Falwell in 'gravely serious' condition

[GaryC 7]

It isn't our place to judge people living or dead. God will sort out what is in peoples hearts. I am only responsable for my own actions. Thats good enough for me.

[Ban Hammer 13,645]

I have been using a lot of restraint. Not easy.

maybe ewok can make a special group for that

[Scott & Lai 12]

Anyone who defends this sick fuc!k of a man posing as God's rep on earth really needs their heads examined. And, yes, we can judge people based on their deeds, because we are mortal, of this earth, and that is all we know, especially those of us who don't lose their minds in this whole god thing. And Falwell's deeds were disgusting, sick, unforgivable.

WOOOOOOOOO!

Wow...the level of sheer corrosive hatred being displayed here towards someone who has murdered no one, nor has called for the murder of anyone is truly appalling and even a bit scary. Just what deeds are you referring to that were "disgusting, sick, unforgivable?" And do you have anywhere near the same level of hatred for real evil, like terrorism?

On the huge Fark.com thread about Jerry this post sums up why it's OK to be strongly critical of the man after his death:

Falwell never backed down from insulting and demonizing anyone, or any group, that did not conform to his narrow, religious perspective. His explicit condemnation of everyone except for right-wing politico-religionists was not intended for the members of his own church (his rightful concern), but for the nation at large, and for the amalgamation of political power.

Thus, he and his dialogue exist in the public milieu, and the public is thus entitled to respond to him any way it wishes.

I live in Memphis--live and work among many people who are what I describe as right-wing politico-religionists. They believe the revisionist fallacy that US law is based in the Bible. They believe in the lie that the US was intended by the Founders to be a Christian state. They believe the likes of Falwell and Robertson when they say the the state and the church should somehow meld, never thinking through to the day that the state regulates church doctrine and either approves or opposes various denominations.

Yet I say hello to them, share my food with them, crack jokes with them, etc, because this is how civil society works. But the political milieu is different. The politico-religionists have no compunctions about backstabbing and throat-cutting and influence-peddling at the level of competition for state power.

Thus, Falwell is at the level of other state actors, including Bauer, the Clintons, Soros, Pat Robertson, etc. It is not a violation of "liberal tolerance" to make jokes and disparage state actors. We put up with each other on the personal level because we desire a civilized life on the street and at work. We actively denounce state actors we see as detrimental to the cause of civil society because those are the rules of the political milieu. And we'd be remiss if we didn't.

BTW, with that "Official Seal" graphic in your signature, who are you to criticize another's hatred?

A graphic mocking positions/attitudes I disagree with isn't even on the same planet as wishing people with no blood on their hands dead, or hoping they burn in hell. If you can't tell the difference between satirical ribbing and vitriolic hatred, there's nothing I can do.

[homesick_american 1]

So again, I ask you, who is rejoicing in his death? Who isn't reading but putting words into posters' mouths?

She's talking about me but isn't mentioning my name.

Come on, people....let's get away from the whole passive aggressive thing and just NAME NAMES instead of making people go round the houses.

[Kipster 0]

Ok. Been thinking on this one for a little while this morning. I will preface my comments by saying that I am a Christian, but I never heard Jerry Falwell preach a sermon. I can’t say that I ever had much of a desire to hear what he had to say. He did not speak for me as a Christian, and I would surmise he didn’t speak for many in America who claim to follow Christ. (I know, he did speak for many, but I believe there were many others he didn’t speak for)

He stood in a pulpit illuminated by a national spotlight, for various reasons. Unfortunately, one of those reasons was because he made insensitive, condemning, and just plain bizarre claims about people who engage in the various vices of our time and about how people needed to give money or else he was going to be struck down by God. Its disappointing to me to see a man who possessed such attention squander it on “preaching” his own views, rather than on the gospel of Jesus Christ who came to seek and save the lost.

His handling of the 9/11 attacks demonstrated a new low when he claimed that America was attacked because America needed to be judged. How discouraging to see a man who claims to follow the Jesus I know make such stupid, heartless accusations. America didn’t need a judge then any more than it needs one today. It seems to me that he saw God as a judge rather than as a friend (John 15:15, 21:5) and brother (John 20:17), and he felt it was his responsibility to condemn rather than build up. Perhaps he was fearful that if he didn’t judge and condemn, God would love him less. I’ll never know for sure because I did not know the man. I can only know him by the things he said in public. And what he said in public was enough to squander so many opportunities to lead people to the Jesus I know. Such a waste.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

cool dean. thanks.

I guess maybe I should say peezey assumes I am defending every action of Falwell somehow.

considering that peezey jumped in on the immigrant-vs-american spouses thread with no comprehension of the issues, no surprise!

[Jenn! 918]

So again, I ask you, who is rejoicing in his death? Who isn't reading but putting words into posters' mouths?

She's talking about me but isn't mentioning my name.

Come on, people....let's get away from the whole passive aggressive thing and just NAME NAMES instead of making people go round the houses.

You weren't the only, but fine, ok, yes, you. So what? I think it's inappropriate, you don't. Who fukcing cares?

[homesick_american 1]

So again, I ask you, who is rejoicing in his death? Who isn't reading but putting words into posters' mouths?

She's talking about me but isn't mentioning my name.

Come on, people....let's get away from the whole passive aggressive thing and just NAME NAMES instead of making people go round the houses.

You weren't the only, but fine, ok, yes, you. So what? I think it's inappropriate, you don't. Who fukcing cares?

I don't, but it's reasonable to assume that the people who kept harping on my comments did and/or do care.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Now CF Fred Phelps jumps on the "God hates Falwell" bandwagon

[almaty 19]

Now CF Fred Phelps jumps on the "God hates Falwell" bandwagon

that is terrible that chopf##k phelps needs a good azz whoppin'

[Emancipation 2]

Now CF Fred Phelps jumps on the "God hates Falwell" bandwagon

**digs out my "Cult Leaders 101" handbook.. **

[Saddle Bronc 124]

**digs out my "Cult Leaders 101" handbook.. **

Phelps reminds me greatly of Jim Jones--his statements show his doctrine to be even more toxic than the cyanide drunk by Jones' followers.

[Emancipation 2]

**digs out my "Cult Leaders 101" handbook.. **

Phelps reminds me greatly of Jim Jones--his statements show his doctrine to be even more toxic than the cyanide drunk by Jones' followers.

First time I've heard of this guy.. but the statements in that article send chills up and down my spine.. It's not the God that I know.

[Ban Hammer 13,645]

**digs out my "Cult Leaders 101" handbook.. **

Phelps reminds me greatly of Jim Jones--his statements show his doctrine to be even more toxic than the cyanide drunk by Jones' followers.

First time I've heard of this guy.. but the statements in that article send chills up and down my spine.. It's not the God that I know.

it would save many a lot of grief if phelps would have some of that jones kool-aid

[Saddle Bronc 124]

First time I've heard of this guy.. but the statements in that article send chills up and down my spine.. It's not the God that I know.

The comments that his daughter made after the VATech shootings (that none of those who died at Cho's hand was a "true" Christian) shows he probably never read his Bible in the first place--basically, an utra-version of the "prosperity gospel" that Christians can never have troubles.

(in reality, the Bible states exactly the opposite--that troubles WILL come, and that the Christian should turn to God to get through).