenda were on the mark. America had a number of corners to turn-equal rights for women and people of color. I would even argue that homosexual should have the same rights to a point (not marriage). But they (homosexuals) should have the right to live where they want, work where they want-to a certain extent(not entities that do not embrace thier lifestyle). Christians do not go into a gay club and try to change it into a church and gays should go into a church or christian school or college just because they feel theirs are being impinged upon. At some point this type of "civil" and "equal" rights extortion needs to stop. I think that to some extent our country became better because of his life and legacy. Yeah, we all make mistakes, some of us make big ones. The larger your life is the more people see the mistake. For the homosexual community, African Americans I am sure that Falwell said some things to hurt both groups. I know sometimes, I used to say to myself. You call yourself a Christian Falwell. But I looked at his whole life. I noticed no moral stain. He had some social issues. But, he can never be accused of adultery, he can never be accused accurately of stealing peoples money, he can never be accused accurately of having a mistress that he hid somewhere and paid off. He left this earth addressing issues larger than him. He love America and knew that history never records a society lasting when it adopts and accepts homosexuality as a viable lifestyle. In fact, it usually points to its decline not its progress. Forgive the man, and let it go. After all,the only person that will be hurt in the end for bitterness is you

Ron

I am a Christian who just happens to be an African American. I will admit Jerry Falwell said a lot of controversial things. He held some very controversial views. But on the whole, his commentary regarding the anti-American social agenda were on the mark. America had a number of corners to turn-equal rights for women and people of color. I would even argue that homosexual should have the same rights to a point (not marriage). But they (homosexuals) should have the right to live where they want, work where they want-to a certain extent(not entities that do not embrace thier lifestyle). Christians do not go into a gay club and try to change it into a church and gays should go into a church or christian school or college just because they feel theirs are being impinged upon. At some point this type of "civil" and "equal" rights extortion needs to stop. I think that to some extent our country became better because of his life and legacy. Yeah, we all make mistakes, some of us make big ones. The larger your life is the more people see the mistake. For the homosexual community, African Americans I am sure that Falwell said some things to hurt both groups. I know sometimes, I used to say to myself. You call yourself a Christian Falwell. But I looked at his whole life. I noticed no moral stain. He had some social issues. But, he can never be accused of adultery, he can never be accused accurately of stealing peoples money, he can never be accused accurately of having a mistress that he hid somewhere and paid off. He left this earth addressing issues larger than him. He love America and knew that history never records a society lasting when it adopts and accepts homosexuality as a viable lifestyle. In fact, it usually points to its decline not its progress. Forgive the man, and let it go. After all,the only person that will be hurt in the end for bitterness is you

My condolences. We lose a truely successful religious and political entrepreneur. Followers who miss the dear Rev. Falwell may recast the lyrics "That Old Time Religion." Perhaps: "If it was good enough for Jerry, then it's good enough for me."

Too bad Jerry could not be with us a few more years to witness the culmination of all his work, incarnate in the administration of believer George W. Bush. Surely, the dear Rev.would have some glowing thing to say about the personal sins responsible for poverty, AIDS, floods, Teletubbies, or that supreme scourge of Satan (Carterist liberalism) to blame for all failure.

Surely, our dear Decider or anyone who wants the GOP nomination in 2008 will coax PBS to produce an American Experience work on Falwell to raise him to apostolic heights. If not that, at least to the pantheon of other ingenous business and cultural wizards: Ray Kroc, Walt Disney, Elvis, PT Barnum. Bless them all. May their names shine boldly on the marquee of the celestial strip.

Here is what a christian Falwell was:

In "Friends of God," Alexandra Pelosi is out of this comfort zone, unknown to the pastors and cultural warriors she meets deep in the heart of red-state America. Few acknowledge her pedigree, except the Rev. Jerry Falwell. After he learned who she was, Pelosi says Falwell told her off-camera, " 'Your mother is very bright, very smart and very wrong.' And then I got kicked out of his trailer."

Yep sounds like a real christian to me.....

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CANONIZE THIS BIGOTED CREEP!!!!!!!!!

Jerry Falwell, in spite of his friendly smile, was a BIGOT CREEP! Could he ever get through speech without maligning some person or group? Is that what Jesus stood for? Would Jesus have tolerated race-baiting, Jew-baiting, and gay-baiting? No!

Rot in HELL, Jerry Jackass!

Bkind:
The light emitted by stars is not emitted as a response to our need to navigate. Navigation was invented long after stars formed.
The light emitted by stars is not emitted as a response to our need to see. Living beings with eyes evolved long after stars formed.

Flowers don't exist just so that we will have something pretty to look at and smell. The shapes, colors, and scnets of flowers attract birds and insects, which transfer pollen from male flowers to female flowers. Those colors and scents are reproductive tools. The fact that we find them aesthically pleasing is irrelevant to the plant.

