Comments on: Jerry Falwell Dead at 73

By: Sean Hackbarth

Sean Hackbarth — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:51:33 +0000

We're all more complex than what the tv shows. Even if, like Falwell, he played it up to promote his issues and himself.

By: Paul Barnes

Paul Barnes — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:28:12 +0000

It's interesting reading his "non-political" doings (if there is such a thing...oh Aristotle). He did a lot of charity work, setting up homes for unwed mothers and alcoholics. I find that aspect, which was unreported when he was alive, to be fascinating. From all accounts that I have read about him, he was a very interesting fellow. Someone I wouldn't mind having a beer with...or maybe not, considering his religious beliefs.

By: G.A. Phillips

G.A. Phillips — Wed, 16 May 2007 04:48:30 +0000

Triumph, ("if you're not a born-again Cristian, you're a failure as a human being") how true, how true.

By: NoZe

NoZe — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:48:25 +0000

I'll always remember he and Pat Robertson yucking it up after 9/11, blaming it on the ACLU, homosexuals, liberals, etc.

Still, one rule of thumb I always try to follow...never speak ill of the dead! At least not until they've been dead for a while!

By: Tlaloc

Tlaloc — Wed, 16 May 2007 00:08:35 +0000

But the Culture Wars wouldn't have been as passionate without his ability to get Evangelical Christians politically active and working in conjunction with conservative Catholics.

And that's a good thing because... Really, we're celebrating that the guy managed to inject a lot of hysteria into the national debate? Great.

By: Triumph

Triumph — Tue, 15 May 2007 23:52:02 +0000

I disagreed with Falwell on most matters religious and much politically but he was not an evil man.

Amen. The guy told it like it is: "If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being."

By: legion

legion — Tue, 15 May 2007 22:50:05 +0000

He made a huge amount of enemies with his judgemental declarations. He specifically singled out gays for helping cause 9-11. He tried to recant 3 days later, but as Aravosis notes, he repeats his bigotry and stupidity as recently as last week. Which means his recanting was a pathetic lie. He may have spread a lot of love to those whose beliefs coincided with his, but he was quite dangerous to those who didn't. No, he didn't advocate violence, but that's hardly the standard by which a Christian minister should be judged, don't you think? Aravosis has a sizeable laundry list of Falwell's public stands on issues from homosexuality to Apartheid. I won't go so far as to insult a dead man, but I can easily see why a great many people are not saddened by his passage.

By: Sean Hackbarth

Sean Hackbarth — Tue, 15 May 2007 21:50:30 +0000

Fallwell was overbearing at times easily reaching the point of being pompous. But the Culture Wars wouldn't have been as passionate without his ability to get Evangelical Christians politically active and working in conjunction with conservative Catholics.

By: Tlaloc

Tlaloc — Tue, 15 May 2007 21:40:06 +0000

but he was not an evil man.

That's an opinion. You can certainly have yours but I also have mine.

By: Steve Plunk

Steve Plunk — Tue, 15 May 2007 20:52:25 +0000

Falwell brought together and provided a voice to those who believed a moral foundation was necessary to this country. While he spoke firmly against what his faith believed immoral his message was still one of compassion and forgiveness. He believed the appropriate place to advocate change was not only the pulpit but also the ballot box.

Now I consider myself a world class sinner and haven't found myself in a church pew on Sunday in many years. That being so I still recognize the good that comes from people like Falwell who seek to better individuals as well as the country we all share. We need moral compasses like him.

Many considered him a threat. He never advocated violence or considered sinners worthy of stoning. He never called others monkeys and pigs because of their faith or race. He was willing to be a lightning rod and accept the criticism of others while maintaining a belief in his religion. I find little fault in the man and much to be admired.

By: Physics Geek

Physics Geek — Tue, 15 May 2007 20:40:53 +0000

RIP, Jerry Falwell...

Allah reported earlier in the day that Falwell had been found non-responsive in his office. Apparently, he has passed away. I'll be honest: I always found Falwell a little bit disturbing and creepy. And I say this as one of......

By: JammieWearingFool

JammieWearingFool — Tue, 15 May 2007 20:14:52 +0000

Falwell in Grave Condition (UPDATED)...

UPDATE: He's passed away....

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 15 May 2007 20:02:42 +0000

You may have John Cole confused with Juan Cole. The former is many things but a leftist is not one of them.

By: Floyd

Floyd — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:52:17 +0000

I had to laugh when I saw that John Cole claimed that he will not miss Rev. Falwell! He will be missed MUCH more by the left than even the most conservative Christians![lol]He was a larger than life target and easy for even the least intellegent of his enemies to attack.
I will miss him, if only for his ability to draw ridiculous hyperboly from the left.
Oh; who can take his place as the left's "punching bag"against Christianity? Might I suggest the most Reverend Jesse Jackson?[grinz]

By: The Florida Masochist

The Florida Masochist — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:10:11 +0000

Jerry Falwell dead at 73...

The Reverend and I(and I consider myself a conservative) held very different views on gays and lesbians and some other topics. Falwell was opinionated and I felt often wrong, but preachers of all faiths are like that. They're human after all, like yo....