Thursday, May 17, 2007

Christopher Hitchens on the death of Jerry Falwell

Let's talk morality and ethics, Christopher Hitchens. How moral is it to go on a national cable show and call a man who has just died a "little toad" and a "little person?" Can't you wait a few days before you tart beating up the corpse? Maybe wait until the family has gotten a chance to bury him before you spit on his grave.




I wasn't a fan of Jerry Falwell before he died. I didn't agree with his views on much of anything but he was a Christian. That is clear from his words and deeds. I believe that he was incredibly misguided and that his dispensational premillenial view caused him to say some pretty silly things but he is my brother in Christ. I think that this take is probably pretty close to what I feel about him.

Those of you who would deny that Falwell was a Christian and want to see him in hell will not get your wish. He clearly loved the Lord and believed that he was serving him. Hitchens is wrong when he compares Falwell to Elmer Gantry and states that he took glee in duping gullible people and that he really didn't believe what he said. It is obvious to anyone, except for the most virulent theophobe, that Falwell believed and lived in the truth of what he preached and men like Hitchens will never be able to understand that.

One benefit of the interview is that Hitchens isn't wearing a false mask of human compassion. His hatred of Christians is clearly evident in his words. This is the face of atheism today. Attractive, isn't it? I guess the days of tolerance (if they ever existed) are over and now we can look forward to atheist fundamentalists who want to convert us with their rationalism and their ridicule.