I’m sure by now you know that Rev. Jerry Falwell died this week at the age of 73. He was the founder of Liberty University and one of the most fundamental evangelic preachers of our time.
It’s hard for some people to not rejoice in his death. Falwell began his career strongly promoting segregating between the races, and gave a famous speech against civil rights in 1965, where he referred to the uprising as the “civil wrongs movement.” Over time, his goals shifted. He advocated for the school voucher program because he believed that many public schools bred atheists, and his main hope was that some day schools would be run completely but the Church. He also took a strong pro-Israel stance and believed that the problems in the Middle East were a prelude to the Apocalypse.
He is well known in recent years, however, for his strong views against homosexuality. After 9-11, he said,
“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.’”
He was also known for calling AIDS a way for God to punish the GLBT community for their “sins.” This is the particular viewpoint that is causing his death to raise cheers and sighs of relief in the gay community.
And that, my friends, is something that I find disturbing.
Falwell may have had some extreme views, but rejoicing in death is never the answer. Personally, I choose to acknowledge the pain and sadness his friends and family are feeling right now. Also, instead of celebrating his life in a way that promotes his views (with which I disagree for the most part), I will instead choose to look at the good things we CAN take about from Falwell. Before your pop the champagne cork, consider the following take-home lessons:
1. If you have a belief, stand up for it. Today, too many Christians simply believe what they believe and keep it at that. They see wrong and let it continue being wrong. They’re afraid or embarrassed to give an alternative, religious point of view. Falwell was not. Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, he was willing to take a definite stance. He believed in himself.
2. Protect and defend yourself. It’s worth it. When someone attacks you, the Christian thing to do, we are taught, is to turn the other cheek. However, it is my personal belief that one can turn the other cheek without being a doormat. If someone attacks you, don’t attack them back, but please defend yourself and your values. If you don’t, their opinion begins to be regarded by others as fact. Falwell, after being the subject of a parody by Hustler magazine, took the case to the courts to defend himself and his reputation. He ultimately lost after a number of appeals, but he didn’t simply allow someone to make fun of his beliefs without attempting to set the record straight.
3. Seek better education. At the risk of sounding cliche, the children are our future. There are a lot of things wrong with the educational system in general, and while I do not believe that they should be run by religion, I do admire Falwell for working to provide what he saw as a better educational experience for children and young adults everywhere. If everyone worked for better education for our children, we’d have a more informed future in general.
4. Determination is everything. There were a lot of people–and I mean a lot–who disagreed with Falwell. That didn’t stop him. He was sued a number of times. That didn’t stop him. For goodness sake, people mailed him purple Teletubbies in anger! THAT DIDN”T STOP HIM. Do you see where I’m going with this? Falwell’s message may not be one that I enjoy, but I do admire his determination to continue with his work, even in the face of adversary.
In the end, I will not be sad that a part of the hatred in this country has died. His words inspired people who were less eloquent and less religiously-minded than he, and who were set on hating others. He gave them reasons to justify their hatred. Yes, I am glad that is gone. I will not, however, celebrate his death. It is important to see the good in every situation and to leave the judging, as always, up to the Divine.
Jerry Fallwell, homosexuality, God, religion, death
When I opened my home page this morning, I skimmed over the headlines briefly and this one caught my eye. 8 deaths in Iraq???
“Need just 60 minutes of good, provocative conversation?”
