Jerry Falwell dead.

I am by no means a Jerry Falwell fan by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, something has always struck me as odd about him. However, I've got to say that I'm appalled by how the responders to this post thus far are gleefully cheering his death. So I offer this admonishment: You probably shouldn't do it. Its not just tacky, but its also disrespectful and childish.If any of you are Hindu or Buddhist, then you really shouldn't do it. That's bad Karma.

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

Wow! Strong words....So let me make sure I'm accurate here. You say the man is "hateful," and yet you spew hate from your sewer and rejoice over his death. What makes you holier than thou in this case?So, not only are you a hatemongerer, but you're also a raging hypocrite for calling him one too.You are basically trying to justify your own hatred by saying that he is/was hateful too, and therefor, that somehow gives you in the right to dancing on his grave.Falwell is going to stand before his Maker and give testimony to his Judge. More has been entrusted to the Falwell's of the world, which means more is expected of them. Lets go ahead and let God be God. He makes a better judge than we do.

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

I'm in the process of moving and my home computer is still up in Portland. I have to use a community computer on an Air Force base. As might be expected on a government computer, there are very tight restrictions on what sites one can go to. As well, I've completely lost the ability to "cut and paste," even when I use the "control" functions of the computer. So anyway, in case you were wondering, that is why I'm not quoting you. I'll just have to remember the gist of your post and try and respond as best I can soley from memory.As for Falwell, like I said, I have never been a fan. And as much good he has done his life, I feel he has done more to harm the name of Jesus than good. I could be wrong, but that's how I feel about it. His style of preaching is one that I'm not aligned with, and because of it, Falwell, and people like him, make alot of Christians play the fool-- because, as the Bible says, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Meaning, it only takes a little bit of bad influence to corrupt an entire family/church/community/city/state/nation, etc.But for however much flaw I saw in Reverend Falwell, I would never wish him harm or say the awful things that some people have said about him. I have a strong aversion towards the Nation of Islam. But I would never dance on the grave of Elijah Mohammed. In fact, my first inclination is to feel sorrow for a man, that I believe, who has died, but while alive, walked on a path to destruction.I have to defer to Jesus on this one. As you said Phat, He tells us to pray for our enemies. Obviously to our atheist friends, who would they pray to? Well, they needn't have to pray in order to follow the gist of the command. I mean, I think everyone, theist and non-theist alike, can understand why it is not only distasteful to speak so disparagingly about others-- even those you dislike immensely-- but its also dangerous to one's own psyche.Being angry at Falwell to the point of hatred does absolutely nothing to Falwell... So guess who it does effect? It effects the person who feels the hatred. It comes back on them, not Falwell. You don't need to be a theist or a psychologist to understand that principle. Its common sense.

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

You say that Falwell did more harm than good. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. The issue is rejoicing over someone's death. The man is dead. And when he passes through the refiners fire, he will either be burned up like chaff, or he will come out clean in the eyes of his Maker. The point is, lets let God do His job.Is it wrong to feel anger towards Falwell? No, it isn't. Anger is a perfectly legitimate, God-given emotion. However, if it festers and is undealt with, we see a very unhealthy form of anger-- hatred.If we're going to simply going to critique Falwell, then lets do that. But must we be so meanspirited about it?All I did was offer an admonishment to Berberry. Who among us can honestly say that I was wrong for doing so? Heck, if I was a betting man and I slandered Saddam after he was executed, I'd be a wealthy man, because I have no doubt I would have been chastized for doing so.Lastly, if Jerry Falwell is "evil," then evil must exist as more than an opinion. In which case, you would have to revise your philosophical view on morality in order to call him evil and have it be more than mere opinion.

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

I agree, which is why I'm not asking why you don't respect him. You are certainly entitled to your opinion of him. I have no qualms with that whatsoever. I'm simply wondering why you feel the compulsion to say horrible things about him.But let me break it down Barney-style so that everyone understands what I'm saying. Two wrongs don't make a right. Its just that simple. This is Kindergarten ethics we're talking about here. Bascially you are saying, without realizing it, Falwell was an asshole, therefore, I'm justified in being an asshole to him. Come on Rahvin! That's Kindergarten stuff. You know better than that, don't you?Are you seriously going to disagree with me on that?

