And, lo, Mr. Hitchens has put his words to paper (internet paper!). You can read his column here. Some choice excerpts follow:
The discovery of the carcass of Jerry Falwell on the floor of an obscure office in Virginia has almost zero significance, except perhaps for two categories of the species labeled "credulous idiot."
Like many fanatical preachers, Falwell was especially disgusting in exuding an almost sexless personality while railing from dawn to dusk about the sex lives of others. His obsession with homosexuality was on a par with his lip-smacking evocations of hellfire.
It's a shame that there is no hell for Falwell to go to, and it's extraordinary that not even such a scandalous career is enough to shake our dumb addiction to the "faith-based."
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 12)
61. God bless you all !!!! You will need it. AOL has some of the most mean sprited people on the net. He was a good man. Why would anyone listen to someone that dont believe in GOD ??? Thats what is wrong with America. People took GOD out of everything. The people will answer for what they have done. And for people to be glad that he has died is just ugly. Watch what you say it will come back and haunt you. What comes around goes around.
Michelle at 9:21PM on May 16th 2007
62. Hail to the truth! If there is indeed a heaven and a hell, Falwell is sitting directly at the right hand of Satan himself...probably in charge of fundraising. What a pig.
GI Joe at 4:56PM on May 16th 2007
63. Who in the world is christopher Hitchens? Most intellectual people have no idea who this person is! However, everyone in the wide world knew who the Rev. Falwell was, and of his good works for humanity. Mr. Hitchens, whoever he is, may one day mourn the fact that he too, has not embraced Christianity. ( Come Judgement Day) And who, then shall mourn for him?
Jean at 5:12PM on May 16th 2007
64. I continue to be amazed by how many people truely don't understand God. They continue to believe these so called preachers without question. People like Farwell are not men of God, for they preach hatred not love and forgiveness. This is not God's way. God teaches us to love not hate. We are to forgive and understand. Preachers like Farwell caused hatred much like we see going on in the Middle East with certain Clerics. He now knows his mistakes.
KEn at 5:10PM on May 16th 2007
65. I firmly believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions; but why is there so much hatred going on? A person has died and it's creating so many hateful, malicious comments. I didn't agree with many things Rev. Falwell said and did, but I don't feel the need to be hateful and cruel in my comments about him.
Val at 5:11PM on May 16th 2007
66. My God doesn't hate, and my God doesn't discriminate. My God does however, appreciate a good Teletubbies episode now and then, and doesn't feel strangely 'unsettled' when Tinkly Winkly comes on the screen.
Shame on every one of you rightous zealots throwing stones at people different then yourselves. Shame too on Falwell for making a living out of it.
TW at 5:14PM on May 16th 2007
67. We will all be judged by our Maker. Rev. Falwell was not perfect as you and I aren't either. He helped save lives by preaching the Gospel, and homes for unwed mothers who had been planning abortions. May God give comfort to his family and friends.
R e v v at 5:44PM on May 16th 2007
68. Thank God that God is greater than what narrow mortal views allow - God is a perfection of love and wonder we should all aspire toward, not a team mascot for the warring monotheistic sects of the world.
Thank God we have a Constitution that wisely forsaw the separation of worship and government as vital to fairness to all people, no matter what team you play for.
Fallwell is gone and will all too soon be consigned to a footnote about a chapter in the adolescence of human society. I wouldn't be surprised that God is giving a sigh of relief.
Lee at 5:45PM on May 16th 2007
69. THE WORLD DOESN'T NEED PEOPLE LIKE JERRY FALWELL -- SO WHAT, HE'S DEAD!
RR at 5:56PM on May 16th 2007
70. I could not be more in accord with your assessment of one of the Clowns of the Cloth. That people can believe in the hate, the intolerance, the greed, basic ignorance that this charlatan preached only amazes me about the gullibility of much of America. We as a people priding ourselves as a melting pot of humanity are embarrassed by such nonsense. I only put him slightly ahead of the Pit Bull Bitch of the right, Ms(?) Ann Coulter; another voice of congeniality and tolerance.
Good by Jerry, we are better off without you. Now if Robertson and Dobson would only follow you, we would have a perfect Trifecta. When you finally meet the real Christ on a neutral ground, he will probably whap you on the side of your head and tell you "THAT IS NOT WHATI PREACHED!"
oskar at 7:43PM on May 17th 2007
71. Con men like Falwell have simply found a socially acceptable con to run. One can only hope that as scientific inquiry reveals the true splendor of the natural and uncreated universe, people will stop clinging to myths that assuage their fear of the unknown. At the very least, one can hope that, if people must believe in a god, they will apply the logic of their own beliefs and conclude that, if god created everything in the universe, then sexuality (homo- and hetero-), socially progressive thinking and radioactive decay demonstrating a universe billions of years old must be part of god's beloved creation, too. Better yet, they can drop the "god" myth and grow up.
Susan at 6:19PM on May 16th 2007
72. While I do not like what Rev. Falwell stood for nor the intolerence that he preached the comments made by Mr. Hutchins are equally repulsuve and hatefull.
Mr. Hutchins should be carefull as to what he wishes for the late Rev. Falwell as that may truely be his own fate when his time comes.
I applaude both men as that had and have the courage to speak to what they believe in but I wish that it could be done in such a way as to allow true meaningful diolouge to affect a meaningful change in our intolerent sociaty.
mlewis0122 at 6:26PM on May 16th 2007
73. While I certainly am no fan of the late Jerry Falwell, it is certainly true that the last 2 acceptable biases are against the obese and Evangelicals. And the rants against the right-wing media are mind-boggling. The right wing media came into existence because there was a vast number of Americans who tired of getting their news after it had been filtered through the overwhelmingly liberal press. How about allowing conservatives their own small percetage of media who share their values? Or does it all have to be slanted in favor of the left?
Laura at 6:51PM on May 16th 2007
74. Mr. Hitchens' comments are a response to the bull being broadcast by the right-wing media about how "heavenly" a leader was Falwell. It should come as no surprise to his blind-faith followers that Falwell is merely reaping now in death the hatred and intollerance that he sowed in life.
MM at 6:56PM on May 16th 2007
75. One of these days, Mr. Hitchens won't feel like he does right now. He will beg for mercy and he will get the same amount he gave to Jerry Falwell...so sad. He will be judged as he, himself has judged. Nobody has it all together. Rev. Falwell trusted in his God and will fare better than some of us. Who would dare go so far as to vilify someone even after death?
Dan Todd at 7:07PM on May 16th 2007