In response to the idea presented by some theologians that Jesus would, in fact, urge Christians to lay down their weapons when confronted with violent acts, Falwell turned to the story of Jesus berating the money changers and chasing them out of the temple with a whip, comparing it to war.
"Jesus said 'Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's,' and part of that was to go to war, protecting whatever nation was under control of the king."
The Washington Post also reported that, according to a 2013 Public Religion Research Institute Survey, most of the world's major religious groups actually favor stricter gun-control laws despite the fact that Falwell urges students to arm themselves. This number reportedly includes an impressive 76 percent of all Protestants, 67 percent of Catholics and 57 percent of "white mainline Protestants." However, the same study found that white evangelicals, such as those who make up the majority of Liberty University's student body, are the least likely religious group to support stricter gun laws, coming in at just 38 percent.
Liberty University claims to be the world's largest Christian university, the largest university in the state of Virginia and the largest private, nonprofit university in the United States. The school regularly hosts politicians – typically Republicans – who hope to attract conservative Christian voters, but Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders broke this stereotype by speaking at Liberty University in mid-September.