Trees don't produce fruit and nuts so that we can have something yummy which which to make pie. Fruits are seed coverings and nuts are seeds. Trees produce them in order to make more trees.

Some of these entries are really sad (I don't need to point them out. I pray you can figure it out for yourself). To get to know and understand what someone means can take time. But to hate can be done quite quickly.

Some of these entries are really sad (I don't need to point them out. I pray you can figure it out for yourself). To get to know and understand what someone means can take time. But to hate can be done quite quickly.

LEBIDOPTERYX: You are very right about the functions of the heavenly bodies, flora and fauna. Not only are they there for certain functions, such as to provide light, navigation,etc. or in the case of flora and fauna ...food, flowers for beauty, etc., but also for you to see God and that He created them for you to get a glimps of Him and his love for you. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!

Hey Hillary you are speaking about people hating and other peoples views and you are putting stuff on here yourself and naming them (Democrats). First of all I am christian and I am a Democrat you have no right to speak for others because religion is a private matter. So get off it!
Thats a total insult.

As an independent who thinks anyone who buys into either the Right or the Left is brainwashed and beyond thinking for themselves, let me see if I have this down?

There is a group who is narrow minded and believes anyone who disagrees with them is wrong. They believe everyone but them is going to hell, but prays for them while they speak very angry, hurtful words.

Then there is a group is open minded and believes anyone who disagrees with them is wrong. They don't really belive in hell, don't really care or belive in prayer, but wants everyone to be open minded and respectful of their views, but hate the words everyone else speak. All the while they speak very angry, hurtful words.

Just wondering if I got it right.

Bkind: " I just ask you to take the time to go outside at night and look up (and really look) or just take a walk through the forest (and really look)...open you eyes and ears to see what God created just for you to see and hear."

The stars and other heavenly bodies, as well as the flora and fauna of the forest have functions and agendae of their own. They were not put here just for human beings to see and hear.

God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. There are a number of sins... adultry,theft,hate,lust,homosexuality,etc. that are mentioned in the Bible. All have sin and fallen short of what God wants from us. For those who were raised with know belief, I just ask you to take the time to go outside at night and look up (and really look) or just take a walk through the forest (and really look)...open you eyes and ears to see what God created just for you to see and hear. Jesus loves you, but does not like sin, He set the standards that He wants each and everyone of us to follow in the Bible. Jerry Fallwell was human(like each of us)who made mistakes, but he loved God and tried to teach us God's love and what God considers sin. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and no one can come to God except through him.

Brenda: "Just wondering why people criticize those who voice their opinion who happen to be religious conservatives, I mean this is still the United States of America where people are free to voice their opinions and form their own judgements, right?"
Absolutely it is. But Falwell and his ilk would have an America where everyone was compelled by law to live according to fundamentalist Christian beliefs, whether or not they shared those beliefs. As a pro-choice woman, a feminist, a pagan, and a friend and relative of numerous BGLT people, I have a problem with that.

"I mean you may not agree with him but at least he had the drive to stand up for what he beleived in. How many of us do that now?"
You mean like those of us who have escorted women into medical facilities through screching throngs of protesters outside? Those who refused to move to the back of the bus, literally or figuratively? Those who insist on a fallen pagan soldier's right to have the symbol of his faith placed on his military tombstone?

"I mean you say he was intolerant, but arent you the same, if you cheer his death. Politics aside, he has a family who is mourning the loss of a husband, father, grandfather."
Politics aside, Saddam Hussein was a husband, a father, and maybe even a grandfather.

What, per se, is this "gay agenda" you Conservatives love to scare everyone with? I would think the only thing they have to say is "leave me the hell alone and let me live my life how I want."

Falwell a bigot not only because he condemned homosexuals, but also Jews. As a Jewish person, I was deeply offended by his implication that Jews (and gays) had a hand in bringing on 9/11. Jews gave birth to your Lord, so I don't understand why you Evangelicals hate Jews so much. What did we do to you?

I am a straight Jewish man with a lot of gay Gentile friends. Many of my friends, who used to be Catholic, have renounced the religion because the religion has cast them aside. Only one of my friends still remains Catholic and only because the tradition is so deeply rooted in his family - but he couldn't tell his Priest that he's gay because then he wouldn't have been Confirmed to be his nephew's Godfather. Now THAT should be a sin - to deny someone's right to practice religion based on their sexuality (or any other superficial factor). Isn't superficiality a sin as well?

All of the "laws" of the bible were written hundreds and hundreds of years ago. They were not handed down by God, they were WRITTEN by MAN, and they are antiquated.

