Posted by Siamang on: 05.15.2007 /
We get the news this morning that Jerry Falwell has died.
I can’t help but think of him as embodying an era in American life. It’s probably no surprise to anyone who knows me, but I disliked the man.
But as angry as he made me during his life, I cannot help but feel sorrow at his death. His cultural influence was so great that to me he was a symbol of a certain aspect of America. Love or hate him, you knew that in the mixed-up multitude of voices that America spoke with, his was certainly loud and clear.
I can’t say I’ll miss the man, but I can say that we aren’t likely to meet his equal.
Respect, and our thoughts, wishes and prayers to those in mourning.
-Siamang
Comment by: Falwell’s Dead - UD1x : www(dot)libroll(dot)com
1 05/15/07 11:14 AM | Comment Link |[...] 1:57 PM From The Ebay Atheist - I can’t help but think of him as embodying an era in American life. It’s probably no surprise [...]
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
2Siamang, thanks for mentioning about Jerry Falwell. It seems that this was very sudden.
I agree that he embodied an era and I think his passionate pursuit of what he cared about evoked strong feelings, either positive or negative, in lots of people.
Comment by: Siamang
3I hope I’m not speaking out of turn by mentioning that we offer our prayers. I just felt it was appropriate to accurately describe not just my own reaction to Rev. Falwell’s death, but in a kind of way speak for the larger community here.
Comment by: Mike O
4I think it was clear what you meant, Siamang. You’re a good man and I appreciate your candor.
I was no fan of Jerry Falwell, but anytime someone dies, I think it’s appropriate to offer our respects. And I offer mine.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
5Siamang I’m fine with you saying ‘prayers’ in reference to the general response.
Check out fellow atheist Matt Casper’s response to Falwell’s death on our Church Rater blog
Comment by: Matt Casper
6I see no reason to honor the life or death of a man who added hatred to the world… would you mourn Tom Metzger or David Duke, too?
Were I a Christian, I would spend every waking moment going after people like Falwell and Robertson. Because only after purging a religion that preaches love of its bad, rotten apples who preach hate would I be able to feel honest about inviting others to share in my faith.
After all, Jesus did say, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
And Falwell was a log indeed.
Comment by: Siamang
7I understand your feelings, Matt. But I can’t bring myself to anger at this moment, only sorrow.
Comment by: Matt Casper
8Maybe this will help. Some of Falwell’s greatest hits…
“AIDS is not just God’s punishment for homosexuals; it is God’s punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.”
“Billy Graham is the chief servant of Satan in America.”
“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 have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this [9/11] happen.’”
Some atheists are accused of being angry at God. I’m not. I am angry at hypocrisy, always. And there may be no greater hypocrite than a Christian–a religion based on a God of Love–who preaches hate.
He was a divisive, destructive person who continually ignored the words of the God he supposedly worshipped. People who embrace tolerance and kindness and openness can only feel relieved at his death, as that means his silence, too.
Comment by: Rachel
9Now that’s one I HADN’T heard! Why in the world would he say that?? Because Billy Graham preaches that God loves everybody??
Well, Billy is friends with the Clintons, so that was probably enough right there to get him on Falwell’s poop list.
I agree with you, Matt. While I don’t feel gleeful over Falwell’s death, I am indeed relieved. And I see this as one more welcome sign that we are looking at the beginning of the end of the Religious Right.
Comment by: Mike O
10I was taken to task in this post for relaying an unsubstantiated story as fact when, in actuality, it had been massaged to make a point.
When the quote referenced above came out after Jerry Falwell died, this showed up on snopes:
So I guess we all do it. It’s interesting how easy it is to swallow unsubstianted stories as truth when they support what we already believe, isn’t it?
Falwell may have been a jerk, but there’s no proof, at least according to snopes, that he ever made this ridiculous statement.
I’ll stand corrected if someone can find the source.
Comment by: Siamang
11Great catch, Mike!
Very much so. I used to post on the James Randi discussion boards, and they are merciless if you post an assertion that you cannot support.
I got into the habit of wikipediaing everything, even stuff I was SURE was true.
And you know what? Even some things I’d bet my life were true.. like certain historical quotes, turned out to be specious.
I learned a really good lesson from that about how easy it is to be wrong, and even if you have a very strong conviction that you are right, you still can be wrong!
Great catch, Mike O!