Jerry Falwell is dead

[Booko]

I believe he apologised for that statement.

Actually, I saw a clip from fairly recently where he was asked about that statement and said he stood by it.

The problem is, some people do believe in the idea of "corporate punishment" from God, but it's a notion that seems to have gone out of fashion (hm...there's a thread idea). I presume that's where Falwell was coming from. It's not that uncommon an idea, historically speaking.

Unfortunately, to many people it doesn't sound a lot better, more logical, or moral than what Fred Phelps says.

 

[RevOxley_501]

Um, suppose a "liberal" person died -- someone who had vilified "conservative" Christians as dangerous and recommended they be marginalized in our society. Would that person also be compared to Hitler?

Seriously, Rev -- show me the millions of bodies that Falwell racked up.

That some of his statements created great pain for others I regard as obvious, but this sort of hyperbole is really unworthy.

he hated millions of people


thats close enough for me to make the comparison. He single handedly ruined the face of Christianity as well, and is one of the main reasons i left the faith.

I dont know any Liberals doing what the conservatives are doing, or anything like it.

 

[Booko]

he hated millions of people

Obviously.

So adding fuel to the fire will help, you think?

If Falwell was unable to practice the dictum "Love them that hate you" that gives everyone else that believes what Jesus taught an excuse to ignore it too?

thats close enough for me to make the comparison. He single handedly ruined the face of Christianity as well, and is one of the main reasons i left the faith.

Sorry Rev., but I don't think Falwell had as much power to ruin the face of Christianity as you suppose. It may be so in your area, but then there's the rest of the world of Christianity, most of which is blissfully unaware of Falwell's existence.

I dont know any Liberals doing what the conservatives are doing, or anything like it.

I see Christians of a socially conservative bent, many of whom are not interested in political domination of any sort, all tarred with the same brush and blased as ignorant and dangerous daily.
Having an opinion on morals that runs counter to the left's ideas gets one blasted as much as the right ever blasted the left for their differing moral opinions.

Apparently the crime of some religious conservatives is they were more organized. Other than that, I see no difference when it comes to the extremes.

But then, I am the yellow line on the middle of the road, so I get blased from both directions simultaneously. Perhaps that just means I'm more liable to notice, as my ox is continually being gored.

 

[Mister_T]

Showing respect for someone after death that you didn't respect in life is just a lie though. I really don't see why I should respect him. I don't like anything about him. I think he was a bad person. Why should I turn around and show respect?

I didn't like him either. But why not try to be a better person than he was and not dance on his grave? Instead of adding to the hate, why not put a stop to it?

Captain Xeroid has summed up what I meant about "respect." I couldn't have said it any better:

Showing respect for the dead does not mean endorsing their ideas. It's more about showing compassion for the friends and family and perhaps demonstrating some human decency even if you feel that the dearly departed was lacking in that area

.

 

[Mister_T]

So adding fuel to the fire will help, you think?

If Falwell was unable to practice the dictum "Love them that hate you" that gives everyone else that believes what Jesus taught an excuse to ignore it too?

Exactly. Doing what they do makes you no better.

I owe ya some frubals Sharon.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I dont know any Liberals doing what the conservatives are doing, or anything like it.

So Conservatives are evil? People with an opinion different than your own are Hitler?

It sounds to me like you hate the Moral Majority and if so, you qualify as a hater of millions too. So that would make you ......?

 

[gnomon]

The man's dead. I had no respect for the man in his life. I shall grant him none now that he is dead. I seriously doubt his family cares what I believe.

But why would anybody else care?

I will not dance on the man's grave. But I will not show him, or his family, any respect(or disprespect) by rationalizing the life of a person who used his religious power to spread hatred. Besides, I know nothing of the man on a personal level.

So long Falwell, I guess you missed the rapture.

 

[Bishka]

Showing respect for the dead does not mean endorsing their ideas. It's more about showing compassion for the friends and family and perhaps demonstrating some human decency even if you feel that the dearly departed was lacking in that area.

Thank you. That is what I was trying to say, but just couldn't. :yes:

 

[Jaymes]

I believe he apologised for that statement. Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.

As others have said, I believe he stood by it some years after apologizing.

Your comment, "Out of curiosity", is a little dishonest don't you think?

Er... I have no idea what you mean here. Do you mean I'm not actually curious? :sarcastic Because I am.

 

[MaddLlama]

As others have said, I believe he stood by it some years after apologizing.
Er... I have no idea what you mean here. Do you mean I'm not actually curious? :sarcastic Because I am.

As I recall, he didn't say he was sorry he said it, or that he didn't mean it. I believe he said he was sorry people were offended by it.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I wonder how many souls he has brought to Christ?

 

[Jaymes]

I wonder how many souls he has brought to Christ?

I wonder why you seem so intent on evading every question I ask you.

 

[Ciscokid]

I wonder how many souls he has brought to Christ?

Hopefully more than the ones he drove away.

 

[Booko]

I wonder how many souls he has brought to Christ?

Who knows?

I saw a Christian from beliefnet being interviewed on the news and mused about how many had been driven away.

His personal experience was that living where he did, he no longer brought up being a Christian, because people would assume he condoned jamming his religous views down everyone else's throat, or think he approved of theocracy.

I don't think anyone but God was keeping score, and don't see how they could. ymmv.

 

[Mathematician]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkAPaEMwyKU

I don't usually agree with Hitchens, but...

 

[MaddLlama]

I wonder how many souls he has brought to Christ?

Is that something all Christians are supposed to be keeping tabs on?

Do you guys keep a notebook to track things like this, or just notches in a big stick?

 

[Bishka]

I wonder how many souls he has brought to Christ?

And I wonder how many of those were homophobic, anti-everything Christians?

 

[Booko]

I don't usually agree with Hitchens, but...

I often disagree with Hitchens' interpretation of facts, but I've rarely found reason to dispute whether the facts are actually factual.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I wonder why you seem so intent on evading every question I ask you.

Jaymes, I am trying to answer you questions. I just don't think you like my answers.

 

[mr.guy]

I wonder how many souls he has brought to Christ?

Just the thing for the guy who has everything, right?