To say that homosexuality is a sin is to say that homosexuality is a choice. If you honestly believe that millions of gay people have CHOSEN to be ridiculed and persecuted just to have "man-on-man lovin'", then you are not a very intelligent person.

lets be honest dear readers and admit that falwell was a uber-nazi he would have done well in the third reich!

First I would like to say that Dr Billy Graham is an amazing man; a man whose words are the truest to the Gospel that I was raised with.

I am appalled at reading the comments here from both sides. Though I did not like the man, Jerry Falwell. Nor did I agree with his politics or his views; I strongly believe he had a right to those views, as does everyone here have.

The judgment of the Rev. Jerry Fallwell is held in the master's hands now; not one of us (even the Rev. himself) has the right to speak for God; as that is the worst, and first, sin.

So regardless of what you think of the man, his politics, or the pain he caused; his lot is cast with the master now, and whichever judgment the master has, shall be unknown to us, at least until our time upon this earth has ended.

Let the man's family, friends, and followers have their moment for his passing. Respect both your enemy and friend equally in this world, and you will truly understand what it is to be at peace, as my mother always preached to me.

I would like to end this by saying, I am not a Christian, but was raised as such. My belief system is more aligned with Neo-Pagan Buddhist and Christian theology, and I am a gay man. Regardless of the pain inflicted by intolerance in this world, I still walk with the belief that he who is among us is not without sin (or faults), and I forgive that in others regardless if I am forgiven by them. That was true of my grandparents, my mother, and now myself. It is a hard road to travel and though I waiver in my patience; I find myself happier when I stay that course.

Blessed be to all here who have spoken, and will speak.

I think most of the poeple who say he was mean spirited or hated people are either gay or support the gay agenda. I think he did hate the sin , but loved the sinner, but others would have you believe that if you dont support the gay lifestyle then you are a hatful bigot. Thats not true and never has been.

As some one who grew up around and lived in Lynchburg, Rev. Falwell, his church and various ministries can not be ignored in my daily life. For better or worse, he had a large impact on this city, this nation and the world. I am sure that thousands of people have been helped, assisted or otherwise touched by his church family. I am equally sure that thousands were introduced to Jesus and His grace through Rev. Falwell's preaching and the missionaries he sent.

As a liberal, I rarely agreed with his politics. The argument can be, and will be made, that he was more often a politician than a preacher.

As a Christian, I beleive that Rev. Falwell sometimes interpreted the Word incorrectly. I do not attend his church. However, as a Christian I cannot deny what the Word of God has to say. And, yes, the Word of God is clear about sin, our need for repentance and forgiveness. We are all sinners and fall short. It is part of our humaness.

For those who would vilify Jerry - please, as several others have said - Look at yourself first. You must remove the splinter in your own eye before you can remove the plank from your brother's. (And I find splinters everyday.) Examine your heart. As humans we often live for our own temporary pleasure and reap painful rewards for those fleeting moments. In the history of this world, there is only One who was without sin and He took our punishment for us. A willing sacrifice - that we may live.

May Jerry rest in peace, May the Lord welcome Him. Men look at deeds, but the Lord considers man's heart. My prayers are with his family.

"...For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"

I wish the soul of Rev. Fallwell luck and speed as it moves to the next level of existance, whatever that may be. I disagreed with many of the intolerant statements he made and was truly concerned as the fabric of our constitution was shredded by him with the slow incorporation of church and state. The ballot box and the pulput must have boundries or the church becomes just another lobby that threatens and cajoles for power and position. Don't believe me? Just watch how the Republicans are struggling.

I believe the positive and negative efforts of his life have ended at zero-sum. Let that be his legacy and let him rest in peace.

I wish the soul of Rev. Fallwell luck and speed as it moves to the next level of existance, whatever that may be. I disagreed with many of the intolerant statements he made and was truly concerned as the fabric of our constitution was shredded by him with the slow incorporation of church and state. The ballot box and the pulput must have boundries or the church becomes just another lobby that threatens and cajoles for power and position. Don't believe me? Just watch how the Republicans are struggling.

I believe the positive and negative efforts of his life have ended at zero-sum. Let that be his legacy and let him rest in peace.

Regardless of what some people posting on here may have thought of his personal views, Jerry Falwell was someones husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend. Have some respect for the dead and for his family and quit posting hateful messages. If you feel he was so evil, how do your statements make you any better than that?

Please take your hate somewhere else and allow the people who cared abotu him to have a place to mourn his passing.

I never liked the man`s intolerance and his willingness to alienate people and make their lives harder than what they were experiencing. I do not trust preachers who want to be rich rather than humble.

