It’s a good thing that Pat Robertson is an expert on Hell, because he is surely going to reside there some day:
MORE: It turns out we are not alone in thinking there is something horribly wrong here.
When so many in Haiti have died or are dying and suffering, how can anyone think this is the time to say such a thing? Does religion give Robertson the gall? I’m not going to ask why a belief in God doesn’t frighten people out of such heartlessness. It’s too sadly obvious that it does not.
Anywhere there’s human misery — after 9/11, after Katrina, even after Ariel Sharon’s stroke — Reverend Pat will be there to explain to the victims why they deserved it.
And that’s why he is an embarrassment to anyone who calls themselves a Christian.
———————
If you would like to make a donation to help the survivors in Haiti, click here.
Why is that?
Seriously?
Do you think the people of Haiti, who are trapped and dying under tons of debris as we speak, made a pact with the devil?
Or do you think that might be a cheap shot made at the expense of people who are suffering right this second?
Even if Pat believes what he is saying, it is grotesque to say it in this moment in this way.
Didn’t he say something similar after 9/11?
wow… Pat sounds like Brit Hume..
Whatever Pat Robertson believes is what he believes. Look up “Bois Caimon”. What I got from him on the clip including the 800# was his organizaton’s commitment to help those people with their immediate needs…now. Mebbe I need to watch the whole thing rather than just this clip, but he appeared committed helping them, and first of all, by praying. As a practicing Christian,with no way to physically provide immediate relief, praying for the victims is his first order of business. Got a problem with that?
But, lets take what he said prior to that at face value. Consider the Dominican Republic as the control part of the experiment on that island. What is it then, about Haiti? And not just the natural disasters, but what is the deal with their society?
I can roll with “Hey buddy, I think you’re way off base”, but not eternal damnation.
Well, truth be told, I don’t actually believe in a real hell. But if there was one, he would have booked himself a room by the fire for the shit he said after 9/11.
This is a pattern for him, and it is opportunistic bullshit.
He can rot.
And you can be sure that if tragedy ever befalls him, I won’t rub his nose in it, even if I am raising money for him in the process.
“Well, truth be told, I don’t actually believe in a real hell.”
So, you desire and fully expect Mr. Robertson go to a place you don’t think exists because of what he said.
Not putting words in his mouth, but it’s because he does believe there is a Hell that he feels compelled to say something to warn them away from it. At least he’s consistent.
Now, I’m not a Pat Roberston fan, so to speak, but I do understand what he’s trying to say.
It’s called a turn of phrase Robert.
Just curious, on a scale from 1-10 how offensive (if at all) do you find his statement(s)?
Mr. Robertson is doing the best he can with the information and beliefs he has. Any careful follower of Pat Robertson or the 700 Club should not be surprised.
Haiti exists mainly in the American consiousness as a steamy jungle filled with incomprehensible black natives, dancing and sweating to the beat of a voo-doo drum. Curses and zombies probably figure in there somewhere as well.
It’s a stereotype. It’s not factually correct but is true in the sense of a perception.
No biggie. Pat’s just being Pat.
I’ll take your word for it being a ‘turn of a phrase’. It didn’t come across that way.
I would be offended if Pat Robertson simply dropped that bomb and went on his way. As I mentioned, he’s moving the resources he has to assist in providing relief to those people. If I understand correctly,that starts arriving today. The way Mr. Roberson calls it doesn’t play well, but his faithfulness in helping others as in this disaster speaks much more about his ‘walking the walk’. It sure beats pious platitudes with “our thoughts and prayers…” etc. about the tragedy in Haiti with no action to back it up.
This Christian is very embarassed. Pat certainly doesn’t speak for me.
But due to his high profile, his remarks will be the “official Christian response”, especially once the MSM gets hold of them.
Christianity has an image problem, largely because of people like him who don’t really have love in their hearts.
Haiti is a total shit hole, even without this earthquake. OK, we’ll help. We always do. But it is pretty hopeless over there. It is a fucking tropical paradise and they still always struggle. Maybe their negroes are not light skinned or articulate enough.
[...] Pat Robertson makes an ass out of himself. Danny Glover channels Pat Robertson. [...]
Never Damn anybody to HELL. You were raised better than that. Things are said and this is proof. But in no way should anybody be wished to HELL. I KNOW your MOTHER raised you better than that.
When a building colapses for no apparent reason, responsible leaders go to the spot and investigate the cause.
Pat Robertson is one of those leaders that is bring to light one of the reasons for the devastation.
Pacting with the devil, satan, the dark lord or any spiritual agreement with the dark side brings desolation, death, poverty, plague and a number of other curses.
Cutting down the tree by the ‘roots’ ensures it will never rise again. Lopping off branches does not.
A Christian theologian positing the idea that Haiti’s problems (not just the earthquake) has something to do with long dead people choosing to put trust in Satan instead of G-d, and following that up with a compassionate statement of prayer, offers of help, and hoping some good may yet come for Haiti is offensive?
Don’t let anyone accuse you of not being able to read.
Nice. At least I didn’t get one of your very special Go To Hell curses, and I don’t even have a foundation to help Haitian victims. Must be my lucky day.
Look Jayne, I’m sorry if I am terse, but to blame their choice of religion while they are still buried under the rubble is so offensive that it is indefensible.
In a strange way, I’m reminded of the recent dust up between the Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, and Democrat consultant/thug Michael Meehan.
Sure, he knocked him to the ground. But hey, he was just protecting his Democrat client who he believes in. And hey, he did offer the reporter a hand up so, on balance…
There is nothing offensive or embarrassing here except to those who wish to find it. If reverend’s beliefs about Haitian history, then that is simply wrong, not offensive. He is not blaming God or the people suffering, he is calling it a generational curse, that’s all. By looking at the continuing suffering in that country, it’s a possible scenario, but no one has to agree with him.
The piling on Mr Robertson is what is embarrassing to me. I’d expect it from ABC, but it’s a shame coming from “friends.”
Unless you’ve been here awhile and have a grasp on Gods’ Old Testament history of how He allows retribution of truly sinful places, you will never understand Pat Robertson’s take on this and you certainly don’t understand Haiti. A lot of US Christians want the warm and fuzzy God. As Jesus once said about lukewram people, “I spew you from my mouth”.
How arrogant and egotistical can one man possibly be? Mr. Roberson thinks that his “piety” and broadcasting network give him the all-knowing authority to interpret natural calamaries as divine messages, and decree what is and isn’t G-d’s will? Mr. Robertson is a self-serving opportunist. Unfortunately, Mr. Robertson’s exploitation of the horrific circumstances that have afflicted the Haitian people is just the latest instance in a long and disturbing pattern of conduct on his part, where as a mere miortsl, he purports to be the spokesperson for G-d by “explaining” to the rest of us the “reason” for others’ misfortune.