Yale Daily News
Evangelist causes a stir
By Zoe Gorman and Jordi Gasso
Contributing Reporter, Contributing Reporter
Published Friday, December 4, 2009
Jesse Morrell — a 25-year-old evangelist preacher from Cheshire, Conn., who said he did three stints at the juvenile detention center on Whalley Avenue for selling drugs — says he knows where most Yale students are headed: hell.
For the past three days, Morrell has used Yale’s campus as the platform for his open-air preaching. A self-proclaimed born-again Christian, he has spent much of the past three days sermonizing about the “evils of sin” on Old Campus, Cross Campus and the section of Wall Street near Woodbridge Hall.
While Morrell failed to attract much attention from...
#1 By Recent Alum on December 4, 2009
I understand the problems with most groups on this list, but really, what's wrong with the potheads?
#2 By Bring Hell Back (on Steroids) on December 4, 2009
see November 26 post entitled
"Bring Hell Back (on Steroids)"
http://theantiyale.blogspot.com
PK
#3 By Pierson90 on December 4, 2009
"Rev. Andrew Cunningham, director of the International Christian Fellowship...emphasized that Christianity insists God is the only judge of peoples’ actions."
Well, since the Reverend was not quoted, there is doubt that is exactly what he said, because of course Christians are to judge actions, but only God can judge the heart.
As for all the attention this street preacher is getting, who knows? Maybe he is just following in the tradition of Yale's founders, or Jonathan Edwards, whose handwritten notes for his fiery sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," are preserved in a temperature controlled, hermetically-sealed glass case in Yale's Bieneke Rare Book Library.
#4 By appy polly logies on December 4, 2009
The Rev. *was* quoted: “You are sure to find dogmatism within members of every religion,” Cunningham said. “I think tolerance is a basic tenant of Christianity.”
However, I wonder whether he or The News thinks "tenant" is being used correctly.
#5 By Chuckles on December 4, 2009
"Obama voters."
C'mon: madjya chuckle, dinnit?
#6 By FailBoat on December 4, 2009
Simon Cozzens is an idiot. Only a Yalie could be so insulated from reality that he thinks he has the RIGHT to walk around undisturbed by the opinion of others.
#7 By Crowd on December 4, 2009
Glad that religion worked out for this guy and that he reformed his life. But why target only certain "sinners". I thought that the Bible teaches that all have sinned despite of religion and race and orientation and all need a savior. Looks like this guy is all about provocation and publicity and hoping for another lawsuit windfall.
#8 By L V on December 4, 2009
This is a case of serious mental illness.
#9 By Yale CC '08 on December 4, 2009
this guy has it pretty wrong: potheads and masturbators are definitely the ONLY people going to heaven
#10 By @Pierson90 on December 4, 2009
What, do you think Beinecke is going to preserve the clapboard he's wearing under hermetically sealed glass in the future?
Try reading the whole article in the future.
#11 By christian on December 4, 2009
I love Yale with all my heart, but it is going down a wrong path. I pray that God will open this great school's eyes. I also pray that God will give this institutuion a passion for him and his word.
#12 By Openmind on December 4, 2009
What? your mind is not open to truth? or only those truths you want and that justify your actions you choose that are harmful to you and others? everyone is a sinner and that includes those that are not on Jesse's "list".
The remedy is Jesus Christ. He died for you so that you can escape Hell. Jesus paid the price for your sins. Hell was not created for humans, but for the devil. The devil wants to destroy you and doesn't want you to be happy. God sent His son, Jesus to die for you because He so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
#13 By Drunkard '07 on December 4, 2009
I always wonder why this strange bevy of Christian-fascist wingnuts fills up the YDN comments section with ridiculous, sanctimonious GOD/YALE/HELL screeds every chance they get. Where do you all come from?
Sure this guy has as much of a right as anyone to be a crazy jerk in public. And I, as a proud, dirty dancing, liberal fornicator, have the right to make fun of him until he gives it up and gets a damn job. I suppose I'll see you all in hell.
#14 By Pathetic on December 4, 2009
The guy is crazy, but I found it embarrassing that Yale students gave him so much attention.