America is changing.
Americans have always used their freedom of speech to defend, declare and define their beliefs, rights, or any other tenet they held precious.
Debating, disagreeing, showing no quarter nor expecting any is more important to this nation than we realize. These human to human exchanges are the growing points of this plant we call progress.
Note, it is human to a human, pulse to a pulse. Much of what is written on these threads resembles a cholera outbreak. These ranters are kicking and spitting on a corpse, they pay so much attention to a dead man and his religion which they also proclaim dead they must be embalmers. Debate, attack the deceased’s belief and philosophies, anything beyond that is feeding on dead flesh.

I posted many reasonable posts on TMZ -- they were against TMZ's negative treatment, but reasonable. TMZ did not post them.

If there was ever a reason to dump AOL, check out tmz.com's horrific treatment of the death.

EnderW

I guess I did not know returning hate for hate was the American thing to do. We did not hate Japan back after Pearl Harbor, but helped them rebuild their country after years of war. We did not hate the Soviets for hating us.

I guess I will continue to love my enemies and those who hate me, just as Pastor Falwell so faithfully taught, and will anticipate being hated and scorned in response, just as Falwell and Jesus experienced.

I love you and extend mercy to you.

when all is said and done, mr. falwell will be remembered more for those he hated than those he loved, for those he wanted excluded than those he wanted to include, more for judgement, self righteousness, and contempt than love, mercy, and charity. i say this without satisfaction or gladness, and if i have misstated anything about him, i will be glad to apologize. jerry falwell will be remembered for what he made of himself, not what i or any of the myriad other posters say. history, not sentiment or antipathy will be his final judge here on earth.

I was raised a Pagan. And personally, I don't praise someone who blames me and my loved ones for causing the death and destructiuon on 9/11. My relgion dates back BEFORE Christianity. How dare Falwell judge me and how dare any of you criticize me for not thinking he's some great leader? The man was a charlatan and a fraud. He promoted hate, division, and believed in denigrating others. He believed in Apartheid, and if he was running the country, all of us NON Christians would be second class citizens.

My goodness ! I am totally disgusted by those who have nothing but hateful things to say about a man who just died and has family mourning. And all because he was not afraid to voice his opinion and it happened to be something you don't agree with. How close minded and INTOLERANT !!
I was never a fan of his and didn't agree with the way he came across on many issues, but he has never done anything to deserve some of the comments I've read tonight...just mean & angry comments. How much better are you ?

My goodness, the comments on this thread certainly are harsh. Even if you don't agree with this man's beliefs or politics (and I generally don't), I don't think he was a detestable man. Would Billy Graham be close friends with such a man?

What's ironic is that all this hatred is coming from people who denounce him...as a hater! Look in the mirror, folks.

I think it says a lot that Falwell and Larry Flynt became close friends after their very public legal battle. Needless to say, they never agreed on much -- and I'm sure they both hated what the other stood for. But I think it demonstrates that perhaps the public image of Falwell wasn't entirely reflective of his private character.

And before you rail on him as anti-gay, etc...remember that so, too, was John Paul II. Most strains of Christianity, for better or worse, consider homosexual sex a sin.

My goodness, the comments on this thread certainly are harsh. Even if you don't agree with this man's beliefs or politics (and I generally don't), I don't think he was a detestable man. Would Billy Graham be close friends with such a man?

What's ironic is that all this hatred is coming from people who denounce him...as a hater! Look in the mirror, folks.

I think it says a lot that Falwell and Larry Flynt became close friends after their very public legal battle. Needless to say, they never agreed on much -- and I'm sure they both hated what the other stood for. But I think it demonstrates that perhaps the public image of Falwell wasn't entirely reflective of his private character.

And before you rail on him as anti-gay, etc...remember that so, too, was John Paul II. Most strains of Christianity, for better or worse, consider homosexual sex a sin.

My goodness, the comments on this thread certainly are harsh. Even if you don't agree with this man's beliefs or politics (and I generally don't), I don't think he was a detestable man. Would Billy Graham be close friends with such a man?

What's ironic is that all this hatred is coming from people who denounce him...as a hater! Look in the mirror, folks.

I think it says a lot that Falwell and Larry Flynt became close friends after their very public legal battle. Needless to say, they never agreed on much -- and I'm sure they both hated what the other stood for. But I think it demonstrates that perhaps the public image of Falwell wasn't entirely reflective of his private character.

And before you rail on him as anti-gay, etc...remember that so, too, was John Paul II. Most strains of Christianity, for better or worse, consider homosexual sex a sin.

pLEASE, ARE THE PEOPle SAYING ALL THESE NASTY THINGS AND JUDging him any better then him. I wasn't a fan of his, but I believe in God and he is the one to judge, not us.I look forward to Christs coming back and straightening this old world out. Let ever one sweep out his own door before he trys sweeping some one else's. God Bless his family during their loss.After all he was a human being.

Dear Rev Billy Graham

May I take this opportunity to thank you from my heart for the great work you have done all your life. I read a couple of your books when I was a teenager and they left a deep impact on me.

