RELIGION

‘If He Were Here, It Would Be Different’

Jerry Falwell's widow Macel remembers her husband in a new book, and wonders how the religious right is doing without him.

By Lisa Miller | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jun 10, 2008 | Updated: 5:07  p.m. ET Jun 10, 2008

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  • Posted By: WhiteValleyCreeper @ 06/17/2008 9:59:42 AM

    I still remeber the "9-11 was the supported work of pagans, gays, lesbians, and liberal feminists" comment as if it were yesterday. I'm a 26 year-old Wiccan and I was deeply offended. This man SHOULD NOT be remebered as a holy person. The man should be remebered as a paranoid and bigoted preacher of intolerance...
    A RELIGION WHOSE CREED SPREADS HATE IS NOT A RELIGION.

  • Posted By: Concerned lady @ 06/11/2008 2:15:10 PM

    One Lynchburg resident wrote of Jerry Falwell's "bad" relatives. Jerry Falwell himself many times spoke of that. His grandfather was a bootleger (to the best of my memory). Jerry never "sugar-coated" his family or his mistakes. He did not have personal gain when he raised money: it was for Liberty University's prosperity. I believe over 20,000 attend or take courses online now.

    Again, Jerry's family was wealthy; He gave tens of thousands of his own money--probably many million. For those writing of tolerance: Jesus did love everyone, even Judas he betrayed him BUT He also said : " I am the way, the truth, the life NO MAN comes to the Father, except by me. The difference in Him being God and others who claim to be: There are over 300 prophecies concerning Him in the Old Testament--including the way He would die, "His own (Jews) not believing Him, etc. How do these other "gods" stack up. Did they raise the dead, give sight to the blind, heal the sick, choose to die us?

    • Posted By: ghostmasseur @ 06/17/2008 9:33:20 AM

      "There are over 300 prophecies concerning Him in the Old Testament--including the way He would die,"

      Actually, no there are not. Those alleged "prophesies" are intentional mistranslations of the Hebrew by his followers. The references that are quoted have be proven to be about others. Yes otherS. The TaNaKH (the correct term for the "old" testament) says absoutely nothing about Jesus.

  • Posted By: ghostmasseur @ 06/13/2008 10:22:42 AM

    Some of you complainied about speaking ill if the dead. The concept behind that is that it is wrong to have olny said good things about a perosn while they are alive and to their face, but once they die one starts criticizing them. I cannot speak for everyone here but I assure you. I have ALWAYS stated that Falwell was a vile hatefilled bigot and a traitor to the US Constitution (which is the ONLY thing that matters in US law, the bible being just a man-made writing of no more importance or value in a gneral sense than any other man-made book..)

    Although religion can inspire some poeple to do good, it has a very long history of inspiring the worst of evil as well. The USSR, the Soviet Bloc, North KOrea and the People's Republic of China are NOT non-religious. They have simply substituted the state and their leaders as the dieties that the citizenry MUST worship. They are very much polito-religions. So their crimes were not committed by athest nations.

    That being said god and religion are simply man-made cosntructs that are used by people to justify whatever they want to do. Good or bad or neutral. They may be needed by some people (even maybe by a majority at times) but they are NOT universally required or useful. There is not heaven or hell just death and decay. No big deal. Many of us simply do good and decent things because we realize that it is what is civilized humans do. Not for praise or recognition, or worse, for some fantasy reward after death.

    And to answer that mindless question wwJd (what would Jesus do)? The answer is simply "DaD". Die and Decay, just like every other human have has done before him and since his death.

    • Posted By: Caavael @ 06/13/2008 11:15:48 AM

      I want to answer this one because I sense a realist, and I love talking with you people. I am in strong agreement with your first two paragraphs, they were extremely well thought out. The second two were also well thought out, but are matters of perspective than fact. In answer to your statement about some fantasy reward after death: while it is true that all you can see is that people's bodies go into the ground and decay, you cannot be so certain (and no one really can as far as we know) about whether or not they have a soul or get a reward or not. You cannot prove or disprove something you HAVEN'T seen; that flies in the face of "basic logic." As for your final paragraph, wwJd? Is Die and Decay, like everybody else...clever :), but people who make that statement assume (maybe correctly, maybe not) that he is in some fashion still alive.. So a better question to ask yourself if asked this would be: What would Jesus do... if he were still alive? While you may not agree with us that Christ is both God and Man (and that is fine, unfortunate from OUR perspective, but your basic human right nonetheless), he did say... "If you don't believe in me [as Lord, based on context here], at least believe in what I DID." That involved helping others in whatever way he could and even giving his life up for people (while removing the sins by our doctrines, but non-believers should focus on the part FOR PEOPLE if they want to understand our attraction to the man Jesus.)
      More importantly than this though, thanks for trying to do what is right for it's own sake. I wish everybody would do that. It'd make life a lot easier for everybody. Shalom.

