The Religious Right misses this great man...
- Thread starter Jakeleg Jake
- Start date
Pretty sure he screwed his mother in an outhouse once... does that sound like something a good christian would do?
It depends, was his father dead at the time? I think that matters.
The man did help solidify our American rights to porn so on that account I guess his time on earth was a blessing.
I don't know, maybe for an Old Testament guy that wouldn't be quite so bad.
To the Back of the Bus, Please
Falwell was born in 1933 to a bootlegger, and after college, he started a church in Virginia. The big issue facing Christians in 1956 was that Christian schools were weeding out separatism. White-only schools were losing tax-exempt status, and Falwell didn’t like this one bit.
“The facilities should be separate. When God has drawn a line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line,” he said in one sermon. In another: “The true Negro does not want integration. He realizes his potential is far better among his own race.”
Falwell claimed integration would “destroy our race eventually.” He complained about a couple “of opposite race live next door…as man and wife.”
The Birth of the Immoral Majority
In 1979, the Moral Majority was born, spurring Christians into political action. “The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country,” he bellowed in a ’76 sermon. (There was no mention of America’s original animist faiths.)
By 1983, the U.S. News and World Report named Falwell one of the 25 most influential Americans. Not great, since the rev was outspoken in support of apartheid. He called for Christians to reinvest in South Africa, opposing economic sanctions. He called the African National Congress a “communist front” and Bishop Desmond Tutu a “phony.” He opposed Nelson Mandela’s release from prison because he was a “communist.”
But as the ‘90s dawned, racism was becoming unpopular, so Falwell changed his focus to gays. “Gay folks would just as soon kill you as look at you,” he said. He called a new wave of Christian gays, the Metropolitan Community Church “brute beasts” and a “vile and Satanic system.” He called a lesbian talk show host “Ellen Degenerate.” He also said the preschool program for kids, The Teletubbies, was “role modeling the gay lifestyle,” which was hurting “the moral lives of children.” The stuffed alien Tinky Winky was “purple — the gay pride color.” His antenna was — gasp — a triangle, and he carried a red bag.
You didn’t have to be gay to provoke Jer Bear’s wrath. Billy Graham was “the chief servant of Satan.” The National Organization of Women was actually the “National Organization of Witches.”
And the evil American Civil Liberties Union was “to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews.” Jerry wasn’t fond of Jews, though. “Jews can make more money accidentally than you can on purpose,” he grumbled, not content with his considerable fortune. The antichrist? “Of course he’ll be Jewish.”
Falwell was born in 1933 to a bootlegger, and after college, he started a church in Virginia. The big issue facing Christians in 1956 was that Christian schools were weeding out separatism. White-only schools were losing tax-exempt status, and Falwell didn’t like this one bit.
“The facilities should be separate. When God has drawn a line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line,” he said in one sermon. In another: “The true Negro does not want integration. He realizes his potential is far better among his own race.”
Falwell claimed integration would “destroy our race eventually.” He complained about a couple “of opposite race live next door…as man and wife.”
The Birth of the Immoral Majority
In 1979, the Moral Majority was born, spurring Christians into political action. “The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country,” he bellowed in a ’76 sermon. (There was no mention of America’s original animist faiths.)
By 1983, the U.S. News and World Report named Falwell one of the 25 most influential Americans. Not great, since the rev was outspoken in support of apartheid. He called for Christians to reinvest in South Africa, opposing economic sanctions. He called the African National Congress a “communist front” and Bishop Desmond Tutu a “phony.” He opposed Nelson Mandela’s release from prison because he was a “communist.”
But as the ‘90s dawned, racism was becoming unpopular, so Falwell changed his focus to gays. “Gay folks would just as soon kill you as look at you,” he said. He called a new wave of Christian gays, the Metropolitan Community Church “brute beasts” and a “vile and Satanic system.” He called a lesbian talk show host “Ellen Degenerate.” He also said the preschool program for kids, The Teletubbies, was “role modeling the gay lifestyle,” which was hurting “the moral lives of children.” The stuffed alien Tinky Winky was “purple — the gay pride color.” His antenna was — gasp — a triangle, and he carried a red bag.
You didn’t have to be gay to provoke Jer Bear’s wrath. Billy Graham was “the chief servant of Satan.” The National Organization of Women was actually the “National Organization of Witches.”
And the evil American Civil Liberties Union was “to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews.” Jerry wasn’t fond of Jews, though. “Jews can make more money accidentally than you can on purpose,” he grumbled, not content with his considerable fortune. The antichrist? “Of course he’ll be Jewish.”
I thought we had an understanding that was just dominate dungeon roleplay talk. I'm really a puppy dog.
I'm pretty sure you are sick of mind and spirit...but that is your call not mine.
Well that's what I assumed, but according to the late pastor that assumption could get me murdered. Just making sure.
I love that you think someone disagreeing with you in a profane manner makes them "sick of mind and spirit," but that being a hateful, racist dick will somehow get you into Heaven.