May your life continue to be a blessing as it has always been and may God grant you a long life and a big crown when He calls you home to be with Jesus Christ, whom you preach with every fibre in your body!

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

Jerry Falwell said things that most men thought but didn't have the courage to say. He wasn't perfect but was a perfectly good at interpreting the word of God. May God Bless his faithful servant.

Hillary:

This is the way rats operate they rejoice because they thrive on death and destruction.

Who am I to judge....let the man his soul rest in peace....he was indeed a productive member of society, unlike some....nobody is perfect and it takes a person of character to admit it.

R.I.P

I send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Rev Jerry Falwell.

May all the good Rev Falwell did and intended while here on earth be rewarded; may the less good he did in his ignorance, be forgiven him. Let Jesus Christ alone, in whose name Rev Falwell preached, be his judge, now that his earthly mission has come to an end. May all of us use this opportunity to examine our own lives and see if there is in us the same qualities that we may have liked or disliked in Rev Falwell, and learn from his successes and failures.

May Rev Jerry Falwell's soul rest in peace!

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

Mr and Mrs Burns, you say, "Jesus gave his life for you" and ask, "Would you do that for anyone?"

I haven't had the opportunity, but many people have given their lives for others. Unlike Jesus, they didn't rise from the dead after three days, then ascend into heaven to sit at the right hand of God forever in glory.

Frankly, I think Jesus got off easy.

"The world is a less evil place today, as one of the most evil men on it is now dead. May he rot in Hell."

The liberal compassionate point of view.

Yes, Brenda, in the USA we still all are allowed to voice our opinions, that's why you are hearing both positive and negative things about Jerry Falwell.

It seems when conservative Christians are being criticized, they think it's unfair, but when the conservatives are criticizing those dastardly liberals, well, that's just the word of God and can't be questioned.

Hey Phillip tell God I said to bring it on....

DC Doc: Perhaps these “enlightened” ones will one day focus their mirror of scrutiny on themselves and apply the same standards that they expect of everyone with whom they disagree.

Sorry. I didn't blame those I disagree with for 9/11. I do not compare those I disagree with to terrorists.

And there are many in power I disagree with. But I would, never, EVER, blame the ills of the world on them.

Hate is not a family value.

Happy days! Falwell's ideas did not live up to his actions. The man preached Hate like his buddy Pat Robinson, whom most of the world sees as a right-wing Christian Fanatic and that will be the legacy of both these men. Falwell believed in two things Money and Power and neither one is a Christian Value.

John Traas: I hope his empire crumbles. The man created the level of right wing hatred towards America we have today. Turn on your AM radio, that's HIS legacy.

I didn't care for the men's doctrine
I never accepted his interpetations of scripture
I never contributed to his cause
I can only worry about myself and my family
I hope his empire might get a better leader

DC Doc: We don't have to be tolerant of the intolerant. That includes you. I advise you to look into that mirror you propose, you might not like what you see, and if you do, you can join that un-American bastard Fallwell in Hell.

Remember, he is the one who said that those who love freedom caused 9/11.

Arrogant, proud. At times a good messenger. At other times, hateful and vilifying. I do believe he loved God and was loved by God. And I believe that on balance, he helped cause far more evil than good. He helped make hate acceptable and military aggression acceptable. Not a peacemaker. May God rest his soul.

I cringe as I read the venom spewed by the "tolerant" liberals as they denigrate Dr. Falwell on the occasion of his passing from this life. I’m truly embarrassed for them and pray for their souls. Perhaps these “enlightened” ones will one day focus their mirror of scrutiny on themselves and apply the same standards that they expect of everyone with whom they disagree. It’s mind boggling to imagine that THEY feel that THEY are somehow uniquely empowered to refer to someone a bigot, a racist or intolerant. Puhleeeeze!

As an inner city dweller I can tell you first hand that our cities aren’t self-destructing because TOO MANY people are reading and preaching the Bible. I'm no Bible-thumper but I do believe that we need more people like Dr. Falwell who aren’t afraid to read and preach God’s word.

Hillary @ 6:30

Oh, please. Christians are considred the "enemy?" Those who disagree with the Gay and Lesbian viewpoint are the "enemy?"

Last I checked, it was the Christians in power with the backing of the religious right (Bush, Cheney, and most of Congress). It is the Christians who managed to ban the rights of gays and lesbians in this country.

So spare me.

Daniel:

All I have to say to that is that to return hate for hate is proper.

Proud Liberal:

DEMOCRATS, SOAK UP THE HATE YOU SEE AND HEAR AND READ COMING FROM REPUBLICANS! EMBRACE IT! FILL YOUR SOUL WITH THE HATRED COMING FROM REPUBLICANS! THEN CLEANSE YOUR SOUL BY AMPLIFYING AND SENDING IT RIGHT BACK FROM WHENCE IT CAME!

