fôlˈwĕl, –wəl, 1933–, American fundamentalist Baptist pastor, b. Lynchburg, Va. A popular preacher, Falwell began (1968) airing his services on television on a program that was later named "The Old-Time Gospel Hour." Falwell founded (1979) and led (1979–87) the Moral Majority, an organization devoted to reestablishing traditional religious values in the national consciousness through support of conservative political candidates (see also fundamentalism). Falwell now heads the Liberty Alliance (est. 1991).

See W. H. Capps, The New Religious Right (1990).

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright© 2004, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. All rights reserved.

-16457-