#15 By hatred yum on December 4, 2009
He clearly said that there is not enough hatred and intolerance, and that people should be more hateful and more intolerant.
#16 By Just observing on December 4, 2009
Interesting how both sides judge the other side so much...
evaluate whether you wish to give him attention and why. There is a right and wrong...some moral compass. We all know it. We ALL live in the grey. God watches out for us all.
#17 By Dante's Inferno on December 4, 2009
In his essay WHY I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN Bertrand Russell declares that any religion which introduced into the world the concept of "eternal damnation" (AKA hell) was evil and he could not subscribe to it.
Guess what religion he is talking about. The same religion which says "God is love."
The same religion which fanatics wearing sandwich boards latch onto with sadistic gusto.
Nothing like telling others they aren't good enough to make yourself feel better(that is if you have a need to feel better).
For more on Sheol, Hell, and Skinner Boxes see "Bring Hell Back (on Steroids!)" November 26 post, http://theantiyale.blogspot.com
Paul Keane
#18 By Gry on December 4, 2009
How is this guy any different than the lady in Times Square with the sign around her next telling me to repent because the Rapture is imminent?
You know those flamboyant Christians, though: always flaunting their lifestyle in public, acting like they have basic rights, and shoving their beliefs down other people's throats.
There should be a Referendum. Slippery slopes, you know...
#19 By Charles Sternaimolo on December 5, 2009
The second paragraph in Gorman and Gasso's article titled, "Evangelist Causes Stir", states that Jesse Morrell is "a self-proclaimed born-again Christian..."
Are not all born-again Christians self proclaimed? I did not realize being born-again is an appointment made by a church or outside source. It seems that these two student reporters have isolated and disqualified this street preacher because his message is not currently politically correct.
Although I am quite sure that God's words in the bible regarding homosexual relationships are being twisted and corrupted by religious followers, the man still has a right to free speech (as clearly written in our Constitution as a God-given right). Of course disagreeing students have a right to protest, too, but I find it interesting that the article only glances over the fact that this preacher won over $25,000 due to local police overstepping their authority. If the police had tried to quell a protest organized by gays this would have caused an uproar in the campus PC community and would have been the focus of Gorman and Gasso's article.
In no way do I agree with the ignorant and twisted views of these kinds of disturbed preachers, as Jesus would surly have encouraged the spread of love and acceptance. A religious follower such as Mr. Morrell is, as is almost always the case, reading into the bible his own personal beliefs. His time would be more effective and better spent spreading God's message of love and acceptance, rather than corrupting the bible's words to fit his backwards views.
The photographs which accompany this article are superb. Surly at least one of these is worthy of a photo journalistic prize or honorable mention.
-Charles
#20 By whynot on December 5, 2009
I do not think anything wrong to let him preach to Yale students. In light of what is going on at Yale campus we can no longer say Yale has all the solutions. Maybe, we can learn something from the young preacher who had gone to Whalley Center instead of Yale.
#21 By NativeNYker on December 5, 2009
This is nothing short of relious fanaticism. He needs medication!
But on the other hand Carvalho's photo is Time Magazine material.
#22 By Jason on December 5, 2009
I wonder what he did with his $25,000.00
Something Christian-like I hope.
#23 By elaygee on December 5, 2009
People who believe that an invisible man in the sky is omnipotent, omniscient and everywhere at once and is watching everyone to judge them good or bad are probably in need of heavy psychopharmaceuticals to relieve their delusion paranoid mindframe.
#24 By European on December 5, 2009
Wow, you really have your priorities in line. He condemns "Immodest women" and "muslims" and you think the problem is politics or banning druguse - US bigotry isn't listed obviously.
But then again, as an atheist I must say you succeeded in creating your own cultural hell on earth.
#25 By Yale '08 on December 5, 2009
Seriously #23, can you atheists please can the trite and totally unoriginal Dawkinsian "God Delusion" position? You all claim to have a mind of your own and to think rationally and independently, right? In reality is the new dogma of the 21st century: something completely unprovable that claims to be the truth. If I hear the "invisible man in the sky" stereotype for everything science can't explain one more time I'm going to vomit.
