Televangelist Falwell Dead at 73

Book about his experience is out now

(NEWSER) - Kevin Roose spent spring break in Florida last year, but instead of boozing with the rest of the college students, he proselytized them. It was all part of the Brown University student’s undercover semester at Jerry Falwell-founded Liberty University, where he “had to follow their 46-page code of conduct: no drinking, no cursing, no hugs lasting longer than three seconds,” he tells Newsweek as he promotes his book about the experience. More»

Motorcycle-riding evangelist's wife recalled as spirited, opinionated

(NEWSER) - Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, stayed in the background of the legendary evangelist's ministry but was far from obscure. The missionary's daughter was at once demure, feisty, independent, and unpredictable, the LA Times reports. Graham, who died yesterday at 87, was also an accomplished poet and parent to five children whose father often traveled for months at a time. More»

Fineman takes the measure of a partisan preacher and his political legacy

(NEWSER) - It's impossible to grasp the profound change in American political life in the last quarter-century without understanding Jerry Falwell and the movement he fostered, writes Newsweek's Howard Fineman. Falwell, who died yesterday, created the Moral Majority, helped launch the Reagan Revolution, and dug the evangelical foundations—currently shifting—on which the modern Republican establishment stands. More»

First all-weather slope 'of its kind in North America'

(NEWSER) - Virginia’s Liberty University presented its new synthetic ski slope—the first in North America—this weekend with extreme performances from pro skiers and snowboarders. The chancellor of the Christian university, Jerry Falwell, showed off his own moves after paying tribute to his dad, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, who wanted the ski slope to bring more students to the school “and, ultimately, bring more people to Christ,” writes the Lynchburg News and Advance. More»

(NEWSER) - Jerry Falwell’s conservative Christian Liberty University has suspended the student Democratic Club for supporting candidates “directly contrary to the mission” of the school, the Lynchburg News Advance reports. Virginia Democrats are up in arms. “I urge the leadership of Liberty University to reverse this attack on the liberty of its students,” Gov.Tim Kaine said. A Democratic candidate called the move “deeply troubling.” More»