Jerry Falwell

Jerry Falwell was a politically active American evangelical, and one of the biggest influences on the conservative movement in the late 20th century. Falwell was born on August 11, 1933 along with his twin brother, Gene. Jerry and Gene were the youngest children in a family of 5. Young Jerry Falwell was recognized for his incredible intellect at a young age, skipping the second grade at Mountain View Elementary School. He held firm on this intelligence, even finding a way to obtain his driver's license at the age of 13 - 3 years before he was legally eligible.

During his teen years, Falwell excelled in athletic endeavors. During high school Falwell played football, basketball and baseball. While he does not continue with these sports to this day, he still values athletics for their numerous benefits: teamwork, coordination, fitness and overall health.

Dr. Falwell became a committed Christian on January 20, 1952 while enrolled at Lynchburg College. He bought his first Bible the day after his baptism, and still carries it with him wherever he goes. After graduating Lynchburg College, Falwell enrolled in Baptist Bible College in Missouri, later joining the vaulted rank of clergy. [2] In 1956, he founded Thomas Road Baptist Church in an abandoned bottling plant, [3] and today the church has 22,000 members.

In 1971, Falwell founded Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The University provides an opportunity for students to gain the benefits of a rich and diverse academic environment while simultaneously offering the opportunity to become closer to God.

In June of 1979, Dr. Falwell organized the Moral Majority. This organization is composed of over 100,000 priests, pastors and rabbis, and over 7 million conservative, religious Americans. The Moral Majority, also known as the Religious Right, organized a series of voting drives and political demonstrations to advance their conservative point of view and enhance the moral and religious attitudes of the nation. The Moral Majority is perhaps best known for their work in selecting California Governor Ronald Reagan to run for president for 1980, and registering millions of voters to act on his behalf. [4]

In the 1980s Jerry Falwell was an outspoken supporter of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. In 1985 he went to South Africa and encouraged Christians to buy gold Krugerrands in support of the white minority government. He drew the a great deal of criticism when he called Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu a phony. He subsequently apologized for that remark and claimed that he had misspoken.

Reverend Falwell is married to Mrs. Macel Falwell. The two tied the proverbial knot on April 12, 1958. The couple has three children: Jerry Jr., Jonathan and Jeannie. Jerry is currently an attorney and Vice-Chancellor at Liberty University. Jonathan is an attorney and pastor in Lynchburg, Virginia. Jeannie is a surgeon in Virginia.

Falwell is best known for his beliefs in the benefit of public debate. At Liberty University, he hosts an annual undergraduate debate tournament that attracts schools all across the country. At the tournament, he provides the students with a banquet and allows the debaters to participate in a "question and answer" session with him. Falwell's rhetorical prowess shines at such events, as he systematically grounds his left-of-center critics. Falwell also regularly appears on news broadcasts, preaching the word of God and his conservative point of view. He refuses to back down from a position that may be considered unpopular.

Falwell is well known outside of Evangelical circles for his claim, made on "The 700 Club" on September 13th of 2001 that it was not just al Qaeda that was to blame for the terrorist attacks of 9/11. He said, ""I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'" Falwell immediately apologized for the statement.

Reverend Falwell passed away on May 15, 2007.