Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Jerry Falwell

I wasn't going to write about religion for awhile. I had a little bit of God-lash. But, see what happens, as I try to pull away, it pulls me back in. The Rev. Jerry Falwell died today. This could be a perfect opportunity for me to be gracious, take the high road and to look back on his life and recount the positive influence he had on America and Christianity. But that would also be a lie. I would not wish anyone ill and I genuinely feel for his family, but let's not kid anyone about the destructive influence he has had on American politics and religion. Without even resorting to exaggeration or other people's words, we can do that. We can do it with his words:

"Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions"


"Billy Graham is the chief servant of Satan in America"


"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country"


"Textbooks are Soviet propaganda"


"Homosexuality is Satan's diabolical attack upon the family that will not only have a corrupting influence upon our next generation, but it will also bring down the wrath of God upon America."


(re: 9/11 attacks) "...throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools, the abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked and when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad...I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who try to secularize America...I point the thing in their face and say you helped this happen."


"If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being."


"[homosexuals are] brute beasts...part of a vile and satanic system [that] will be utterly annihilated, and there will be a celebration in heaven."


"I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!"


"The Bible is the inerrant ... word of the living God. It is absolutely infallible,without error in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as well as in areas such as geography, science, history, etc.."


"AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. To oppose it would be like an Israelite jumping in the Red Sea to save one of Pharoah's chariotters."


If you'd like a slightly less sarcastic recap of Falwell's life, please check out JA's post: Jerry Falwell Has Died

Falwell and his ilk have a dangerous influence on every aspect of this country's politics. Unfortunately, that influence does not die with him:

Bush met with Dobson and conservative Christian leaders ...

10 comments:

Shawn said...

I'm still trying to fight the urge to go out and buy the house a round at my favorite pub. Much of what is wrong with America today is because of Falwell and his ilk.

Scott said...

Falwell was a political nut. One of the main culprits in remaking conservatism from limited government to limited rights.

Hey lance, if you've got a minute email me at scott0213 at yahoo as I've got a question for you.

Great White Bear, said...

I am embarrassed to admit I actually found myself doing a little clenched fist celebration when I first heard.

I amnot ususally taht kind of person, but my dislike for him ran very deep!

Sadie Lou said...

"If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being."

I imagine he's having a pretty enlightening dicussion with God right about now---

Laura said...

Shawn and GWB: I actually DID a little jig at work when I saw the headline. I heard my boss from across the room yell "Yessss! Haha"...

Sadie: You think he made it that far? I'd kinda think they'd send him on the firepole straight to Hell's welcome wagon...

Can't you just see St. Peter alah Desi Arnez: "Ju got alota esplainin to do..."

Jeff said...

He was way too obsessive about being in the public eye. After his political muscle wained he would make riduclous remarks so the camera could be focused on him once again. I wouldn't say I was happy when he died but his death wasn't one that made me mourn.

dbackdad said...

This is probably a little off-color, but it's true and funny. From Shrimplate:

Lava Cake

Handsome B. Wonderful said...

R.I.H-

Rest in Hell.

shrimplate said...

Whatever you might think of Christopher Hitchens, he was on the mark when he told Hannity and (colmes) that "If someone had given Falwell an enema you could have buried him in a matchbox."

Heheheh.

dbackdad said...

Shrimplate -- Ho-ho, that's awesome! I almost wish I'd watched Hannity for that one.