The face of the evangelical Christian tidal wave in the 1980s was Rev. Jerry Falwell, a man whose panache and adherence to his beliefs helped lead the Moral Majority and earned him close relationships with multiple United States presidents.
While the panache and passion for his personal interpretations of scripture definitely helped with his ascension in popular culture, it also subjected him to criticism for controversial quotes.
SPECIAL: Prayer Changes Your Brain in 4 Amazing Ways
Six particular hot-button statements from the Christian evangelist will go down as his most controversial quotes:
1. "I don't believe anyone begins a homosexual. They begin the way God made them: male, female … If they choose to be bisexual, homosexual, they have the ability to do it."
Falwell said this in a 2000 interview with the PBS show Frontline, an interview that focused on his opposition to homosexuality and its alleged deleterious effects on families.
2. "The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. When we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. 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 [American Civil Liberties Union], 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."
According to Religious Tolerance, Falwell issued the above quote after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in a discussion with Pat Robertson on "The 700 Club."
ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now
3. "The character, whose voice is obviously that of a boy, has been found carrying a red purse. He is purple — the gay pride color; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle — the gay pride symbol."
Falwell sent a news alert to parents warning them that the "Teletubbies" children's TV show promoted homosexuality,
according to The Washington Post in 1999.
4. "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!"
Falwell dropped this quote in his 1979 book "America Can Be Saved!,"
as reported by Positive Atheism.
5. "This is probably as bad a day as the court has had on social issues since Roe v. Wade."
The New York Times ran this Falwell quote in 2003 after the Supreme Court struck down a Texas sodomy law that expanded gay rights.
6. "Grown men should not be having sex with prostitutes unless they are married to them."
Falwell said this on CNN's Crossfire program on May 17, 1997, according to Positive Atheism.
SPECIAL: Can Prayer Heal You? Dr. Crandall Discovered the Truth
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.