Thoughts...
May. 15th, 2007 01:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundSo, Jerry Falwell has passed on.
I can't really find it in my heart to mourn his passing. A lot of what his wrong with this country today, a lot of the polarization, a lot of hate mongering, was as a result of him and his views.
One of the things I believe still, agnostic that I've become, is that the soul, upon death, is granted the wisdom to view their past life fairly, realize the mistakes it made, and learn from them to prepare for the next turn on the wheel. The soul is it's own judge, and harshest critic
In the faith Mr. Falwell professed, (though I personally think he was a Christian in name only, as there was little about him that followed the teachings of Christ), the judgement is from an external party - and the punishment is seperation from the divine.
Which is why this came to my mind when I heard about his death:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:15-23, New International Version)
I am sorry for the pain his family is feeling at his loss. Everything else is a matter between him and the divine, which will show him more mercy than he showed others.
I can't really find it in my heart to mourn his passing. A lot of what his wrong with this country today, a lot of the polarization, a lot of hate mongering, was as a result of him and his views.
One of the things I believe still, agnostic that I've become, is that the soul, upon death, is granted the wisdom to view their past life fairly, realize the mistakes it made, and learn from them to prepare for the next turn on the wheel. The soul is it's own judge, and harshest critic
In the faith Mr. Falwell professed, (though I personally think he was a Christian in name only, as there was little about him that followed the teachings of Christ), the judgement is from an external party - and the punishment is seperation from the divine.
Which is why this came to my mind when I heard about his death:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:15-23, New International Version)
I am sorry for the pain his family is feeling at his loss. Everything else is a matter between him and the divine, which will show him more mercy than he showed others.
