Jerry Falwell

[zephyr013]

I know that Jerry Falwell died almost a year ago... but I couldn't find anything on the site in memoriam.

I don't know to what extent people on this forum can change the actual soulforce website, but I think we need to have some sort of memorial page for Mr. Falwell. Perhaps outlining some of the good things he has done and perhaps ending with a note reminding us to pray for his family as the anniversary of his death approaches.

Because in a way, he founded Soulforce, right?

If nothing else, update the Jerry Falwell page under the Anti-GLBT Watch tab, because there isn't a need to keep him there as a threat.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by zephyr013

I know that Jerry Falwell died almost a year ago... but I couldn't find anything on the site in memoriam.

I don't know to what extent people on this forum can change the actual soulforce website, but I think we need to have some sort of memorial page for Mr. Falwell. Perhaps outlining some of the good things he has done and perhaps ending with a note reminding us to pray for his family as the anniversary of his death approaches.

Because in a way, he founded Soulforce, right?

If nothing else, update the Jerry Falwell page under the Anti-GLBT Watch tab, because there isn't a need to keep him there as a threat.

In a way....yes....I think you have a point. But I think it would be more accurate to say that Falwell's oppressive and ignorant words and actions gave rise to the nonviolent response call Soulforce.

And while he may have passed away, he did leave an institution which still needs to be resisted nonviolently as far as equal rights for gay persons is concerned. And they- last I heard- haven't changed their tune.

That said, perhaps his name could be substituted with 'Liberty University'.

What'cha think Jamie?

[scott snedeker]

Spritually I am not at a point where I feel anything but a sense of the absence of a headache. He's dead. let's forget him.

[Zerbie]

I've been in both positions regarding Falwell. When he first died, I felt sad over all the negativity his life had generated, that someone rose to a position of notoriety and influence only to use it for such a sad end. It was a curious sad feeling that lasted all day.

Later, and now, I reflect on what he did and realize it was incredibly egregious. I saw him speak when I was a child, and he defined "christian" to my mind for the next 2 decades.

Anyway, I agree it is senseless to list a deceased person as a 'threat'. Does it actually say that somewhere on this site?

[scott snedeker]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

Anyway, I agree it is senseless to list a deceased person as a 'threat'. Does it actually say that somewhere on this site?

It should!

[keltic63]

I'm guessing this page could use an update

[zephyr013]

No, it doesn't use the terminology of the word threat. That was just the first word that came to my head regarding my impression of that small article. I now realize that it was the wrong amount of affect.

But should we not send our love? Though spiritually, I feel like I am at that point to forgive him and honor his humanity, I do understand the position of those with apathy or negative emotionality toward him. So maybe a new page isn't that good of an idea.

[sailaway58]

I don't miss him and I feel nothing for his family. I didn't know them after all. He was a talking head that has left the building. Good riddance.

[Daniel]

I had people I know emailing me with the message...

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.

Certainly not the way I hope to be remembered. And while I do believe in generating compassion for those who are dead (Buddhist's do this sort of thing- living or dead), those who expressed their anger that day did so because his words caused great suffering.

Young people were thrown out on the street like trash because of this man's words.

This should not be forgotten when we say our prayers. Perhaps no one in this saga should be forgotten. We can learn something from those who lived through the holocaust:

You can forgive, but never forget.

[Emproph]

Soulforce releases statement on Falwell’s passing

by Matt May 15th, 2007

Soulforce, the Lynchburg, VA-based organization which seeks freedom for LGBT people from political and religious oppression and founded by the Reverend Mel White, friend and former ghost-writer for the Reverend Jerry Falwell, has released a statement on Falwell’s passing (not yet available online, sent via email):

Soulforce Observes the Passing of Rev. Jerry Falwell

Today, the staff and board of directors of Soulforce observe the passing of Rev. Jerry Falwell and offer our sincere condolences to his family, the members of Thomas Road Baptist Church, and the students at Liberty University.

“While Soulforce has a long history of nonviolent direct action at Jerry Falwell Ministries, our adversary was never Jerry Falwell, but rather the misinformation about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people espoused by Falwell and so many others,” said Soulforce Executive Director Jeff Lutes.

Soulforce was founded in October, 1999, when Rev. Dr. Mel White and his partner, Gary Nixon, took 200 delegates to meet with Rev. Falwell and his representatives. The purpose of the meeting was to help end hate speech and violence against sexual minorities. Prior to coming out as a gay man, White ghost wrote two books for Falwell (If I Should Die Before I Wake and Strength for the Journey).

Upon hearing the news of Rev. Falwell’s death, White said “It breaks my heart to think that Jerry died without ever discovering the truth about God’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children. I sincerely hope that one day his school and his church will have a change of heart.”

