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The Reverend Gary Eugene Birdsong is a travelling Fundamentalist Christian who frequents college campuses across the US, particularly in North Carolina. He is known for his unorthodox interpretation of the Bible and his theatrical, accusatory style of preaching. He will often argue vehemently with other, more moderate Christians, who often accuse him of misrepresenting the Christian faith and driving people away from it with his extremism. Rev. Birdsong, known to his audience as "The Pit Preacher" (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), "The Brickyard Preacher" (at North Carolina State University), "Preacher Gary" (at UNC Charlotte), or simply "Gary", has a large repertoire of subjects on which he preaches, ranging from the standards of Heaven and Hell, to drug use, premarital sex, homosexuality, Islam, Atheism, Feminism, Communism, masturbation, rock and rap music, abortion, evolution, tolerance, politics, war, fashion, witchcraft, and demonic possession. In the course of his sermons, he has been known to accuse members of his audience (particularly those who disagree with him) of being sinners, homosexuals (often stating that homosexuality is an effect of marijuana use), fornicators, masturbators, drug users, "lesbos" or "wicked, wicked women!" or state that they are "going to Hellfire!" Additionally, according to one of his recent sermons, the Reverend referred to all women as "manipulators, liars, and witches who need to learn to submit male authority." The Reverend also recently stated that all women should wear dresses, not pants, especially to church. He has been known to preach along with some of his followers, one of which is "Brother Joe," a self-proclaimed former drug user saved by a dream he had at 3am one morning in 1979.
Biography
Rev. Birdsong's background is unclear; information about him comes almost entirely from his own tales of himself. He claims to have at one time been a welder, a member of Hells Angels, and a smoker of marijuana before he "met Jesus" and converted to Christianity sometime in the late 1970s. These claims of his involvement with the Hells Angels also entail him making many journeys across the country on his motorcycle transporting rather large quantities of drugs, allegedly in the hundreds of pounds. In a sermon at UNC on 2006 March 08, he told his audience that he stopped smoking marijuana because it had caused him to lose an erection at an inopportune moment during his Hells Angels days. To this day, he asserts that marijuana will turn one into a homosexual. He also claims to have had a wife, who later left him for reasons unclear. How he makes money for a living, and the extent of his theological training, if any, are both unclear. He prefers warmer weather, earning himself the appellation of the "Fair Weather Preacher" by some. Gary is registered with the Wake County Board of Elections as a Republican residing in Knightdale, North Carolina.
Controversial Interpretations
He also has stated that he believes in racial segregation and that when Jesus instructed his follower to love their neighbors as themselves, that only applied to literal neighbors, not people from other places.
Students' Reactions
Rev. Birdsong often will draw a crowd as he preaches; his extremist views and confrontational style draw onlookers from all ideological backgrounds to argue with him. Atheists, feminists, gay rights advocates, and other groups he attacks will be joined by conservative Christians in the "debates" against him. Veteran "Gary Watchers" usually sit and observe quietly, or heckle him with miscellaneous unhelpful remarks.
At times, students take more unusual stances; it is common for same sex couples to kiss, or for students to openly read pornography, during his sermons. Objects lain down by the Reverend are often stolen by watching students, an activity that seems to be a crowd favorite at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Once, while preaching on the immodest dress of young women, he spotted a girl walking by in what he considered acceptable clothing for a female. He called attention to this, and in response the young lady removed her clothes and walked on.
Many students do not believe that he actually holds his stated beliefs, but is either truly insane, intentionally provocative (much like a real life troll) or even paid by the university to unite students and incite discussion among them. Some view him as a kind of caricature of christian fundamentalism, or possibly a real-life straw-man made to be easy to discredit and ignore.
Attacks on Gary are not uncommon. At North Carolina State University a student planned with others to strip down to a thong and dance while music blared from a nearby car. Also at NCSU, Gary was hit on the top of the head with a cream pie by a passing bike rider.
In 2002 at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a group of several large men picked up the Reverend against his will, carried him to the lake and tossed him into the water to the cheers of onlookers. After Preacher Gary extricated himself from the algae-filled lake he returned to the centrally located Belk Tower and resumed preaching. Most recently, while preaching, an electric guitarist began to play rock music while two female freshmen, Cassy Picard and Meredith Leas, danced with one another and took off their shirts. At seeing this Gary left within a few moments. Two days later, he returned to UNCC and was greeted by two electric guitarists: Kevin and Shea, who played while three girls danced and took off their shirts. Gary once again left, but was followed by two of the shirtless girls.
Crowds sometimes get so raucous that Gary designates a Pervert Zone which he completely ignores. He will take questions from other people though. Many students waste hours between classes listening to and arguing with him.
See also
External links
- Campus staple preaches His word, by Ashley Smith. Technician Online (the student newspaper of North Carolina State University), November 10, 2004.
- Photographs of Gary at ibiblio.org
- Photographs of Gary at NCSU, by Stephanie Bottitta, North Carolina State University, October 14, 2005.
"Gary Birdsong"