Who are these people who post here?

I am not a 'blogger'. But I have never witnessed in America the hatred that I have seen expressed here. Is this really what American has come to?

Are these people 'for real', or is it just one or two hated-filled people who keep posting over and over again?

I can hardly believe these comments are coming from my fellow Americans.

May God have mercy upon us America.

Jerry Falwell supported Apartheid, lied repeatedly about his conversations with US Presidents, and blamed 9/11 on his political enemies.

Many thanks to the Baptists of Lynchburg for supporting this icon of their religion.

Was Christ a racist? No.

Was Christ a bigot? No.

Did Christ preach hatred of his fellow man? No.

Ergo, Jerry Falwell was no Christian -- just another religious charlatan sucking money and subservience out of America's superstitious and simple-minded.

Falwell was an agent of intolerance but let's not forget that toward the end he mostly went back to preaching the gospel. I can't bring myself to speak too ill of the well-meaning dead (don't look for any charity when Bush and Cheney go to their reward), so even though I have plenty to wish Falwell ill for, I can't bring myself to do so on the day of his passing.

The vitriol being spilled here is in poor taste. I had little use for Fallwell's politics and his selling of videotapes that accused Clinton of killing Vince Foster. However, the vitriol is still in bad taste.

God said it, Jerry preached it. You homo's that are doing cart wheels today, will be burning with all other Christ haters one day. You think that God will be silent now. NOT!
(Rom 1:26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
(Rom 1:27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

You are still ungodly, you are still in your sins!

And all you brainwashed Muslims, who died for your sin? Your prophet couldn't, and your god of death can't save you, only the Lord Jesus Christ, believe and live.

The behavior he spoke against has resulted in the deaths of millions of men, women, and children, and has created deadly diseases including drug resistant tuberculosis. Those diseases are about to wipe much of mankind off of the face of the earth. I think I'd question the definition of "hate" propounded by some on this board.

Good riddance! Hopefully other phoney Christians like him leave us soon.

Go to hell Jerry and enjoy your company in the religious right with the others satans on the way including Bush and his gangs that has supported all the killings of 600,000 Iraqis.

You made so much hate speech on this life but your filthy hateful life is finally over, what a day. Now you are in Gods hand you did not get justice for saying worst things about muslims and their prophets that we will not forget, you made riots in India that killed hundreds people for saying false comments.

Now you will get the justice - ultimate justice - forever burn in the hell and enjoy the fire of making those living with sad memory caused by you.

Go to hell. Enjoy you hateful life after that was not real Christianity but your innovation and desire to get attention. You got it, the world is better without you the hate monger evil satan, your false message will not save you.

Back at ya, Anonymous.

God certainly blessed Jerry Falwell in his leavetaking. What an easy death. May all you backbiters be so blessed when your time comes.

I met Rev.Falwell in 1972-73 in Roswell, NM when I returned home with a 5 yr. old son after a failed marriage. I was a waitress at the Roswell Inn and Rev. Falwell was in town for a week. He met every morning with a group of men at a private table and I waited on him each morning. He always arrived first, would read his Bible while waiting for the others and we conversed all week. He encouraged me to keep focused on Christ and all would be well. There will be little mention of the unwed mothers home, the college and church that he built & led so well. Although he took a lot of brickbats on this earth, he has now been welcomed by God and I am sure God told him: "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

I met Rev.Falwell in 1972-73 in Roswell, NM when I returned home with a 5 yr. old son after a failed marriage. I was a waitress at the Roswell Inn and Rev. Falwell was in town for a week. He met every morning with a group of men at a private table and I waited on him each morning. He always arrived first, would read his Bible while waiting for the others and we conversed all week. He encouraged me to keep focused on Christ and all would be well. There will be little mention of the unwed mothers home, the college and church that he built & led so well. Although he took a lot of brickbats on this earth, he has now been welcomed by God and I am sure God told him: "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

I personally think he has gone to his worst imaginable hell: surrounded by sex crazed lavender teletubbies, compelling him to join the bath scene. Worse yet, he'll find a part of him that actually kind of enjoys them.

I personally think he has gone to his worst imaginable hell: surrounded by sex crazed lavender teletubbies, compelling him to join the bath scene. Worse yet, he'll find a part of him that actually kind of enjoys them.