      • Posted By: ghostmasseur @ 06/16/2008 2:40:46 PM


        "The second two were also well thought out, but are matters of perspective than fact. In answer to your statement about some fantasy reward after death: while it is true that all you can see is that people's bodies go into the ground and decay, you cannot be so certain (and no one really can as far as we know) about whether or not they have a soul or get a reward or not. You cannot prove or disprove something you HAVEN'T seen; that flies in the face of "basic logic." "

        You are welcome to think that there is something after death. But without irrefutable proof (and the burden lies with the affirmative, that there IS something after death), the negative is the default. That is what I have always be taught (and had confirmed by many top flight scientists, some of whom were devoutly religious). It is part of the same reason that the burden of proof lies with the those who say that God is a fact as opposed to belief. Of course it is not science's place to prove or disprove God or religion. That is why when someone says that I need to disprove God, I remind them that the burden lies with those who claim God, not with those who reject it. But that, IMO, I do nto care if they do or do not believe. Just that I demand they respect my right to disagree with them. I have no problem with people believing in God, or Jesus, or other religions as long as they do not try to force US laws to follow thoe beliefs. Especially since other religions often disagree on what "God" actually wants.


        As for your final paragraph, wwJd? Is Die and Decay, like everybody else...clever :), but people who make that statement assume (maybe correctly, maybe not) that he is in some fashion still alive.. So a better question to ask yourself if asked this would be: What would Jesus do... if he were still alive? "

        I actually do understand that distinction. And my answer would be: "Assuming that he actually even existed (which I am not sure about), and since he was supposedly a believing and practicng Jew, he would condemn those who worship him as blasphemers. As for what the writers of the books that the church decided to include as accept as valid, state that he said or stood for. I reject them completely so cannot make any assumption that they represnt what he wold have done or said.


        "More importantly than this though, thanks for trying to do what is right for it's own sake. I wish everybody would do that. It'd make life a lot easier for everybody. Shalom."

        Thank you.

      • Posted By: Caavael @ 06/13/2008 11:29:04 AM

        *correction to above: MOST of your first two paragraphs :-)

  • Posted By: Concerned lady @ 06/10/2008 10:10:07 PM

    I am shocked that there is so much hate toward Dr. Falwell. 1, If he has so money-hungry, why did he have his $20 million life insurance given to Liberty University? 2. I don't believe he ever said anything bad about Billy Graham--I believe 3 of his grandchildren attended LU and a couple met their wives there. Dr. Falwell's family had a lot of money (read his books). He and Macel lived in the same home for many, many years. 4. He helped get scholarships for countless young people he met who couldn't come up with the money (one was a waitress at a restaurant he was eating at). JERRY FALWELL IS ASSUREDLY IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!! If you are really interested in the truth of who Dr. Falwell was: ask the students. He spent many hours at LU, attended most of the ballgames (yes, I saw him), always interacting with the students--every day. He was a worker, visionary, and great man of faith.

    • Posted By: Peanut59 @ 06/15/2008 10:02:17 PM

      Concerned Lady: I attended Liberty also. I agree with everything you wrote. Can't believe the hate. But, read the Bible, end times where people are hate mongers, etc.... I loved and respected Jerry and Macel. I also know all the stories of his giving. Respond if possible. kl327207@ohio.edu

  • Posted By: Caavael @ 06/13/2008 11:57:26 AM

    How is the religious right doing without him? Hmm.. well, there will probably always be non-religious righties as well as relgious righties. I imagine that as long as the right-wing is getting funded by somebody, there will always be a right wing party (a.k.a. even if Jerry Falwell isn't funding it, somebody will.) Kind of goes without saying there. Religious right is poor terminology in the first place, because there are many religious people on both sides of the equation (many left-wings and neutralish people are also religious. Goes without saying.) Not to mention that right-wing politics and conserving the status-quo are completely different animals anymore given the way politics has turned to a please-the-most voters by any means possible, even promising things you don't believe in, activity.

  • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 06/13/2008 12:36:09 AM

    "I would like for the people who said the horrible things about him to know that they are not true, and I would like people to see what a great man he is, was."

    Wow, is that simplistic or what. To be fair, if I was a right-wing, Christian Conservative... I wouldn't know how to use a computer... No seriously, I can see why he is a hero to a lot of people. But in order to get there and preach "the word of god" to some he felt he had to demonize the rest of us. Some people would do well to remember that before Rev. Wright became famous for blaming 9-11 on the US, Rev. Falwell did the very same thing.

