Don’t confuse Falwell, Christianity

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Let’s make no mistake about the Rev. Jerry Falwell. He did not, as headlines on his obituary suggested, “combine Christian beliefs with conservative politics.” Throughout his career, Falwell was a bigoted, arrogant purveyor of fear and loathing who cared more about lining his pockets than promoting anything related to the real message of Christianity.

He supported segregation, condemned the Rev. Martin Luther King, blamed 9-11 on gays and feminists and cynically marketed a message of hatred and exclusion to further his and the religious right’s commercial and political interests, rather than for any spiritual gain.

What he stood for was a complete perversion of how the Gospels he professed to follow suggest that we ought to live our lives. Thank God he’s gone – if you believe Scripture – to a place where he’ll be judged by a higher authority for his so-called ministry here on Earth.

Dan Murphy

Everett