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

Emphasis added by Nemesis_Juggernaut for dramatic effectBingo! If anyone has misunderstood my point, this post clears up my sentiments exactly. If we want to talk about how Falwell was an evil man who brought harm to the name of Christ, or brought the country to weakened state, or how he was duplicitous, etc, etc, we can do that all day long. I have no problem with this kind of debate. But we have people here who are saying the most vile and meanspirited things about him.The law of reciprocity stands firm here. You get what you give; you reap what you sow. Its common sense. By saying repulsive things about a man who someone claims says repulsive things, makes them no different from they.

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

Jerry Falwell hurt this country deeply? I was unaware that Rev. Falwell had enough influence to hurt the country deeply. As far as I can tell, he wasnt so much as a blip on the radar screen. I think the indelible stain you envision for Falwell is largely manifested in your mind. Yes, you and others have made that quite clear. And who/what is the cure?

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

Not so much, no. If you'll notice, I responded to those who vehemently attack the man even in death. I guess my gripe is one of simple courtesy and tact. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I happen to think that being a gentleman and a lady about the matter is far more effective in getting one's point across than slinging invectives all over the place.There was tact in how you presented yours. Seriously, if anyone didn't like the man, that's fine. Its the fact that a couple people verbally disemboweled a dead man that particularly bothers me.The second thing that bothers me is the over-exaggerated claims about him. These people are acting like Jerry Falwell held the world in the palm of his hand, twisting his moustache, and hatching diabolic plans to destroy the earth. I mean, come on. What's up with all the comparisons to Hitler. Hitler? They liken Falwell to Hitler! Give... me.... a.... break. That's because in a world of relativity, basic or complex human rights don't exist beyond mere opinion. An interesting thing for a white man to be a racist and also endorse Allen Keys, a black man, for president. If Falwell was a racist, its news to me. Now that's the ticket. I wish some of the other people shared your sentiments. There is alot of people that I personally don't like. But far be it from me to cheer their death in order to assuage my own hate. I guess we all can't be as pragmatic and even-keeled as you are. Nemesis Juggernaut starts a slow clap for Subbie followed by a rousing standing ovation"Its so easy to feel elite. Its so easy to feel conceit, when you judge yourself" -Lou Koller Edited by nemesis_juggernaut, : typos

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

I apologize for not quoting you. For some bizarre reason these computers won't allow it..... ?? ??In any case, yes, its good to see you too.As for Falwell, I said, in an opening post, there is something about him that was unsound to me. But then again, there is much unsound about me as well, so who am I to judge? But even though I feel this way, I can't help but to say many good things on his behalf. For instance, he seems to have been genuine in his convictions. I hold people in high regards for holding to their convictions, even if I feel they are misguided. For instance, I believe that somebody like Osama bin Laden is genuine, for however demonically misguided the man is. That illicit's some measure of respect from me.*And no, I'm not comparing Falwell to bin Laden*You said to someone else in an earlier post that you suspect their biggest problem is really with biblical teachings-- not so much with Falwell himself. In a sense he is the patsy, or as you said, the "fall guy." And this probably because he was vocal about his convictions.How Falwell felt about homosexuality is probably the single greatest thing that his detractors denigrate him for. But I, like you, have had gay friends come and go through my life. I certainly don't treat them any differently than anyone else. Having said that, I won't hesitate to inform them how I feel about homosexuality if and when the subject comes up. The problem, I think, is that many Christians view homosexuality in worse terms than, say, fornication. But the Bible is very clear that ALL sexual sin is wrong and should be avoided for their own sex. As far as I can tell, there is none that is considered categorically worse than the other. Yet, for some reason, many Christians blast homosexuals with more ferosity than another form of sexual sin. Many Christians single homosexuality as being "more" sinful. I think this is the wrong attitude to have. Everybody knows that if you cause people to have a stigma, they are more resistant to listening to you preach the gospel truth.My own philosophy is in line with the old adage, "hate the sin, love the sinner." At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have compromisers. They love the sinner so much that they overlook the sin. After time they end up compromising their basest set of beliefs in search for a very watered-down gospel.Our pulpits need more balance and less extremism in either direction. Would you concur with this assessment?

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton

sighI've grown tired of this thread because so much escapes your attention-- namely, the fact that you glibly overlook the hypocrisy of the thread.Since relaying my rationale came to nothing, I'll just go ahead and concede. Lets parade Falwell's corpse through the streets and call it a day.

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"God is like the sun. You can't look at it. But without it you can't look at anything else." -G.K. Chesterton