Ben Stein gives send-off to largest Liberty class ever

Despite apprehension that Liberty University’s 2009 commencement ceremony would be dampened by rain, Lynchburg’s overcast skies broke up enough to let plenty of sun through for graduates and guests at the school’s Williams Stadium on Saturday morning.

Liberty sent out its largest graduating class in history, with university numbers tallying 6,350 graduates, of whom 3,390 walked Saturday.

In his welcome address, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. spotlighted three notable graduates of 2009.

The first, 83-year-old Homer Wilson, received his Master of Arts in Religion.

The second, online student Charlotte Hurd, graduated nearly a year after her husband was killed in a car wreck.

Finally, Falwell recognized the late Jeff Taylor Sr., who had been an assistant professor of health and kinesiology at the college, but was killed in a baseball accident in late April.

Falwell presented Taylor’s Doctor of Education degree posthumously, draping Taylor’s chair with his doctoral robe and hood.

Falwell introduced the commencement speaker, economist, political commentator, actor and intelligent design advocate Ben Stein, comparing Stein’s choice of fashion to that of Chuck Norris, who spoke at last year’s commencement.

“Last year I noted that it was an historic commencement because it was the first commencement address delivered in cowboy boots,” Falwell said. “Well, today is historic, because it’s the first commencement address delivered in sneakers.”

Stein’s address centered around intelligent design and his belief of Darwinian theory as a destructive force in society.

He said that before the making of his 2008 documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” he didn’t know much about the intelligent design movement or science in general.

“I actually thought, you know, I’m just one guy who doesn’t know very much about science … and they’re going to set me straight,” he said.

But along the way, he realized just how much one’s belief in origins shapes belief on other matters, such as morality.

“I realized that the real issues of life were not economic issues, not necessarily material issues, but metaphysical issues,” he said.

“If the Darwinists were right, and we were all descendants of lightning striking a mud puddle, what did that make us?” he asked. “If we were just lumps of mud, did we have any duty to any other lumps of mud?”

Stein also praised Liberty and its mission, in spreading values that he holds as well, and that he believes benefit the country.

Stein quoted Matthew 5:13-16, part of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus speaks about those who spread the gospel as “the salt of the earth.”

“You guys have the salt,” Stein said. “This is where the salt of the earth (is), right here at Williams Stadium, and I’m very, very happy to be among these salty people.”

Falwell addressed the students after Stein’s speech, pointing out that the class of 2009 was one of the last to sit under his father, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, as chancellor.

Falwell encouraged the students not to become discouraged to the point of giving up on dreams or callings.

“We continue to stress the importance of perseverance, but nobody could preach the don’t-quit sermon like my father could, because he lived his entire life according to that principle,” Falwell said.

“If God can build a university like this one through Dad’s life in the small town of Lynchburg, Virginia, then similar things can happen through any one of you anywhere in the world, if you remain faithful and never give up, never give up.”

Falwell’s brother, the Rev. Jonathan Falwell, gave the ceremony’s benediction, remarking, “We’re grateful for the fact that the only purpose for the umbrellas today was to block the sun.”