In Memoriam: Jerome Lamon Falwell, D.D., 1933-2007

[thatcrazycajun]

Courtesy of filkertom and my AP newsfeed: The Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the self-styled "Moral Majority" (and, it can be argued, of the entire modern political movement known today as the Religious Right) and of Liberty University, has died of unknown causes at his office on the LU campus in Lynchburg, VA. He was 73 years old.

I list my mood as "hopeful" for more than one reason: I am hopeful that his end was quick and painless, and that his soul will know the peace he seemed to be certain was his by virtue of, well, virtue; that his family, friends and loved ones will not suffer long or unduly in grief; and that the insidious, theocratic movement he helped build (and brought to a level of influence in our nation's political and cultural life far disproportionate to its adherents' actual numbers) will be that much weaker for his absence.

And now that the requisite compassion for the bereaved and the departed have been dispensed with...I am once again reminded of a line from the act of an old favorite performer of mine, New Orleans cabaret comedian/singer Ricky Graham, who in one vignette, impersonating the late Bette Davis, said of Davis' archrival Joan Crawford, "I was taught that one should always have something good to say about the dead...(beat) She's dead—good!"

Comments

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

I admit that my own gut reaction to the news was less than perfectly Christian. I'm working on that.

But I believe in a loving and forgiving God (as I hope to be forgiven myself), so I accept the possibility that even a lying malignancy like Jerry Falwell could be admitted to Heaven.

I also believe that if he is there, he's EXTREMELY surprised at who else is.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

I don't personally recall hearing of any instance where he was caught in an outright, verifiable lie. Sanctimonious, hypocritical, narrow-minded and judgmental? Sure. But whatever else you can say about him, I'm not sure you can say he was dishonest...except maybe for his arguments being intellectually dishonest.

And I am right there with you on that last part...and I hope he did get into heaven just long enough for a) him to see and drop his jaw at who else was there, and b) St. Peter, or even Jesus himself, to say, "Thou art no better than the Pharisees of my day. To hell with thee!" and send him downstairs forthwith.

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

his arguments being intellectually dishonest

That they are. But more directly, he lied when he said that my gay and transgendered friends and family are so by choice as a rejection of his version of God, he lied about about what feminists believe and want, he lied when he said that I cannot be both a feminist and a Christian, the list just goes on.

He may well have originally believed these things. But many, many people told him the truth and he refused to learn. That is why I call him a liar.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

He may well have originally believed these things. But many, many people told him the truth and he refused to learn. That is why I call him a liar.

If he still believed these things even after hearing other people's views to the contrary, he was not purposely being untruthful; rather, he was remaining willfully ignorant, or disregarding their statements as "opinion" in the face of what he viewed as incontrovertible fact, i.e., the revealed Word of God as he intepreted it. Not the same thing, however equally repugnant. Like the man said, "Never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity."

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

Considered and rejected. The man was many things, but not stupid. Time and again, he said things that were proven to be *factually* untrue about people and groups he disliked. He seldom apologized, never changed, frequently dissembled or denied such incidents when asked about them, and told the same lies all over again at the next opportunity.