Reading the hatred portrayed in many of these posts is a window into our society. If someone calls themselves Christian today they are the enemy. If someone disagrees with the Gay and Lesbian agenda they are the enemy. If someone disagrees with abortion they are the enemy. Jerry Falwell spoke his mind and it touched a lot of nerves but his views were much healthier for the US than the Clinton, Obama, Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy, Boxer and on and on and on views. The Christaphobes including the ACLU will not rest until this country has been taken all the way down the sewer. It is a sad day when someone dies and all the hate mongers come alive on the internet. They show no respect for anyone who disagrees with them. If we can't stop the hate speech and personal attacks this country will never find a common ground to heal itself and move forward. I did not always agree with Falwel's approach and discourse, but I'd take a lot more of people like him then many who today sit in our congress shoving their own personal and special interest agenda's down this countrys throat, inspite of the majority views and even our laws and heritage. Thank you Jerry for all you did, you left a legacy for good not evil.

One can only hope that he is greeted at the Pearly Gate by a large group of those people he chose to hate while on this Earth.

How ironic it would be if it turned out that Jerry was WRONG all these years, and God really does love everyone equally.

I am by no means a Falwell fan, but can we at least have a bit of respect for a fellow human that has passed? Let it be our triumph that we can be respectful of differences instead of saying that anyone who does not agree with us is of the devil.

And Brenda, just as Dr Falwell had the right of free speech so do those who didn't like him. Besides, free speech doesn't mean that everyone has to like what you say or that there should be no repurcussions.

Jerry Falwell clearly condemned homosexuality as sin - a sin like adultery, greed, lust, lying, cheating and stealing - as well He should have since the Bible does as well. Demonic spirits can be behind all these sins and deceive those practicing them that they really aren't sins at all.

There is a a heaven and there is a hell, and while the only sin that will keep someone out of heaven is to reject Jesus and His forgiveness purchased by His blood on the cross, the other sins can make life a hell on earth for those who practice them.

Jesus said if they called me a devil, they'll call you who follow me a devil too - congratulations Jerry you followed Jesus, and while not perfectly, you earned persecution by those who refused to submit to the Holy Spirit's leading.

http://www.biblelight.net/false-prophets.htm

He was exactly what what was predicted as a false prophet. See how many of these statements are true about him.

It is so refreshing to think that one man who spread so much hate in the world is dead. He hated just like Hitler, Saddam, and Osama. He just never got to the same level of power. The world is a safer place not having people like Jerry Fallwell around.

Ding...dong...the wicked witch is dead.

Falwell hated the secular world as defined by the Constitution and enabled his followers to blame it for the problems their own lives, and the problems of the modern age. he made it his life's work to teach that the liberal world must be destroyed and replaced by religio-fascist theocracy intolerant of everything he defined as being ungodly. he truly was our enemy.

I believe in GOD. Very much so, and who am I to question his actions, yet sometimes I diagree with him.

This time I question him taking Jerry from us at such a young age when we have centenarians roaming our streets , something unheard of half a century ago.

Why Jerry had to be so sick and die so early and leave us so quick?

But I have to accept God's decision good or bad and may Jerry's soul rest in peace Amen

I believe in GOD. Very much so, and who am I to question his actions, yet sometimes I diagree with him.

This time I question him taking Jerry from us at such a young age when we have centenarians roaming our streets , something unheard of half a century ago.

Why Jerry had to be so sick and die so early and leave us so quick?

But I have to accept God's decision good or bad and may Jerry's soul rest in peace Amen

Regardless of our opinions of Mr. Falwell (I have not always agreed with him myself), let us take a moment to remember his family who are in mourning at his untimely death. Remember, we have all sinned and come short of the mercies of God. Let us leave the judments to God.

My prayers and thoughts are with the Falwell family at this time.

Respectfully... BB

Falwell was just another in a long line of religious charlatans that are peculiar to America.

Christ would have repudiated all of them as his representatives.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…

whatever, his body will now rot. that's all we can say. his legacy is intolerance and hatred, way to be asswipe, way to be.

A thought experiment: was Falwell more a 'Pharisee,' or just a 'money-changer'? Discuss.

Wow. Reading various posts from people makes me realize how desperately we need more men like who preach the Gospel - Grace, Forgiveness, Love, Hope all available through Christ's work on the cross. That was Falwell's first and greatest passion and I am glad he was able to return as a full time pastor.

I hope His vision for a country (and a world) where people live together in unity under the Lordship of Jesus is witnessed one day.

How sad this world is so full of hate. Undoubtedly if Falwell saw some of these posts, he would say 'Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing'.

Doug in Mount Vernon is right--we are "moving beyond those views and the ideas that [Falwell] espoused" and look at the consequences; mass murder at VPI, an HIV-AIDS epidemic, an explosion of unwanted pregnancies, and countless other social ills. Falwell may have put his foot in his mouth once too often, but frankly, I don't think the country has enough fire-and-brimstone preachers wagging their fingers at us. Our sins are disgusting.

