I know it seems trivial given the scale of the tragedy in Haiti, but Pat Robertson's remarks about the causes of the earthquake on The 700 Club yesterday are really so remarkably idiotic that I can't let them go without commenting.
In a repeat of the twisted logic which caused Robertson to blame hurricane Katrina on Ellen DeGeneres hosting the Emmy awards and his earlier statements that the attacks of 9/11 were God's vengeance on homosexuals, Robertson declared that Haiti was hit with this devastating earthquake and has previously suffered years of oppression and poverty primarily because of a pact the Haitian people made with the devil over 300 years ago.
After making his bizarre remarks and receiving criticism in the media for sounding like an absolute lunatic, later in the day Robertson's staff issued a statement; not apologizing as one would expect, but rather outlining the details of his Deus Irae theory of earthquakes:
"On today’s The 700 Club, during a segment about the devastation, suffering and humanitarian effort that is needed in Haiti, Dr. Robertson also spoke about Haiti’s history. His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caiman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French. This history, combined with the horrible state of the country, has led countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed."
Presumably those scholars teach at Bob Jones University, Oral Roberts University or Liberty Baptist College in their respective departments of Eschatology, Theurgy and Creation Science.
The scary thing is that there are people who actually listen to Pat Robertson and take what he says seriously. Even with his long history of bizarre statements and repeated claims that the apocalypse is just around the corner, millions watch his show and presumably share his delusion. Many of them even voted for him in the Republican primary a few years ago.
Perhaps we ought to establish a new kind of literacy test for voting. If you take Pat Robertson seriously then you are too crazy or too stupid to be allowed to vote. Why not just turn off The 700 Club and instead of sending money to televangelists, send it to the Red Cross to actually help the people of Haiti. I know you might miss the first American witch trials in 300 years or perhaps a live exorcism, but your mind and your soul will be better for it.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Christine
Dave, I saw this too. Pat is a disgrace to humanity and gives us Christians a bad name. And as a student of the bible and one who observes and analyzes those who teach in the name of Jesus, it is unfortunate that there are way too many of these false teachers out there. God help us.
And may God help Haiti in this most devastating time. I have wept over and over as I watch the heartbreaking, chilling coverage of what is going on over there.
2 - Zedd
Thanks Dave.
There was no pact with the devil.
There was a slave who was brought over from Jamaica (I believe the story goes) who started the revolt that lead to the liberation of the Africans in Haiti. This man, who happened to be charismatic and quite a physical force in his appearance, along with a priestess (if I remember correctly) directly from Africa gave an animal sacrifice, praying that they and their people be delivered from slavery, is how the story goes.
As interesting as the story is, what does that have to do with anything????
Roger, our discussion about humanness is most applicable in this situation.
3 - Zedd
BTW his theology is way off. We believe that salvation is an individual experience. A country can not sin. We believe that for all have sinned and that no sin is worse than another. I'm not sure if the priestess sinned those billions of years ago, (it doesn't sound like it), but her transgressions cant be passed down to everyone within that specific geographical parameter. This is all silly. Why am I going on. The more I type the more ridiculous I feel :o)
4 - Adele Livingston
If Pat Robertson's sponsors don't drop him
they are as guilty as he is.
5 - Ruvy
As I pointed out elsewhere, Robertson's story, if valid, was worth considering. If the doddering fool can't get his facts straight, then it's trash and nothing more. Apparently, he can't get his facts straight. If he indeed does have his facts straight and some evil force was invoked in the animal sacrifice Zedd speaks of, it is scary indeed.
I don't worry about this doddering old fool's theology. Any idiot who believes in three gods at once while pretending to believe in one does not have my respect. Full stop.
6 - Jack
What If he is Right? What does the Bible say about Devil Worship? If people know the Bible like they say they do, then they will know that God, can destory as well as love.
7 - doug m
If God was concerned about the Haitians, he wouldn't have allowed the quake in the first place. Praying to God for help at this point doesn't seem much different than Robertson's way of thinking.
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
Not gonna watch it, but I hope he said "...but with an earthquake borne of the devil comes a tsunami of holy water."
9 - Baronius
Let me see if I've got this right. He's saying that Haiti made a pact with the devil, and they deserve the earthquake, and this is his pitch for relief money? How does he think that's going to work? People aren't going to kick in a few extra dollars to help out the cursed country.
What he's saying isn't Christian, anyway. This stuff about ancient curses sounds more like voodoo, ironically. And Haiti is 95% Christian, the same as the Dominican Republic which God likes so much. The earthquake should have hit Cuba, if God is running with the percentages.
10 - Jack
People read your Bibles, Read the Story about Korah, Read the story about Sodom and Gomorrah, read the story (Ex13:15)that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.
God is God, he is the same as yesterday, today and forever more. He is God he changes not.
11 - Edwin
Pat Robertson is an ignorant racist bigot, himself a devil masquerading as a messenger of God! He is as extreme and fundamentalist to Christianity as Osama is to Islam. I will NEVER again watch 700 Club! And yes, it is better to send money to the Red Cross for the aid of the needy in Haiti than to send it to Pat Robertson and all those like him, who use the money to promote the devil's work in the name of God!
12 - zingzing
jack: "People read your Bibles, Read the Story about Korah, Read the story about Sodom and Gomorrah, read the story (Ex13:15)that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.
God is God, he is the same as yesterday, today and forever more. He is God he changes not."
ahh, a murdering prick.
13 - Arch Conservative
I know I'm supposed to be the reliable right wing nutjob, along with Nalle and very few others on this site.............
but Robertson is a world class douche. He is only eclipsed in his douchehood by the honorable Fred Phelps.