It is the way I see it. It is no business of mine how you live your life...please understand that...however I wouldn't want my granddaughter exposed to your kind of filthiness as a teacher if you happened to be one. Your beliefs aren't moral...and they certainly aren't the traits I would look for in a healthy adjusted human being.
Naw, t'ain't. Y'all stick wit' wat'cher doin'.
None of your posts suggests a healthy adjusted human being is sitting at your keyboard.
As a teacher and a Catholic, I would like to point out once again how absolutely disgusting many southern baptists are. I am as ashamed to share the same religion as Jerry Falwell as I am sure most Muslims are of ISIS.
Keep trolling jscott.
If you were a Christian you would never have made the statement you did about Dr. Falwell...even if you disagreed with him. You are a fraud and a disgrace to so many good Catholics I know...a few of them are even Christians...and you are a disgrace to the teaching profession. You have no business being around children.
Keep trolling
It's a shame you blew it on this issue though, a lot of people seemed to think you were a real person.
I am a real person...and that is why I said what I did. You reply to what you perceive as Dr. Falwell's shortcomings with vile and vulgar depictions. You have shown a very shallow mind in doing so. All you had to say was you disagreed with the man and you would have had my utmost respect...yet you stoop to profanity and profane descriptions...now you attempt to explain it all away as an attempt at "trolling" on my part. You have outed yourself as a fraud...an obviously not a nice person although I am sure many here will applaud you for it.Keep trolling
As an Evangelical Christian, I can say with no regrets that Jerry Falwell did more to hurt Christians in the public eye and more damage to the Christian religion than any atheist could even imagine doing. No true, bible believing, Christ following Christian would ever think or say the things he did regarding blacks, gays or any other minority group.
I absolutely agree with him that homosexuality is a sin but guess what, saying the things he did about those he disagreed with and the feelings he obviously had in his heart are just as sinful as homosexuality. If he would have reached out to them and showed the how to be righteous and redemptive, he might have had better luck. Christ tells us to hang out with those we disagree with and be a guiding light to them, not to stand with people that agree with us and throw stones.
Methinks Falwell needed to read through Matthew chapters 5-7 a few more times.
I absolutely agree with him that homosexuality is a sin but guess what, saying the things he did about those he disagreed with and the feelings he obviously had in his heart are just as sinful as homosexuality. If he would have reached out to them and showed the how to be righteous and redemptive, he might have had better luck. Christ tells us to hang out with those we disagree with and be a guiding light to them, not to stand with people that agree with us and throw stones.
Methinks Falwell needed to read through Matthew chapters 5-7 a few more times.
He had more impact than Billy and Franklin Graham ever thought about having...he had the ear of Christian evangelicals...and struck fear into the hearts of the secular humanist. The man never backed down from a fight and in His own way neither did Jesus.
He was an egotistical power seeker who showed how NOT to act like Christ. If that was his goal, congratulations. I'm thinking his problem was that he thought he knew more than everyone else and dint actually consider what his actions were really telling everyone. He is exactly what is wrong with many of the televangelists, that got so popular that they began to believe they are bigger than the Word. He is an example of what turns so many away from Christ instead of bringing them to him.
Based on what the Bible says, I'm pretty sure that Christ would have a big issue with him.
I'll take this a step further...had he still been alive you would have never heard of an Obama as president. The reason Christianity has lost it's steam is we no longer have strong leadership as his was in the pulpit...it has been replaced by weak, PC indoctrinated gutless people masquerading as religious leaders...including my current pastor.
Jimmy and Donnie Swaggart would have been the perfect duo to succeed him but they both lack the national presence to accomplish what Dr. Falwell did...and Jimmy has had his moral issues which have complicated his role as a respect religious leader.
He wasn't a strong leader, he was an egotistical megalomaniac who used the bible as cover for his racism. Problem is, Christ was about as far from racist as one could get and would be appalled at the things said and done in his name by people like Falwell.
He the ear of President Reagan who he supported...he had many faith based political leaders speak at Thomas Rd Baptist Church including then Rep J.C. Watts...this man was a giant and he was beloved.
The reason it has lost it's steam is because of people like Falwell and the Stewart's. Christianity is about sharing the word on a personal level with those who would reject his word. They were all about telling everyone what to think and if anyone disagree they badmouthed them and called them out publicly. They used the pulpit to espouse views that would cause Christ to show up and throw their pulpit of the $10 mil stage and call them out for being deceivers. They used the pulpit to con people into sending them millions that they used to buy luxury. If they were truly men of God, they would have lived modest lives and made sure that money was getting to those in need.
Yeah, um, Reagan isn't exactly a glorious example of Christianity either. He used it to garner votes of people like you that think of Christianity as exclusionary. There's a reason he and Falwell and the rest were buddies, and its not a reason we should be following.
Wrong...it lost it's power when self serving ministers decided it was more advantageous to remain silent rather than speak out against evil...according to many of them they never even heard of a hell.