Maybe we should get Rev. Tutu back on here and get his opinion on this man - the man with such deep-seated religious convictions that he went out of his way to travel to and support the apartheid government of South Africa, and to call Rev. Tutu "a phony." It's almost laughable now, but the man must be held to account for his (many) sins. I'm sure he'd ask no less of me.

(Shame he won't get the chance.)

Just wondering why people criticize those who voice their opinion who happen to be religious conservatives, I mean this is still the United States of America where people are free to voice their opinions and form their own judgements, right? I mean you may not agree with him but at least he had the drive to stand up for what he beleived in. How many of us do that now? I mean you say he was intolerant, but arent you the same, if you cheer his death. Politics aside, he has a family who is mourning the loss of a husband, father, grandfather.

It is interesting that those who condemn Falwell as a man of intolerance and hate use the very same to castigate his corpse...

Mr. & Ms. Burns, I do believe in God and the bible. I do know that Rev. Falwell "preached the word", but not necessarily that of God. I do believe that he was a religious man and truly believed in what he was saying and I'm sure there were enough folks around him to convince him of that.

My point is that he was a man as as such, subject to man's interpretations. What he seemed to be inordinately influenced by were politics and fame. Yes, he did cause alot of people pain and the words he preached caused others to fight his battles all in the name of "God" and Christianity.

He was not an evil man or satan. Just simply a man whom others believed in and who sometimes made the wrong choices. I am sorry for his family and loved ones for their loss of a friend, father and mentor.

Dr Falwell was not "anti-gay" he was anti-sin. Who among us were "anti-Falwell" versus anti-"his message." If you apposed the man you have less grace then he. Dr Falwell loved the person, not their actions; which may or may not be sin.

Can you say the same about your approach to Dr Falwell and his kind or are you "intolerant" of his kind?

No, Mr. & Mrs. Burns, I don't believe in GOD or the Bible. But you are SO RIGHT about this world being in need of goodwill and love and generosity. Any person, with any belief system, is capable of living by those basic ten commandments -- I have no disagreement with them -- and I hope we all will.

Don't make him a martyr---that would be making too much of him.

Interesting....someone mentions Falwell having been a "product of his fundamentalist upbringing". However, according to the article in the Washington Post, both his father and grandfather were avid atheists.

You may not like the man. The question is do you believe in GOD and the Bible? Jerry preached what the Bible teaches. Read the ten comandments. Think how much better this world would be if we all quit lying and stealing and really loved other people enough to help when we saw others in need. Jesus gave his life for you. Would you do that for anyone? Hear the message and thank God we live in America where we are free.

He not only did great damage to this country and, through his political influence, the world -- but he did it from a position of power where he could have instead done positive things. Oh well -- at least he's gone now.

You may not like the man. The question is do you believe in GOD and the Bible? Jerry preached what the Bible teaches. Read the ten comandments. Think how much better this world would be if we all quit lying and stealing and really loved other people enough to help when we saw others in need. Jesus gave his life for you. Would you do that for anyone? Hear the message and thank God we live in America where we are free.

When I think of intolerant judgmental demigods- the first name that comes to mind is Jerry Falwell. The God I understand as the holy trinity never promotes hate. I've never think of him as a man of God.

Come on guys, being a politically and religiously active gay man, I am well aware of the hatred Falwell at times preached, and the bigotry he justified by misuse of religious teachings and scripture, but the man has passed. He deserves some silence, at least, if not respect.

The world itself is moving beyond those views and the ideas that he espoused, rightly so, and so are many religions. He himself even began to moderate his anti-gay views in his elder years, admitting that anti-gay discrimination in housing, workplace, and even in worship, was wrong.

He caused a lot of pain, yes. But he was not and is not Satan, and I hope he finds peace in Heaven and comes to understand the pain he inflicted. I have no doubt that when he does, he will be eternally remorseful.

Never forget that this was the man who said that 9/11 was God's punishment for the U.S. Wasn't that what Al Qaeda was saying also?

Indeed. The world is much better off with those of us who would never gloat over the death of someone whose politics we find disagreeable.

I did not agree with almost everything Falwell espoused. I thought he lived with a lot of fear in his spiritual journey. He often said he hated the sin, but not the sinner. I did not know him personally, but I always suspected he hated both. But, as my wife often reminds me, there is not much difference between God and the rest of us. Falwell seemed to be a product of his fundamentalist upbringing. I'm praying that evangelicals will follow someone like Jim Wallis, instead of the strident voices of people like Jerry Falwell.

Falwell was satan's best friend on earth.

Daniel --

Well, I'd say Jesus gets the last shot at him now.

It is difficult to think that the world is not better off withou him, with his very mean-spirited anti-gay agenda which caused alot of suffering and bitterness in the world. I don't really think he walked in Jesus's foot steps.

Set 'em up in the other alley.