Divergent Eulogies -- The Death of Jerry Falwell

As expected the commentary has begun with the death of Jerry Falwell. He was a man who lived large on the American stage -- both religiously and politically. He always had an opinion to give (and like many of us he was apt to say things that were best left unsaid).

But as he was a many who was a polarizing figure it shouldn't surprise any of us that the comments will diverge. Consider these two from the Newsweek/Washington Post On Faith blog:

First this from Chuck Colson:

He will be remembered not only as the founder of a great university but as the person who brought the evangelical church out of its fundamentalist isolationism back into the mainstream of American culture.

On the other side of things Susan Jacoby writes:

Jerry Falwell, by mobilizing the religious Right as a force for reactionary politics, played a vital long-term role in every retrograde social trend of the past thirty years. He and his Christian soldiers put George W. Bush in the White House.

This man's legacy is one of bigotry, xenophobia, anti-modernism, and utter stupidity. No doubt his funeral will be well-attended.

As you can see there are differences of opinion! I chose the colors purposely, but I'll be watching for shades of purple. All in all, Falwell's actions are probably more destructive than helpful, but only history can cast the final judgment -- well and yes God! And so, yes, I'm likely to concur with Jacoby.

But again, let us keep his family and his church in our thoughts and prayers.