Adieu, Jerry, Adieu

Elizabeth Kaeton at Telling Secrets writes,

Perhaps Jerry Falwell’s greatest legacy - and lasting curse - will be that he defined for the general public what it means to be "Christian" and, of course, for his "analysis" of the reason for the disaster of 9/11.

A Falwell Christian is one with a negative, narrow view of the human condition, someone who is both judging and judgmental, who grants forgiveness contingent upon a pledge of allegiance to the god of Falwell’s own imaging and conformity to a way of life strictly prescribed by Falwell’s own understanding of the will of God as revealed by his interpretation of the fundamentals of scripture.

When it is learned that someone has died, it has become as automatic to respond, "Rest in Peace" as it is to say, "God Bless You!" when someone sneezes. As a Christian, I pray that’s true for Mr Falwell. Because now, it’s certainly true for many of the rest of us.

Relatedly, Steven Charleston, former Bishop of Alaska and president and dean of Episcopal Divinity School, writes in EpiscopalCafe: Lessons from Jerry