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On October 6, Jerry Falwell's appearance in a 60 Minutes segment sparked international Islamic protest, political fallout, and a fatwa calling for his death. Christianity Today spoke to Islamic experts, Christian theologians, and observers to summarize the events and put it into perspective.

According to the CBS transcript of the program, CBS's Bob Simon asked Falwell in an interview prior to the October 6 airdate, "You wrote an approving piece recently about a book called Unveiling Islam … The authors of that book wrote, 'The Muslim who commits acts of violence in jihad does so with the approval of Mohammad.' Do you believe that?"

The question was in reference to an article Falwell wrote defending Florida pastor Jerry Vines's claim at the Southern Baptist Convention that Muhammad was a "demon-possessed pedophile." Falwell said Vines's comment was in the context of Ergun and Emir Caner's Unveiling Islam: An Insider's Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs (Kregel Publications). Falwell's column discussed the book and some of its claims.

Falwell responded to Simon's question by saying:

Muhammad was a terrorist. I read enough of the history of his life written by both Muslims and non-Muslims [to know] that he was a violent man, a man of war. In my opinion … Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses. And I think that Muhammad set an opposite example.

After intense public outcry and protests, Falwell issued a "Statement of Reconciliation" on October 12. "I sincerely apologize that certain statements of mine made during an interview for … CBS's 60 Minutes were hurtful to the feelings of many Muslims," the statement said. "I intended no disrespect to any sincere, law-abiding Muslim."

Falwell also said that he always shows respect to other religions but "answered one controversial and loaded question at the conclusion of an hour-long CBS interview which I should not have answered." Muslim leaders accepted the apology.

Falwell told World magazine he should have anticipated that his sound bite would be used "to stir up conflict and animosity." (World editor Marvin Olasky agreed, and called Simon a bigot.)

According to the Associated Press, Falwell said that Simon directly asked if Muhammad was "a terrorist." Falwell said he wanted to reply honestly to the question.

60 Minutes spokesman Kevin Tedesco told CT that Simon's question was not leading and was directly related to evangelical support of Israel.

"We definitely take issue with the claim of a loaded question," Tedesco said. "We in no way tried to put words into Rev. Falwell's mouth. The word terrorist was his. We did not prompt him in any way."

International consequences
Falwell's comments have become fodder on commentary pages in newspapers and magazines around the world, both before and after his apology.

Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, said that such reaction is typical for extreme statements from a major figure in American Christianity.

"Dr. Falwell has great influence in not only the U.S. but around the world," George said. "In the minds of some people it would perhaps be like the Pope speaking. He is seen as a venerated leader of many millions of Christian people. For such an intemperate statement to come from such a respected leader, I can see how that would arouse a great deal of indignation and anger on the part of Muslims who heard him in some distant country."

Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek wrote that while there has been a great deal of commentary on the Falwell statements, Christian moderates have failed to speak out against them.

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October (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46