tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post190823981331830603..comments2024-02-24T00:41:37.836-08:00Comments on The Buddha Diaries: Conversations: The Death of Jerry FalwellPeter Clothierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11525159413387378704noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-65592491243873855702007-05-19T19:46:00.000-07:002007-05-19T19:46:00.000-07:00:D... I was told many years ago that if I didn't h...:D... I was told many years ago that if I didn't have anything nice to say about someone not to speek:). I'll leave it at that...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-20632314933426267402007-05-17T23:05:00.000-07:002007-05-17T23:05:00.000-07:00For me, the most important thing to remember is th...For me, the most important thing to remember is that people like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and George Bush don't represent Christianity. I remember having this conversation on this blog a while back with Carly, Eli, and you, Peter. I believe the term used for people like Falwell was that they were wearing Christianity as a "cheap costume" to pawn off their beliefs. I even have a post on my own blog about it ("Evangelical???").<BR/><BR/>There was a middle-eastern medieval philosopher named Algazali who gave me a really important idea I like to keep in mind when I think about religions. He says something to the effect of, "You really have to study something entirely for years before you can debate it or argue with it." I think a lot of people today want to throw the baby out with the bath water so to speak with Christianity because of people like Falwell, and it really makes me sad. They get a false sense of what Christianity is about and become vocally anti-Christian. There's little Christianity left in Falwell's messages, only hatred and fear. Maybe I have a "pie in the sky" ideal of what Christianity should look like, but I hope people realize that whatever is going on today (especially fundamentalism) is not it at all.<BR/><BR/>That's just my two cents, which come at one in the morning and I'm sure aren't well synthesized.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072259264111848667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-77982948649896562652007-05-17T19:40:00.000-07:002007-05-17T19:40:00.000-07:00One would do well to remember the original man whi...One would do well to remember the original man which became the myth, Jesus, probably had cancerous sores and walked in dirt in worn-out sandals. <BR/><BR/>The fat American with the big mouth in the media flew around in private corporate jets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-16483586848262109212007-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:002007-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:00I'm ashamed to admit it but I, like cali_p rejoice...I'm ashamed to admit it but I, like cali_p rejoiced a little when I heard the news. But I quickly realized it wasn't the man himself I had a problem with, but rather the message.<BR/><BR/>(Love the sinner, hate the sin perhaps?)<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately Falwell didn't take the message to his grave with him, I'm sure someone will step up to carry his torch of hate. <BR/><BR/>In my opinion it's imperative that Christians take a good long look at what is being done in the name of Christianity and take steps to counter-act it. Ours should be a religion of love and acceptance, not hate. I always wonder how Jesus would react to Christianity and televangelists if he were around today.<BR/><BR/>I'm pretty sure we'd see another "pissed off Jesus in the temple" moment.<BR/><BR/>Peter- I'm very much enjoying your blog entries...I'll have to thank Mark for getting me hooked! :-)Lindsey in Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16220858560908806487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-34034047597140202122007-05-17T15:28:00.000-07:002007-05-17T15:28:00.000-07:00When first reading of Falwell's passing I caught m...When first reading of Falwell's passing I caught my self with a bit of a grin. Then quickly criticized myself for I am one to remember to try to tolerate the intolerant. <BR/><BR/>I believe it is not my place to judge, but that of a higher power. <BR/><BR/>Falwell preached hate and fear. I can only believe the balance of the universe will bring him ( or the spititual essence of him)the same lesson in a future life.<BR/><BR/>I continue to struggle to except his followers who consider themselves closer to god by teaching others to hate.cali_Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954828729125116244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-19819701831178751602007-05-17T13:36:00.000-07:002007-05-17T13:36:00.000-07:00Unfortunately I don't keep up with the news as oft...Unfortunately I don't keep up with the news as often as I ought to, so I know little more about Falwell than what I've learned from the videos in the post. That being said, I'm not in support of fundamentalists in any religion (something I hope I've made clear by my commentary on the blog thus far), and though I try to practice metta as often as possible, I have a hard time feeling anything but relief that a voice as influential as Falwell's is out of the equation, regardless of how he has come to be silenced. I try to look at Fundamentalists as a way of God showing people the wrong way to go about things and the wrong message to listen to, but some people are drawn to that sort of unquestionable confidence. <BR/><BR/>I feel that there's a lesson to be learned in everything, and while I'm sad that so many are twisted into believing things like the quotes in that montage, I'm grateful that I have the desire to practice a much more benevolent, tolerant world view.<BR/><BR/>P.S. "obleqemx" Oh-BLEEK-max - a brand new product from fitness celebrity Tony Small, guaranteed to give you that sexy core you've always wanted! 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