Falwell has made quite a vast fortune on this Jesus gig. He is indeed a spokesman for his community, the community of millionaires who have made their fortunes by the old-fashioned swindle.
His comments after 9/11 were particularly articulate, I guess. I'm glad he thought my friends and neighbors deserved to die. I'm sure that kept the contributions coming in. Celebrating purveyors of hate such as him is just nauseating.

"God allowed the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve."

Some spokesman.

I'm not a fan of him, but to his credit, he did go on air and say he made a mistake w/ those comments after 9/11

This is a trick learned from his politician friends.

1. First, say something which appeals to hardcore bigots. This lets them know Falwell's on their side, and encourages contributions.
2. When the contributions begin to dwindle in a few days, make some fulsome, incomplete take-back ("I apologize if anyone was offended..."). This energizes more moderate followers, who now are reminded that JF is really a fair-minded person who just spoke a little too hastily. This keeps the contributions coming in.

Did you consider just in passing the possibility that Jerry Falwell might be a sincere man of God? I'm neither a Christian nor a conservative, but Falwell seems like a fairly straight guy.

The comments at the time of 9/11 to the effect that these attacks might be a sign that God LET us get hit may be disagreeable- but they are perfectly Biblical. There's plenty of just that kind of stuff in the Bible. Bitching about Falwell saying it amounts to shooting the messenger.

That's NOT the kind of thing someone would be making up with deception to get donations. That cost him points, and he would have known that if he'd thought about it for a second.

Some have been crappy about how much money they think Falwell makes. You don't know that. I've seen nothing to suggest that Falwell lives extravagantly. He's not Jim and Tammy Faye. Besides, as the Bible says, "Bind not the mouth of the oxen that treads the grain."

Consider the possibility that Falwell is a sincere individual who believes in what he's doing- even if you think a lot of it is simply wrong.

some falwell quotes:

"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country"

"I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!"

the 9/11 statement:

And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. 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."

...then the backpedal:

"I put all the blame legally and morally on the actions of the terrorist, [but America's] secular and anti-Christian environment left us open to our Lord's [decision] not to protect. When a nation deserts God and expels God from the culture ... the result is not good."

ya, i'm sure he's sincere.

Why would you take it from any of this that Falwell is not sincere? This 9/11 follow-up does not contradict the first statement at all, if you're paying attention. Yahweh allowing someone to attack his people as retribution for their sins is absolutely Biblical.

Again, the fact that you or I don't agree with what he's saying does not mean that HE doesn't believe it. That we don't think a statement of his is true (or nice) does not mean that he is insincere.

I believe he in SINCERELY in the Jesus racket to make a lot of money. Your contention that his comments cost him "points" is confusing.He said it, like he does everything, for MONEY, not "points," and I'm sure it worked. Then when he sort of took it back, he made even more money, as I explained.

As for whether he's wealthy, he did boast in the '80s that he earned $60 million per year. Of course, it'e easier to make money when one has non-profit tax status.

Yet year after year my First Church of Zeus is denied the same status. And our scriptures are MUCH older than Falwell's.

Go with Zeus! Athena be praised! Send ME money!

sorry 'bout that al, you misunderstand me.

i do think he's sincere.

that's what scares me.

(now where is that "Moral Majority Is Neither" bumper sticker i used to have?)

Sorry Mark. Didn't quite get you there. I'm not that worried about his influence, but I can see how someone might be.

Cancer seems to assume that because he doesn't believe, and because his supposed religious beliefs are obviously just made up crap that he doesn't believe himself, therefore that is everyone else's outlook as well.

If Falwell's organization brought in $60 million in voluntary donations, what's your beef? Anybody who doesn't believe in his outlook doesn't have to contribute. He's not getting tax dollars or union dues.

Quit being such a hata.

And I maintain that Falwell, like Barnum before him, could give a crap what he's selling, as long as people are buying. Believing in the values espoused by Jesus in the Bible would absolutely preclude asking credulous old poor folks for their last five and ten dollars, as JF and his scummy ilk do.

Al, you know your "tax dollars" statement is false. Need I explain the advantages of a huge corporation calling itself a "church"?

And, again, the tenets Falwell claims to believe in absolutely forbid preying on the poor, and also seem to forbid getting filthy rich. Not to mention being a big old meanie. So it's hard to believe in his sincerity.

Actually, I know you're putting forth a specious argument, as you well know that these dirtbag televangelists are in it for the almighty dollar, not some Christian Almighty.

I'm sure, as you are, that he spends his time praying and ministering to the infirm and giving his riches away to the less fortunate and mulling the divine mysteries of the Bible. Not dreaming up new way to bilk the poor or talking on TV about hating gays and Muslims and atheists.

And I'd watch how you categorize people. My beliefs that Mars will see us through this war against Iraq are not to be contradicted. Prove it wasn't Hera who cursed me with this toothache! Prove it!

I've met Falwell and have grave doubts about his sincerity (and I really try to give him the benefit of the doubt on that point). He may believe in God, but as for his motives... Had a convo a few years back with someone who attended divinity school with him and told me that Falwell told him back in the day that his dream was to be president. The Moral Majority was part of the plan to give Falwell a political base. (Thank God televangelist/diamond magnate Pat Robertson got there first, and lost spectacularly.) When that didn't work out, according to this fundamentalist Christian, ol' Jer figured out being rich and powerful would do.

Now, Falwell owns much of Lynchburg, VA, and its media outlets. The townfolk there can be divided into two groups: those who are members of his Thomas Road Baptist Church and those who are hostile to Falwell in some way.

I have seen and heard Falwell lie to my face. I know his fund-raising philosophies very well -- he goes on about abortion and homosexuals because those issues bring in the bucks. Yeah, it's cool that he pals around with Larry Flynt, but I have seen him be Machiavellian, unChristian, and cruel to others. If that makes a man of God, it would make me wonder about God.

Cancer- You are, of course WRONG. you know your "tax dollars" statement is false.

Not getting robbed by the taxman does NOT constitute getting public money. The underlying premise to justify this would be that all the money belongs to the government, so therefore any part that they don't take is a gift.

Sorry, Al.

Your statement is technically correct (although Bush's faith-based initiatives probably make it not even that), but it's wrong in spirit. He isn't getting an actual check from the government, but the government is assisting his company, in that all donations to his company are tax-deductible, of course.

I ask again: Need I explain how calling your corporation a "church" helps the bottom line, taxwise?

Here's my question:

If God was punishing us for what were essentially Clinton administration policies, why did the terrorist attack occur after Bush took office?

For that matter, why the unemployment, crazy weather, shuttle disaster, etc.; all on Bush's watch? You'd think God would want to show His approval when His man gets into office.

Is God slow and ineffective in handing down His judgement? Or does God disapprove of Bush even more than He disapproves of Clinton?

I wish somebody would ask Mr. Falwell.

JR- That's a very clever, thoughtful and creative critique of the good reverend. Perhaps Miss Natalie could volunteer to track Rev Falwell down and ask him to answer your questions. You know, she's just the kind of gal what would do something like that.

Reckon which one of them would get struck by lightning?

Consider the e-mail sent, both to him and his media spokesperson.

That's our girl! :)