The death of Jerry Falwell

Jerry Falwell passed away today at age 73. Though I was not a huge fan of his, I do wish to give honor to whom honor is due. He had a spine. I have seen a lot of vicious criticism about him today on internet message boards. People have skewered him pretty heavily. Here are just a few comments that I have seen on message boards.

good, now my grandmother that has absolutely nothing can quit sending him money!

I won't lose any sleep over his passing, he was nothing but a hog who took advantage of elderly people.

He was the male version of the "Bertha Better Than You's" we saw every Sunday Morning at services. Can't imagine what the poor SOB is saying to St Peter right about now!

grrrr... i dont like that kind.....of charlatans

pretty much all the TV evangelists are bloodsuckers!

Oh well no total loss to the christian community now he will pay for his sins

he stood up and proclaimed what he believed to be profitable. I personally think most of his public stances were very deliberately calculated and carried out as rallying points to provide him power and money. Greed can be a great stiffener of the spine...

the man struck me as a rank opportunist. And it's very hard for a man of God to play in the mud with the politicians, unless he's already a little muddy himself.

He was not only responsible for "The Clinton Chronicles: An Investigation into the Alleged Criminal Activities of Bill Clinton," it was his idea for the producer to be interviewed in silhouette, claiming to be an investigative journalist in fear of his life. For those of you who don't remember, that was the video accusing Clinton of running a cocaine-smuggling ring as Governor if Arkansas, and killing reporters who tried to expose him.

He argued that racial segregation was God's plan, until it became clear the Civil rights movement was succeeding; then he switched sides.

He blamed, "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 have tried to secularize America," for the 9/11 attacks.

He lined up with big business against workers, saying that,"Labor unions should study and read the Bible instead of asking for more money. When people get right with God, they are better workers."

I will give him credit for being one of the few high-profile televangelists who didn't get caught practicing what he was preaching against.

My take on him, and I wrote such is:

Though I certainly have a great disdain for televangelists much as y'all have expressed, there are some good things I can actually say about Falwell.

Whether you liked him or hated him, he was one of the few men who stood up and proclaimed what he believed to be true. Whether he was right or not may be another matter, but the fact is that he had the balls to take a stand and stick by it.

He got involved in areas that few Christian leaders dared in modern times by actually getting involved in world affairs and political activism. He had a belief that America should be a certain way and worked (rather effectively) towards that end.

I didn't agree with all he said and did, and I had several WTF moments listening to his comments. None the less, I have to admire his courage to stand up and take a stand for his beliefs.

For those who share the same world view, it is easily understood. For those who don't, it is easy to criticize and condemn. Falwell didn't have the sort of scandal that others on TV did, nor quite the extravagance. There is a reason for that. That is not to say that he was perfect in his ways, but it is testament to his character.