  • Posted By: fightthetheocracy! @ 06/11/2008 10:59:32 AM

    The war was based on lies and none of you "moral" christians care. That is the point. Then you turn around and act like you all are in some position to lecture the rest of us about morality and act dumbfounded when we aren't buying it. The man blamed 9/11 on anyone who didn't vote for Bush. Now, if you had been on the recieving end of that kind of a statement, would you be willing to listen to the people who defended it or the man who said it?

    • Posted By: Williams25064 @ 06/11/2008 11:27:16 AM

      I'm not lecturing anyone or defending anyone. As I said, we are all imperfect in God's eyes, all have sinned, and fallen short, only Christ removes the sin from our lives to make us Christians. I don't see anyone as being a "moral" Christian, you are either living the Christian Life or you are not.
      Terry Williams
      West Virginia

      • Posted By: Bear90039 @ 06/13/2008 12:03:41 AM

        Don't assume we are all sinners. I for one have never sinned. I am not a Christian either.

      • Posted By: Red Dirt Brother @ 06/11/2008 11:47:13 AM

        RE: Actually, you are lecturing when you quote the bible. Does God???s eyes see destruction of his planet and respond, yes! I believe the earth is a living being (and it is fighting us back) before I???ll believe there is a wise old man up there watching us all kill and fight one another over him just so he can decide who is the strongest and most beautiful angel down here? What an asinine ideology! Anyone who worships a religion where a God sacrifices his son by torture is sick just so he can purify Jerry Falwell, George Bush, John McCain, and by the way, your saying Hitler is in heaven as well, right? So let???s go down the list here of who is in Heaven with your God; Charles Manson, Saddam Hussein, Tim McVeigh, all the 911 highjackers, and make room for Bin Laden, right?

        • Posted By: Williams25064 @ 06/11/2008 12:13:24 PM

          Please do not take me out of context. I never stated that any of the people you named will be in heaven. Only God knows each individual's heart and whether they have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

          Terry Williams

          West Virginia

          • Posted By: Red Dirt Brother @ 06/11/2008 1:23:48 PM

            So if he is a merciful and forgiving God, they should all be there if they accepted Christ as their savior? All I am saying is there are too many loopholes in the bible and that Manson, like Hitler did claim Christianity as their preferred faiths. It is too simple and easy to sin and being born into sin, sounds like no one is even worthy of heaven. We all return to dust, but I believe our spirits go where we decide what our version of heaven is and not some book or building, temple, etc,. Christianity was only great two thousand years ago and today, it is just a monopoly ran by corruption so nobody has an edge on God, Jesus, or scripture, therefore, I'll take my chances as a non-believer and just be good to my fellow beings.

  • Posted By: Bear90039 @ 06/12/2008 11:29:47 PM

    For the most part, the world is a better place without him. I can't imagine the religious right should be much different. He was one of the lowest, sorriest persons to ever live. The things he did to tear down the PTL and Heritage USA were unforgivable. I say this only because he asked not to be forgiven for this. I'm glad he's dead. Just wish it had happened 30 years ago.

  • Posted By: Bear90039 @ 06/12/2008 11:28:56 PM

    For the most part, the world is a better place without him. I can't imagine the religious right should be much different. He was one of the lowest, sorriest persons to ever live. The things he did to tear down the PTL and Heritage USA were unforgivable. I say this only because he asked not to be forgiven for this. I'm glad he's dead. Just wish it had happened 30 years ago.

  • Posted By: Caavael @ 06/12/2008 11:26:40 PM

    What saddens me is how most of the comments I've seen on this particular blog is the "ME or US vs. THEM" mentality, particularly in the religious arena (and yes, atheism is here counted as a religion; if you believe that only your experiences and ideas are true, then you are your own god /or master.) What is absolutely ridiculous is that 99% of the time, these comments have been made by people who want to see compassion, peace and helping of everybody in need of help. But instead what we read by these same people is total poison. So, um, can't we all stop the name-calling and religious-group bashing? How about focusing on the article itself? Will the "right" wingers lose out because Falwell is gone? This type of response would be more appropriate for this post. Also, while it is true that what Falwell did was downright wrong at times, please think about how you would feel if you were Macel reading these comments right about now. RESPECT, please. Especially if you really do want compassion in the world. It starts with each of you, as well as me. While it is true that Falwell preached inappropriately, if we want compassion, we don't respond in kind - we go the opposite direction. Okay, sorry folks, had to get it out there. carry on homies.

  • Posted By: Red Dirt Brother @ 06/12/2008 8:43:56 PM

    I was raised Baptist Pentacostal on my fathers side and Native American Church on my mothers side. I had a somewhat peaceful religious experience from both since the NAC combines the sacrament of Peyote and Christianity in a teepee, while the Baptist baptized me more than once in my life. I am now more atheistic in my older age cause I feel little or no spirituality in either faith. Both have structure, but neither have proven enlightening or fulfilling. The religious have always condemned and not accepted life as it is and seeks to ???talk down??? or ???inspire??? without setting good examples. I now seek spirituality in nature and the earth since that is where I will spend eternity in my heaven. I had a dream about heaven where everyone was in native regalia and there was a feeling of celebration and acceptance. I saw all shades of humans from all walks of life, but they were dressed like Indigenous peoples.

