I found this quote on a newsgroup: "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve... 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 happen.'" -Jerry Falwell My first thought was that it was fake. you know how newsgroups are. Not even Falwell could be THAT insensitive and hateful. But then I checked his site (http://www.falwell.com/) and he is trying to squirm his way out of this. This man is evil. We've always know that this guy has thoughts and beliefs that would only make Hitler proud. This guy is not that different than Bin Laden, except that he hasn't attempted violence on those he hates. But he preaches it in hopes that he can persuade some weak, mindless fools to act on his words of hate. And to think that this guys actual got 2-3% of the American vote. That alone is a scary thought.
SpaceCity: I'm actually glad he made these comments. He's tried to hide his bigotry behind a veneer of love and compassion long enough. I always thought at the very least he was condescending. Now we know he's a horrible person as well.
I've seen him talk on a few brief interviews and imo, he is such an idiot. I don't know how people can follow this fool.
Diane Sawyer brought this up on ABC. I think Falwell said it on the 700 Club and Pat Robertson said "I agree"
Let me say I don't agree with him at all!! Having said that, I'm not sure it makes him a bigot. All world religions account for certain horrible events happening as a means of judgment from God (see Soddom & Gomorrah in the Old Testament). We can criticize God or religion all we want for that, but it remains true. To those who believe in God it's like the lawbreakers crying for being put in prison....there are ramifications for your actions ultimately. What shakes me about this statement though is that he presumes to know exactly God's role in this. That bothers me. I thought the counter-remark in the paper today by a dean of the seminary at Wake Forest was pretty good. He essentially said this was an attempt to sound prophetic after an event happened. What bothers me even worse is that, as a Christian, this is the last thing the country needed to hear right now. I don't believe this is the compassion with which we're called to respond with. I don't know the man and I really don't know much about him...but I'm pretty disappointed in him.
MadMax: The only reason I call him a bigot is because he actively discriminates against homosexuals and others who disagree with him. Our college regularly participates in his Liberty University Debate Tournament. He gives a banquet on the final day, and allows people to ask questions. Debaters are usually liberals or libertarians, so you can imagine the sort of questions he gets asked. He was asked if he thought homosexuals should be treated equally at Liberty, and he said that even though legally it was required, he didn't think they should have to, and certainly didn't expect his students to do so (paraphrased a great deal).
MadMax, Like I said, these kinds of comments put him on the same level as Bin Laden. Extreme Fundamentalist Muslims beleive that our way of life is the way of the devil. He feels that his god smiled down upon those who commited those acts. They feel that any violence towards us id for the greater good. Osama Bin Laden = Extreme Fundamentalist Muslim. Jerry Falwell = Extreme Fundamentalist Christian. They both preach hate towards those who have beliefs that differ from thiers.
Ha... I just noticed something ironic. For the first time, I've now read a post which mentions the US getting what it deserved. Not from a liberal, but from a fundamentalist conservative. Interesting.
share your thoughts via jerry@falwell.com He obviously represents a VERY different Christ than I've heard Christians speak of
Honey, that ain't nothing. check this stuff out. WARNING: EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE. THIS IS JUST HERE TO SHOW HOW STUPID CLOSEMINDEDNESS IS. I RECEIVED THIS AS A LINK AS A BAD EXAMPLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM: http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/dayofterror.html
Nolen -- I haven't read his comments on women. If he believe that homosexuality is a choice and not a condition one is born with, it's hard to see how that is bigotry. I'm not willing to follow you down that path. I assume that makes me a bigot. Oh, well! Space City -- Come on ....this does not at all put him on the same level as Bin Laden. I may dislike the guy, but he's not a murderer. He may believe God caused judgment on us...but he didn't initiate that judgment. There is a stark difference. I don't think Falwell is gathering his forces right now to blow up any civilians anywhere. The God of the Bible and the Torah is quite vengeful at times. We may not like that, and no one says you have to accept that, but it is certainly true. You don't have to read either book far to find that God judged even the Jews quite harshly for turning from Him. Of course that's the part of the Bible and Torah that isn't politically correct in this generation.
I know. It is full of hate and evil people. They actually picketed at Matthew Sheopard's funeral (he was hung and lynched in Wyoming b/c he was gay) and also picketed at Mel Carnahan's funeral (he was the democratic governer of Missouri who died in a plane crash last fall). I have thought before that if I was ever so low that I was gonna commit suicide I would go on a homicidal rampage and take down people like this first. The hate that "Rev. Phelps" breeds would then come down on his head. So America is not free of religous wackos who love to hate. Sad, but true.
I agree that there are many people who profess Christ but seem to have hate in their hearts. Again, all have fallen short of the glory of God. But having said that, please don't take it as hate if I don't agree with a lifestyle or a choice. I'm not simply talking about homosexuality here. But since it's the topic de jure, I'll address that. I have more than a few gay friends...they all know that if they need me for anything, they could call me. I'd gladly help them. I feel the same way about them. They also know I disagree with their lifestyle. We've argued over and over again about it. But they know, ultimately, I do not hate them in any way. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DISAGREE AND NOT HATE...IT IS POSSIBLE TO SAY "I THINK WHEN YOU DO X, THAT'S WRONG", BUT STILL LOVE THE PERSON WHO DOES THAT. The concern is when you associate too closely the behavior and the person, and then that leads to hate. Christ hung out with prostitutes and gamblers and drinkers. He abhored what they did...but He loved them to death..ultimately to His own death.
Many Ultra-Conservative Christians think America will be judged for turning away from what it was founded on , The Bible condems homosexuals . I believe we will all be judged when we die , But regardless of what I believe , The Bible also says "Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged" I may not agree with Abortion , Homosexual lifestyles etc. but I will not openly judge people because I too have faults and to point fingers at people would make me a hypocrite and contradict the very basis of what I live my life by .