14 - Dr Dreadful
So, Arch, you're an equal-opportunity douche-diagnoser. Phelps is a Democrat. :-)
15 - Greg Barbrick
I second that emotion Arch, I simply could not believe what I was hearing when Robertson made those statements.
Thanks Dave for reminding me of his ridiculous Katrina sentiments also. This kind of stuff would be hilarious if nobody took him seriously. But as you mentioned, some do, enough to have even voted for him.
What a moron!
16 - Silas Kain
Arch, as the days go by I honestly think I could fall in love with you. And for that Pat Robertson and his ilk would have me stoned to death in the town square of Kampala. But back to Reverend Robertson...
There has to come a point in time where even the most adherent Christians have to stand up and put this man on notice. Pat Robertson is the epitome of evil in its human form. He incites hatred, bigotry, homophobia, and murder by proxy all in the name of Jesus Christ. While Jesus urges us "not to cast the first stone" I cannot sit idly by and watch this imitation of a devout man spew his venom any longer. Any politician in office today thanks to Robertson must be put on notice. Every poor disenfranchised person in this nation who clings to the hope of eternal life through the conduit provided by the 700 Club must wake from their slumber. The 700 Club, Pat Robertson and all those associated with it are the handmaidens of Lucifer. They are the agents of corporate pigs like Rupert Murdoch who prey on our fears and insecurities. They are so determined to take control of your lives that they will stop at nothing to achieve that which they believe is their Divine call.
As an adult survivor of child sexual abuse, I can say without any doubt in my heart or malice of forethought that Pat Robertson most probably is a victim of the same. The difference between this "Man of God" and me is I learned how to forgive and move on. Pat Robertson knows nothing of forgiveness nor does he even understand the words which Christ spoke on the Mount. Should I live long enough to see Mr. Robertson pass from this human existence, I will pray that God dispense His Mercies upon Mr. Robertson as he has imposed his mercies upon the least among us.
Jack, you can refer to Scripture all you want in your misguided anti-Christian homage to Robertson. But be forewarned. The harshest Divine retribution is for those of us who judged first without asking why. And in making my case, I refer you to Deuteronomy 13:1-5 --
If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder,
and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them,"
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.
If the Lord indeed dwells within my heart then I am confident in saying that Pat Robertson is the False Prophet because Pat Robertson's "God" is the Almighty Dollar which he disguises with the Blood of Christ.
17 - Alejandro
Who cares what this snake handling mouth breather has to say about anything? Can we finally stop giving any weight to the comments of these flat earther morons with completely made up credentials? Having a PhD in theology is akin to having a PhD in the series the teachings of Arthur Fonzarelli, except Fonzi is cool and fair and just...and like 1,000,000,000 times more plausible. Jesus Christ!
18 - Silas Kain
Phelps is a Democrat. :-)
Well, that caused me to take reach for the nitroglycerin (and I don't mean the explosive kind).
19 - Heloise
I am surprised he did not invoke God instead of the devil. Only evil men focus on the devil.
This quake was pure geology waiting to happen. They got the big one in the form of a strike-slip fault. Haiti is an outlier in terms of the Ring of Fire but had this huge fault line running under it. But if you build with concrete what do you get when an earthquake hits? The devil was in the details Pat. Concrete kills when it hits you.
The other detail: NOTHING manmade will ever be as powerful as what nature makes. The tsunami was like more nuclear bombs than on earth and this quake = 32 small atomic bombs. So the tsunami was more powerful by a long shot.
20 - jeanne
Pat robertson is no idiot. He is a man who hears what the Spirit is saying to the church and if I were you I think I would seriously get the wax out of your ears!!!!
21 - Silas Kain
Well I wonder how the new Governor of Virginia is doing after accepting $100,000 in political contributions from Pat Robertson? As Mr. Robertson and the Amway, I mean 700 Club collect donations to help the "salvageable" in Haiti, I wonder how much out of every contributed dollar will make its way to Port au Prince? Or will poor, hard working, God fearing Christians even care that their donations are financing the Devil's work?
22 - Heloise
Pat's not an idiot he's wrong. Millions of people worship the devil. I don't see a pact any different from worship.
That is no big deal. But Haitians also practice voodoo which is a big deal. They may have incurred enough karma. But hell how do you fight mother nature? You can't.
I think the country if messed up because black people run its government into the ground and steal like thugs. That will make any country self destruct. Now America is an expert in that field. Only we have more to steal and a further way to fall.
23 - Silas Kain
Pat robertson is no idiot.
You're right, oh faithful one! Pat Robertson is no fool! He condones slavery and oppression. He steals money from the faithful to fund his excesses and private works. Why I would even venture to guess that the diamond you may be wearing on your finger was mined in a Robertson operation. 'tis not the wax that stops me from hearing that which is the truth, my dear. Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened. And when all else fails, shut off the 700 Club and seek the Spirit for yourself in the air you breathe, the beautiful landscape you see and in the faces of those you love. God is all around you, He exists not in a cathode ray tube.
24 - Diane
What a menace this old, crazy fart is. Every time there is some horrible disaster he points his finger at some ridiculous 'reason' why this happened. What's the 'reason' for him being on this earth...'cuz THAT is a disaster!
25 - Jeannie Danna
Dave,
This is a great article and a necessary one too!
I hope the Pat reads it.
If I don't change the channel after the morning news then I end up listening to the 700 Club; one day, while cleaning my kitchen, I noticed a ticker at the bottom of the screen. That show pulls in a massive amount of money daily!
it's about time people knew what they were buying!
A safe way to give to the rescue and relief effort in Haiti is to TXT Haiti to 90999. Ten dollars will be billed to the next cell phone bill. the money will go directly to the Red Cross.