  • Posted By: gone2idaho @ 06/12/2008 8:04:38 PM

    Oh my goodness, I'm so glad my approach to religion is much more balanced.

  • Posted By: mfenwick @ 06/12/2008 7:44:35 PM

    Christians are not supposed to vote, hold public office, or serve in the military. Did Jesus ever vote? Did Jesus ever hold a public office? Did Jesus ever serve in the Roman army? Read you Bible, people!! A Christian's citizenship is in Heaven not in America. Christians are not supposed to be occupied with the things of this earth but spiritual things. It's a shame an old atheist like me knows the Bible better than most Christians. Also, Christians can't be Freemasons. You cannot serve two masters.

  • Posted By: mvago @ 06/12/2008 12:09:17 PM

    God Bless you Macel,

    Those poor programmed eyes glowing with learned behavior of sel-righteousness, greed, and many other qualities found in the likes of your deceased husband and others.

    May the Lord forgive you, Jerry and others who are similiar.

  • Posted By: Jack999 @ 06/12/2008 4:00:35 AM

    Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans??? rights, said: I have been following John McCain???s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is ??? deceit.

    "When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it. Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better."


    John McCain is the classic opportunist. He's always reaching for attention and glory, he said. After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.


    Ross Perot, a billionaire Texas businessman, and a former presidential candidate, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel -- even by the standards of modern politics.

  • Posted By: Saltydog_0 @ 06/10/2008 5:48:30 PM

    Quotes from Jerry:

    "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!"

    "AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals???

    "Billy Graham is the chief servant of Satan in America???

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

    "If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being???

    "The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews???

    "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve??? (Was Rev. Wright a Falwell disciple?)

    "[homosexuals are] brute beasts...part of a vile and satanic system [that] will be utterly annihilated, and there will be a celebration in heaven.???

    "I am such a strong admirer and supporter of George W. Bush that if he suggested eliminating the income tax or doubling it, I would vote yes on first blush."

    "Grown men should not be having sex with prostitutes unless they are married to them."

    "I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I'm going to buy a Suburban next time."

    "I think the Moslem faith teaches hate."

    "The Jews are returning to their land of unbelief. They are spiritually blind and desperately in need of their Messiah and Savior."

    "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.' "

    "It appears that America's anti-Biblical feminist movement is at last dying, thank God, and is possibly being replaced by a Christ-centered men's movement which may become the foundation for a desperately needed national spiritual awakening."

    "I grew up in the segregated South, right here in Lynchburg, Virginia." - Kinda says it all.

    • Posted By: ashoopman2985 @ 06/10/2008 11:01:13 PM

      The BUY BULL is total crap! It's a fairy tale to control people. Wake up!! Stop reading such trash and believing in it. Be the real person you were meant to be.

      • Posted By: HollyTerror @ 06/12/2008 3:59:55 AM

        A perfect example of what inbreeding can cause!

      • Posted By: Saltydog_0 @ 06/11/2008 12:25:22 PM

        Huh? What are you talking about?

  • Posted By: Jack999 @ 06/12/2008 3:54:09 AM

    Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans rights, said: I have been following John McCain's career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is ??? deceit.

    "When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it. Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better."


    ???McCain is the classic opportunist. He's always reaching for attention and glory,??? he said. After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.???


    Ross Perot, a billionaire Texas businessman, and a former presidential candidate, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel ???- even by the standards of modern politics.

  • Posted By: Jack999 @ 06/12/2008 3:51:33 AM

    Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans??? rights, said: ???I have been following John McCain???s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is ??? deceit.

    "When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it. Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better."


    ???McCain is the classic opportunist. He???s always reaching for attention and glory,??? he said. After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.???


    Ross Perot, a billionaire Texas businessman, and a former presidential candidate, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel ??? even by the standards of modern politics.

  • Posted By: Jack999 @ 06/12/2008 3:50:24 AM

    Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans??? rights, said: ???I have been following John McCain???s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is ??? deceit.

    "When he came home and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it. Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better."


    ???McCain is the classic opportunist. He???s always reaching for attention and glory,??? he said. After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.???


    Ross Perot, a billionaire Texas businessman, and a former presidential candidate, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel ??? even by the standards of modern politics.

  • Posted By: Toni Kamau @ 06/12/2008 2:28:33 AM

    Respect to a mother and a wife. On the other hand, am asking myself: When a woman after being married to a famous man for such a long time and still has to tell us so little.....was the message of her husband really so great?

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