I cannot stand Jerry Falwell's politics. I consider indefensible most of his stands on social issues. In fact, I will go so far as to say that I have never heard him articulate a social policy idea with which I agreed.
That having been said, I must take issue with the mindless ridicule he is receiving from some corners of the left-leaning blogosphere over his recent statement that only those who believe in Christ can go to heaven. The latest expression of this that I have seen is at Hullabaloo in a Tristero post which links to a caustic entry at TalkLeft. I responded in the Hullaballoo "Comments" section. My remarks are cross-posted below:
- As much as it pains me to defend Jerry Falwell, I have to say something about TalkLeft's characterization of his remarks about who can get into heaven and who can't.
TalkLeft says: Jerry Falwell gets further and further out there. His latest knucklehead theory is that Jews and Muslims can't go to heaven.
It is not "out there," nor is it a "knucklehead theory" for a Christian, even Jerry Falwell, to say that non-Christians cannot go to heaven. It is the fundamental tenet of Christianity. The bible teaches that in order to be reconciled to God the Father, i.e. in order to get to heaven, you must accept Jesus as your savior. Christians believe this to be true. It is what make us Christians.
The foundation of Christianity is not doing good deeds or caring for the poor or shunning war or anything else that Jesus instructs the faithful to do. Those are works, which are important. But, Jesus teaches that in order to go to heaven, we must believe in Him.
You are free disagree with that. You are free to reject it. You have the right to worship any god you like or no god at all. However, it is no more fair to ridicule Falwell for professing Christ than it is to ridicule a Buddhist for professing Buddha. Falwell should not be expected to apologize for voicing his religious beliefs any more than a Muslim should be expected to apologize for bowing toward Mecca and praying five times a day.
Every faith has its own prescribed method for attaining its ultimate reward. The prescribed method of Christianity is faith in Christ. What is wrong with that?
TalkLeft does not even attempt to engage Falwell in a substantive debate over the matter. They call him names and then relate an ugly story about his family. Well, that will certainly soften his heart, won't it?
Come on, folks! As much as we on the left rail against the religious right for their intolerance, can't we exhibit a little tolerance and understanding of our own?
1 comments:
uncommonsense,
Falwell's entitled to believe whatever he wants. But when he opines, publicly and loudly, that only people that believe as he does are going to heaven, he is not making a religious statement but a political one.
To chastise those of us who are outraged at Falwell's bigotry for being intolerant is straight out of Kafka. I assure you that Falwell includes very devout Christians who don't happen to believe in his particularly bleak and shallow theology in the list of those condemned eternally to the tortures of the damned. There is nothing substantive to "engage" with Falwell, except his disturbing compulsion to acquire as much power as he can. And the only way to engage that is to fight back. Hard.
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