| − | Falwell was best known for his beliefs in the benefit of public debate. At Liberty University, he hosted an annual undergraduate debate tournament that attracts schools all across the country. At the tournaments, he participate in a "question and answer" sessions. Falwell's rhetorical prowess shone at such events. Falwell also regularly appeared on news broadcasts, preaching the word of [[God]] and his conservative point of view. He refused to back down from positions that he realized were unpopular. Falwell was former prime minister of [[New Zealand]] David Lange's opponent in the Oxford Union debate with the moot "nuclear weapons are morally | + | Falwell is well known outside of Evangelical circles for his claim, made on "The 700 Club" on September 13th of 2001 that it was not just [[al Qaeda]] that was to blame for the terrorist attacks of [[9/11]]. He said, ""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, 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.'" His statement was severely criticized and Falwell apologized soon after. <ref>CNN article on the statement[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/14/Falwell.apology/]</ref> |