Soulforce remains committed to changing hearts and minds and ending the political and religious oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

Photo: Mel White (left), Jerry Falwell (center), Gary Nixon, White’s partner (right)

___
I think that would be a nice page.

[zephyr013]

Originally Posted by Emproph

"our adversary was never Jerry Falwell, but rather the misinformation about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people espoused by Falwell and so many others"


I think that would be a nice page.

Thank you very much for this. I'm so glad you share it, because this line says so much...

I'll admit, I was a bit discouraged by the tone of the words which people shared in this thread. And though I understand the pain inherent, I think we all need to realize that Falwell was never our enemy, he was in reality as much of a victim as we are. And forgiveness and love towards him are important steps in the process of healing.

This email you shared really illuminates the need for that process.

[Daniel]

Of course we must acknowledge that the man himself was not the adversary, but the information he believed.

That said, I believe a little history should be noted here.

Jerry Falwell built his power, church and fortune by being a white supremacist , that is, until history caught up with him - the civil right era- and he supposedly saw the light. Good for him.

However, history records that he continued to build his empire by changing the focus of his biotry to gay persons. And Mel White is right, it's a great loss that the man did not live to have a 'change of heart'.

And I wish to comment on Zerbie's experience. She is not alone: Falwell embodied the face of Christianity for many in this country, to Christianity's detriment.

By all means, we should pray for the man, but let us not in our desire for reconciliation and peace attempt to rewrite history.

[zephyr013]

Originally Posted by Daniel

By all means, we should pray for the man, but let us not in our desire for reconciliation and peace attempt to rewrite history.

You're right. I've been speaking like he should be canonized...

I don't mean to imply the necessity of overlooking all of his faults. But should we not absolve him in some way? They weren't faults. They were products of untruth.
.
.
.

That's all I'm saying.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by zephyr013

You're right. I've been speaking like he should be canonized...

I don't mean to imply the necessity of overlooking all of his faults. But should we not absolve him in some way? They weren't faults. They were products of untruth.

As I said before, I do believe in prayers for those who pass on. But as towards the matter of absolving Falwell? My sense is that his journey is his own, and he now stands before the One whom he believed in, and in the end, his presence before Presence will be absolution itself.

I think we should continue the work of nonviolent resistance towards the the institution he created that continues to believe the very untruths he expoused.

That's the hard part, isn't it? Unrelenting nonviolence?

That said- may the man Rest In Peace.

[daniel Ray]

As an ambasador for Christ i believe that it would be our responsability to bless Mr. Falwel and his family, includeing all that he left behind. We should pray for the love of God to consume them and the institution. That just means that we are responsible to show them love even though he brought hate to us. Otherwise we would be just like him. Love, forgivness and blessings are the most powerful weapons we can use on our enemies.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Daniel

As I said before, I do believe in prayers for those who pass on. But as towards the matter of absolving Falwell? My sense is that his journey is his own, and he now stands before the One whom he believed in, and in the end, his presence before Presence will be absolution itself.

I think we should continue the work of nonviolent resistance towards the the institution he created that continues to believe the very untruths he expoused.

That's the hard part, isn't it? Unrelenting nonviolence?

That said- may the man Rest In Peace.

Originally Posted by daniel Ray

As an ambasador for Christ i believe that it would be our responsability to bless Mr. Falwel and his family, includeing all that he left behind. We should pray for the love of God to consume them and the institution. That just means that we are responsible to show them love even though he brought hate to us. Otherwise we would be just like him. Love, forgivness and blessings are the most powerful weapons we can use on our enemies.

I've been wrestling with this idea of our moral obligation to teach those who would do us harm. I mean, I've really been struggling with it. Why is it my responsibility to care for the bigots who spew lies and misinformation and hatred? And I do say "wrestling" because I know, deep inside, that if I don't care for my brothers and sisters in their ignorance, there is no way I can expect them or others to care for me or fight against my oppression.

It doesn't mean that I have to be real nice while I'm teaching them, does it? I'm thinking that sometimes, the learning curve has to be steep....

[Emproph]

Originally Posted by keltic63

It doesn't mean that I have to be real nice while I'm teaching them, does it? I'm thinking that sometimes, the learning curve has to be steep....

Here kitty kitty kitty...

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Emproph

Here kitty kitty kitty...

It would help if I knew how to embed an image from my desktop....which I don't....hello! Help!

[Zerbie]

Heheh. Going via interpretation of Daniel's visual statement in the first photo (at left,) I take it that Daniel's suggestion on *how* to love homophobes into healing involves much cuddling of them. I sure wanna be there when ya'll launch the Gays and Lesbians Each Cuddle a Homophobe direct action campaign. Heheh.

[tdogg]

Ok, the visual was just too dang funny! Thanks for the laugh Z! (but secretly, I think you might be on to something....)