All Comments (13)

m986k

m513k

"Disappointed" says of Falwell:

"That is the honest truth. You can say you disagreed with him, that's fine. But do not insult his character because you have no idea what you are talking about.".

Too bad Falwell didn't live by those words. He slandered me personally -- deliberately and viciously. Of course, it was politics, to be expected, and between the source and the context, I didn't take it to heart. But the man was no paragon of character, and having known him personally I do know what I'm talking about.

His more general slanders of glbt folks and muslims also seem quite at odds from the standards of discourse recommended in the Gospels.

I should never take joy in anyone's death, but I am very glad that his destructive career of politics, his incitements of prejudice are at an end. I am sorry only that he didn't live long enough to repent the evil he had done.

Jerry was one who was not afraid to speak the truth, just like the one Jesus Christ, which whom he believed. May he rest now in peace with his Lord and Savior.

Well, Falwell was certainly hated by many, but if he was going to spread hatred, I'll bet he'd spell it right.

Grin.

Falwell's legacy is shameful:haterd...haterd and more haterd...

Regarding the last paragraph of this article:

I think it's sad that Taylor asserts that she knew Dr. Falwell by the harshness of her accusations, especially when the fact of the matter is that she only speaks on the basis of assumptions.

If you are going to diss someone, especially to the extreme level that she did in this article, it is important that you get your facts straight.

I am a student at Liberty University, and I loved Dr. Falwell. Sure, you may think I'm biased because i'm one of "Jerry's Kids" but let me tell you something. I was around him on a daily basis. He was a part of my life, and I got to know him. Sure, he spoke out of turn at times, and there were occasions in which he should have thought a little harder before opening his mouth-- haven't we all had those moments?-- but anyone who actually knew him, Christian or not!, will tell you that he was the best friend you could ask for, that he genuinely cared for all whom he came in contact with, and that he told of the love of Christ with his lips and his life everywhere he went.

That is the honest truth. You can say you disagreed with him, that's fine. But do not insult his character because you have no idea what you are talking about.

Taylor says about Falwell's view:

"It claimed that the only way to be devout, the only way to be moral, was to adhere to their principles, and that conscience and morality were no longer matters of individual agency, but issues which had to be legislated by the government."

Of course, Taylor would never claim that her views articulated any exclusive way to be devout or moral, right? And yet her very article implies that her perspective (e.g., adherence to her principles) was the only way to genuine morality and individual agency. Or did I miss something? Does she think she is right, and, if so, is she any different than Falwell for standing up for what she thinks is right?

All of this talk of the "divisiveness" of Falwell's views reminds me somewhat of the Democratic Party's take on bi-partisanship--it is bi-partisan if you agree with the Democrats!

So, are the posters on this board being divisive by asking the readers to choose their side over Falwell's side?

If so, should these posters be denigrated and derided as "divisive" elements in the American political system?

Division takes two groups, by the way. You have to have two to disagree.

Of course, I don't expect you to agree with me since I'm obviously being "divisive" by disagreeing with you, right?

I have to agree thoroughly with Ms. Taylor on the harm done by Jerry Falwell. The net effect of his work was to distort US politics, to make it more divisive, and to try to build barriers between Christian Americans and those of other faiths - especially Jews and Muslims, but also Hindus, Buddhists, and so on.

While I've sometimes come to feel that the present political polarization may have encouraged the minority religions in the US to feel closer to one another, I very much regret the long term effect on Christianity. The version of Christianity that Falwell has so strongly helped to come to power - the one that advocates killing enemies rather than talking to them, and some other positions I can't find in the gospels - can scarcely attract people to Christianity, or help Christians work for the peace that Jesus advocated.

Edward Ordman

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address included the following words which are inscribe inside of the Lincoln Memorial on the end of the mall in our nation’s capital. This quotation starts with a scripture from the Bible.

"Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

If these words were turn in Lincoln's time they are true for us today. Do we have a God that holds people and nations accountable? If the answer is yes, we have an obligation to learn what God requires of us as individuals and a nation. Our forefathers felt they were accountable to God.

hey, what is aprogressive islamic? do you reject forced conversions now? how about the hate and torture and rape and murder in the koran? is that part of your public mission statement?
Is there no end to the hypocrisy of islam and its supporters? No! don’t want to speak ill of the dead and then that is what you do. And for an islamic to condemn religion and government into one is as disingenuous as anyone can be. I can see how you think that giving Christians more or a vote in American politics is considered bad for an islamic. As far as you are concerned only islam should run a country and then according to islamic law. If islam were in charge there would be no constitution, and no freedom. Do you doubt that – then point to an islamic country that has the freedoms America has. And 1500 spain was not a theocracy. It was a Spanish kingdom that kicked islam out. And I know you are going to lie and say Spanish inquisition. But then you will not say that the inquisition was under the command not of the church but the king of spain. The pope simply appointed as inquisition members the nominee of the king and the king controlled the proceedings. In that case he wanted money and used the office to kill and torture to get money. Wow, that sounds like islam today.
And yes he was darn wrong about 911 being punishment for sin. It was just islam spreading its love for the world as it has always done. And the reason islam likes the left is that they still think they can get along with islam when everyone knows that is a lie. And he was right about islam and your ilk. All of you – YES ALL OF YOU – follow a child rapist who thought that the god of peace needed to be followed by a fake god of hate, torture, ransom, murder, rape, and forced conversions. How dare falwell call islam on that one.
He did not bring people together, like islam does? Sorry you do bring people together. Like when you brought millions of you out to call for death of cartoonists who did pictures of your child rapist moho. You demanded that the rest of the world comply with your religion on that one.
And then there was the time millions of islamics brought the world together and called for the death of the pope for saying that the assertion in the koran that forced conversions was evil, well you marched for your god given right to kill anyone who would not convert.
Yes there is nothing like the love and peace of islam.

Falwell and Muhammad will probably become bosom buddies in Hades because they both share a common hatred of gays & Jews.

May they both RIP (Roast In Perdition)

What got me was Jerry Falwell blaming the decadence in our society, i.e. the usual suspects - gays, sexual permissiveness, liberalism etc - for 9/11.

We all know who perpetrated 9/11 and it sure wasn't the Village People.