#26 By http://theantiyale.blogspot.com December 4, 2009
#23:
Buckminster Fuller, author of
"The Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth" and inventor of the geodesic dome, said that when he was 11 years old physics discovered that 99.9% of what is called reality is invisible (atomic structure). Just because something is invisible doesn't mean it's NOT real.
It doesn't mean it IS real either.
See my post "What is Divinity School at Yale For?" at http://theantiyale.blogspot.com
#27 By PTchillin on December 6, 2009
Yo just so you guys know.
According to this guy, "God shot 2pac and Biggie"
I'm so glad we got that mystery sorted out.
#28 By alum2 on December 6, 2009
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Let the young preacher speak.
#29 By yalie on December 6, 2009
God doesn't exist. What are you going to do about it?
#30 By Nietzschean Compromise on December 6, 2009
"There is no God and Mary is His mother."
(A heretical witticism from the past.)
PK
#32 By Under your skin on December 7, 2009
It's a privilege to irritate you.
PK
#45 By fictionalharvardian 8:41p.m. on December 7, 2009
haha your mean comments and the war of this peter keane against the world bring more students unto me at Harvard!
#50 By Hilarious 11:04a.m. on December 8, 2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/07/street-preacher-schooled_n_382856.html
#51 By Orson Welles 11:45a.m. on December 8, 2009
# 45
"the war of this peter keane against the world"
I'm flattered. No war:just a lifelong skirmish with elitism, materialism, racism, sexism.
PK
#52 By @49 on December 8, 2009
#49 in our society have become anti-American by proselytizing and continuously crossing constitutional barriers between "#49"s church and state. Free speech is all good and well, however, when it interferes with other rights, it needs to be subjegated.
#53 By Yale 08 on December 8, 2009
@#49,
How does an individual speaking to other individuals violate the Constitution prohibition against an official state religion?
#54 By Chris on December 8, 2009
I question this so-called evangelist's authenticity. He's a walking cliche, and perhaps one specifically calculated to portray Christians in a negative light. I'm not sure of his true motives, or who if anyone is guiding him, but there's probably more to this street preacher than meets the eye.
#55 By AmericanAtheistStreetFighter on December 8, 2009
The sign of Morrell is hate speech. It is fitting that this perpetrator be banned from the Yale Campus. As for his screaming in the faces of the listed kinds of people or anyone else, where are the local Atheists and Gays who should read his insane bible back to him. Try Ezekiel 23:20 and Hosea 13:16 and dozens of other obscene bestial and violence against women passages ordered by Jehovah itself. Jeebus and Ghost Holes in this idiots head need to be pointed out, shaming this creep back into his drug addicted pot head basement room. His version of the xian religion deserves no respect. Morrel is showing no respect to perhaps half of America. Morrell certainly deserves no single tax exemption for any property he operates his bible pornography business. 843-926-1750 Dial An Atheist Larry Carter Center
#56 By Alum on December 8, 2009
#54, did you actually watch the video or see him speak? From the vid on the YDN website, he appears to be quite a good speaker. He was talking about how he used to be a sinner too before finding Christ, nothing overly controversial. His sign is meant to be provocative to draw attention, but (other than the potheads go to Hell part, which I'm not sure has biblical support) it is fairly standard Christian doctrine. Like others who oppose homosexuality (whether from a religious or secular perspective), his view is that people should stop engaging in homosexual *conduct*, not that we should loathe those with homosexual proclivities. It's really telling that at Yale some would say that he is "insane," "mentally ill," etc.
#57 By alum2 on December 9, 2009
One can never underestimate the power of the simple truth. It works for Mr. Morrell that he is no longer selling drug. He is trying to bring the simple truth to Yale. The fear of hell may have changed that killer's mind...so sad for Annie and Yale.
#58 By Hell is the Original Skinner Box on December 9, 2009
#37
You put your finger on it.("scare the hell out of you") If religion is a primitve form of psychiatry, then "hell" is a pretty good Skinner Box for deterring local violations of the "Thou shalt not kill" commandment, but, unfortunately, not for mass violations like war.
"Bring Hell Back (on Steroids)"
http://theantiyale.blogspot.com
PK
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