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17

four-color photographs and books of
Reverend Falwell and Christianity from
the shopping mall to the airport, the
Lynchburg Airport looks like a college out-
door track. To get to Lynchburg with
any ease, one myst fly on a plane that
resembles a cracker box with wings. Fal-
well joked during the interview that even
an atheist would believe in God after fly-
ing on one of those planes.
Not far from the church is the Liberty
University where Falwell is chancellor.
The major classroom areas of the college
are all under one roof. Male students are
neatly groomed and well dressed in press-
ed slacks, shirts and ties. The women wear
skirts and dresses, hemmed safely below
the knee. You're not going to find any
Madonna outfits, punk hairstyles, blue
- jeans or miniskirts here. Nor will you find
heavy metal rock, X-rated movies or
drugs. The hallways are lined with bulletin
boards on which ice cream socials and
Christian fellowship meetings are adver-
tised. The movies playing on campus are
no stronger than PG-13.
Liberty University's bookstore also re-
flects its mission. There, one will find
literature authored by Falwell or about
Christianity, as well as cassette tapes,
photographs'and spiritual record albums.
The text book section has an entire area
designated as "MISS," and this doesn't
stand for Mississippi. It is the textbook
section for the missionary courses taught
at school.
Back at the Thomas Road Church, a
school football team, marching band and
cheerleaders board buses for a Thurs-
day afternoon' game. Reverend Falwell
watches them from his office window as
The Jewish News photographer sets up
his equipment. Falwell has fielded ques-
tions on. his relationships with the Jews
many times over. There is precious little
he hasn't been asked for the record
already. Indeed, author Merrill Simon's
Jerry Falwell and The Jews covers almost
every area of Jewish-Falwell relations that
has ever been explored.
Falwell, therefore, seemed relaxed and
poised after being asked a barrage of ques-
tions. He smoothly dodged any "bullets,'
but at the same time it was clear that he
wanted the interview to go quickly and
smoothly.
He started by re-emphasizing his sup-
port. and concern for Israel. He then talk-
ed about JeWish-Christian relations and
finally about church-state concerns. The •
interview•enabled him to update hie views
Jerry Falwell: He does have is Jewish supporters,
publicly. `'-

Continued on next page

"It's as ridiculous to
assume that America
can be Christianized as
to believe that it can be
Judaized. America is a
melting pot, and while
the country is
predominantly Judeo-
Christian, there is also
room for Moslem, Hindu
and even atheists."

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otos :y rag e ova?