I'm only surprised he died so early. Usually assholes like him live to 100.

Of course, he did carry around an extra hundred pounds or so for 30 years, so I guess he did quite well considering.

Why isn't there a study exploring links between morbid obesity and fundamentalist religion? I'm betting there's a connection. Fundamentalism, with its fear of all things bodily, cuts off its victims at the neck; it's as if they don't have a body at all. Sex, of course, is fraught with terror even under the canopy of "sacred marriage". Athleticism is bad because all that exercise might make them horny.

So they eat... and eat... and eat... burying their miserable sensual deprivation under an avalanche of twinkies and Big Macs. These people are way sicker than any of us sinners.

Let god decide what to do with his soul.

when I find myself, a lifelong atheist, really hoping there is an afterlife.

Time for tubby bye-byes!

Time for tubby bye-byes!

Time for tubby bye-byes!

BUH BYE!

What's up, Salon? No Editor's Choices to display on the death of Jerry Falwell? I've seen a few letters already posted that could rate that distinction. Are you squeamish because we're celebrating? Please! Have some moxie. Hitler is dead. Thank you.

"One never wants to speak ill of the dead, but in the case of Jerry Falwell, how can one not?"

One can "not" by choosing instead to say a prayer for his soul. To assail the dead is base and venal; tacky and mean; spiteful and small. It is cowardly and unsporting because they can no longer fight back. To pray for our enemies is merciful and loving; gracious and kind; generous and big of us. It allows us to be the stronger, better person. Over time, it cleans the hate from our souls and shows us the love of God--the love Jesus showed while nailed to the cross when he prayed "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

When we speak ill of the dead or pour champagne to celebrate an enemy's passing, we debase ourselves and coarsen our souls. When we pray for those who hate us and who least deserve our love and concern, we elevate ourselves and bring our souls closer to God.

I didn't care for Mr. Falwell and I'm sure he wouldn't have cared much for me, either. Frankly, at times I despised him. Nevertheless, tonight I will pray for his soul because it's right and because it's what a Christian should do.

exactly what Binladin, Mullah Omar and people who run the madrasahs in Pakistan and middle east say about America.

Tit for Tat.Eye for an eye.Hence the Iraq war so our blood lust is quenched.

Hell for Falwell will be a steamroom in a gay bath house surrounded by chiseled hunks and despite his best efforts, he won't be able to squelch his hard-on.

Wolfe hits exactly the right note in his send-off of the porcine preacher. No need for invective: in Falwell's case, pointing out the obvious is sufficient.

I was an evangelical Christian until my early 20s. The churches I grew up in were (for the most part) full of generous, unpretentious people who condemned sin but not sinners. With the Moral Majority that all changed. Christianity became venomous and vindictive. Falwell made the poison personal and political -- and clowns like James Dobson are waddling in his footsteps. The march of faith indeed...

Excellent news. Tomorrow will be sweeter for Jerry Falwell's absence, and every day thereafter.

It's going to be awfully HOT where he's going. Hope he brought his SPEEDO.

My impression after a recent trip to Lynchburg, where he seemed to have a show on every other TV station, is that many people took Falwell quite seriously as a religious leader. (I know, gah! But it was illuminating to see how much real estate he owned on TV and within the town itself.) Where I come from, he's thought of as an insufferable boob, but on that trip it was shocking to see how many people actually were "followers."

his father and brother were/are staunch atheists? it's true. apparently, he became a christian fundie after he did a stint behind bars. for people like him, I hope there is a god..because his 'eternal soul' will smolder for eternity.

one thing that always makes we wonder, if you really believe in god and the morality that supposedly comes with it..how can you possible be a hate-monger who seeks to destroy any chance of peace and humanity? you know what it makes me wonder? did he really believe in god...or did he just believe in the belief of god like so many other religious fundies?

It is a mistake to be overly dismissive of Jerry Falwell, despite the fact there is no question he used religion to gain political power.

A country gets the leaders it deserves, and that is especially true of religious leaders whose only authority rests in the people they can convince of their lies. That needs to be taken seriously--not reduced to insignificance.

Alan Wolfe's case is not on firm ground since it can be easily argued that Falwell's "Moral Majority," was the basis for the movements that grew out of it--even if it played out. It is fundamentalism itself that needs to be examined--and in a way that shows how easily it can be usurped by charlatans such a Falwell, Robertson--and who can forget Tammy Faye and her man?

They have not in fact lost power in recent decades, but gained it. America is a sitting duck for them--and always has been. The level of dialogue in this country on religious matters is so shallow it isn't any wonder. All the rattling sabers is what gets tiresome.

As recently as last year, when Bill Moyer's introduced a program on PBS that had writer's speak personally about their "faith" or lack of it, I recall the reviews in the NYTIMES and other MSM were hostile--as if any discussion on religion is hopeless and should be avoided. (I'm not sure blogland is much better, though Salon often has good articles, and excellent discussions.)

I think the preaching on all sides is a waste of time, and simplistic attempts to explain the other side out of existence are a mistake.