Story here.

The good news is, Pat Robertson’s still leg lifting 50 bajillion pounds.

With his little toe.

I’ll be honest, I’m a little hesitant to talk much about this (though after vasectomy-blogging, I suppose delving into religion’s no big thing). I’m not a big fan of televangelists. I’m also not a big fan of telling others how to live their life (just allow me the freedom live mine without hurting anyone else). So it’s not like I got a Christmas card from the Falwell house every year.

That being said, I’ve met several graduates of Liberty University, and they’ve all struck me as very bright, very personable, very good people. I know the university has an incredible debate program as well, and a good academic reputation. I wonder if ultimately the school, not the Moral Majority, might be Falwell’s lasting legacy.

Marshall: Just as Cam isn’t a big fan of blogging about religion, I’m not a big fan of using this blog for real-time reactions. I prefer a little contemplation. That said, I will throw out two thoughts:

(1) Love him or hate him, you can’t suggest that Falwell was anything but a significant and important force in America over the last thrity years. He helped build a movement that will be a key player in American politics for at least another generation.

(2) Let’s dispense with the derogatory labels. The first AP write-thru of the story includes the words “religious right” in the headline. Let’s try to stay away from that. Jerry Falwell, among others, helped being a lot of good people into politics — people who care deeply about their principles and love America. Falwell had his faults, to be sure, but let’s not denigrate the movement that he helped begin.

Jim: Okay… trying to figure out the best way to put this. Over the years, I’ve bounced between a traditional social conservative view and a more libertarian one. I don’t like abortion and like seeing fewer of them each year. I want television fare that parents will be comfortable with their kids watching before, oh, nine o’clock. I like more adult entertainment choices, but I like the idea that I have to make a deliberate choice to seek them out; it doesn’t suddenly spring up, say, during halftime at the Super Bowl. I’d like a society where the values I want to teach my children are reinforced by the society around them, instead of contradicted by it.

There were times, particularly early in his career, Jerry Falwell was a great credit and asset to those who wanted to preserve traditional values in America. In fact, it seems safe to say he was one of that movement’s strongest voices. And then there were times when he undermined that effort by sounding rediculous, such as when he suggested that Tinky-Winky was gay, or his statement that attributed the 9/11 attacks to pagans, abortionists, feminists, and gays and lesbians. During moments like that, it was easy for one to suspect that his eagerness to be in front of the cameras overcame his common sense.

At a time like this, it’s probably just best to offer prayers to his family, and salute the parts of his life that were undeniably admirable - his dedication, organizational skill, and willingness to stand strong in the face of criticism to stand up for what he believed.