Pat Robertson: Sharon's stroke is God's wrath
 

Televangelist suggests illness is divine punishment for 'dividing God's land'


NORFOLK, Va. - Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land."

"God considers this land to be his," Robertson said on his TV program "The 700 Club." "You read the Bible and he says 'This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No, this is mine."'

Sharon, who ordered Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday.

In Robertson's broadcast from his Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, the evangelist said he had personally prayed about a year ago with Sharon, whom he called "a very tender-hearted man and a good friend." He said he was sad to see Sharon in this condition.

He also said, however, that in the Bible, the prophet Joel "makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land."'

Sharon "was dividing God's land, and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU (European Union), the United Nations, or the United States of America," Robertson said.

Invokes 1995 Rabin slaying
In discussing what he said was God's insistence that Israel not be divided, Robertson also referred to the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had sought to achieve peace by giving land to the Palestinians. "It was a terrible thing that happened, but nevertheless he was dead," he said.

The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging Christian leaders to distance themselves from the remarks. Robertson made similar comments as the Gaza withdrawal occurred, it said.

"It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel's leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. "His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don't see God as cruel and vengeful."

Pro and con
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said a religious leader "should not be making callous political points while a man is struggling for his life."

"Pat Robertson has a political agenda for the entire world, and he seems to think God is ready to take out any world leader who stands in the way of that agenda," Lynn said in a statement.

Robertson spokeswoman Angell Watts said of critics who challenged his remarks, "What they're basically saying is, 'How dare Pat Robertson quote the Bible?"'

"This is what the word of God says," Watts said. "This is nothing new to the Christian community."

In August, Robertson suggested on "The 700 Club" that American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has long been at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Robertson later apologized for his remarks, saying he "spoke in frustration."

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Ok, Can someone please ask Mr.Bobblehead/Robertson to please STFU????

He's such a waste of bandwidth. :distress:

He's a waste of oxygen.

I was thinking the same thing.

I'm not in the habit of wishing ill on anyone... but isn't it about time for him to kick the bucket? He's waaaay past his "sell by" date, and he's stinking up the place.

I think you'd be the perfect candidate for that job, Brian. http://smilies.vidahost.com/ups/DeNiro/eminem2.gif <=== (you)

:laugh:

I am getting the the point where I look forward to his comments.

Well, I don't know if I would go THAT far...

i just read that cable and satellite services here are now considering booting CBN's channel from their packages, but who gives a ****, i'm just so pleased that we're finally getting rid of Sharon, that i don't care that much about such rudeness or any other.

Yes, and just wait until god shows him just how much he appreciates people claiming to know "His will". ;)

The media should stop covering his nonsense. He is no different than the crazy people outside the BART station.

What a jackass. Sharon is old and ill. It will happen to you too, Pat. Will you then be smited, smote or whatever?

I know what you mean. It's kind of the way I look forward to watching the president on television now. :lol:

well, he's a smidge cleaner, but otherwise you're right...:laugh:

I thought I was the only one.

Let him keep talking, I'm beginning to look forward to hearing his funky ****.

True. :lol:

Me, too. He says that most priceless **** imaginable. At one press conference, he's asked why we haven't found Osama. His reply? "He's hiding." At another press conference last month about illegal immigrants and border protection, he outlines three steps in his new plan on fighting them. Number one was to track the illegal immigrants in our country down and deal with them. Number three? To prevent them from entering the country. You just can't make this **** up.

"Tribal sovereignty means that it's sovereign."

White House blasts Robertson's Sharon remark
 

The White House sharply criticized broadcaster Pat Robertson on Friday for suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land.


WASHINGTON - The White House sharply criticized Christian broadcaster and former Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson on Friday for suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land."

"Those comments are wholly inappropriate and offensive and really don't have a place in this or any other debate," presidential spokesman Trent Duffy said as President Bush traveled to Chicago for a speech.

Robertson, who has a history of controversial statements, made his comments about Israel and Sharon on his TV program, "The 700 Club." He said, "God considers this land to be his. You read the Bible and he says 'This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No, this is mine."'

Sharon, who ordered Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday. He has been campaigning for a March 28 election on a pledge to give up some occupied West Bank land as a way to end decades of conflict with the Palestinians.

"The 700 Club" has about 1 million viewers daily. The program airs on the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network, which Robertson founded

Robertson calls Sharon 'a good friend'
In the broadcast, the evangelist said he had personally prayed about a year ago with Sharon, whom he called "a very tender-hearted man and a good friend." He said he was sad to see Sharon in this condition.

Robertson also said, however, that in the Bible, the prophet Joel "makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land."'

Sharon "was dividing God's land and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU (European Union), the United Nations, or the United States of America," Robertson said.

Many of Israel's 245,000 West Bank settlers, backed by right-wing Israelis and conservative Christians worldwide, view the West Bank as the Land of Israel which God promised the Jews in the Bible.

Israel occupied the West Bank, now home to 2.4 million Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war and began settling Jews in the territory. Sharon's pullout plans had the support of Bush and other world leaders.

In discussing what he said was God's insistence that Israel not be divided, Robertson also referred to the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had sought to achieve peace by giving land to the Palestinians. "It was a terrible thing that happened, but nevertheless he was dead," he said.

Remarks widely criticized
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging Christian leaders to distance themselves from the remarks. Robertson made similar comments as the Gaza withdrawal occurred, it said.

"It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel's leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. "His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don't see God as cruel and vengeful."

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said a religious leader "should not be making callous political points while a man is struggling for his life."

"Pat Robertson has a political agenda for the entire world, and he seems to think God is ready to take out any world leader who stands in the way of that agenda," Lynn said in a statement.

The Senate's top Democrat, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, joined in the criticism, calling Robert's remark "completely outrageous, insulting and inappropriate."

Sharon "is fighting for his life. He and his family deserve our thoughts and prayers, and I hope Mr. Robertson will offer them after he apologizes," Reid said.

Robertson sought but failed to win the Republican nomination for president in 1988.

Standing by his comments
Robertson spokeswoman Angell Watts said of critics who challenged his remarks, "What they're basically saying is, 'How dare Pat Robertson quote the Bible?"'

"This is what the word of God says," Watts said. "This is nothing new to the Christian community."

In August, Robertson suggested on "The 700 Club" that American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has long been at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Robertson later apologized for his remarks, saying he "spoke in frustration."

In November, he addressed residents of a Pennsylvania town who ousted school board members who had advocated the teaching of "intelligent design" - the belief that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power - as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God," he said. "You just rejected him from your city."

He later said he was simply trying to point out that "our spiritual actions have consequences."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Duh, Once again Shruby-nuts Inc. is trying to distance themselves from Mr.Bobblehead "The Second Coming=Profits for the 700 Club" Robertson

Maybe then finally we wont have to look at the hideous pancake makeup he wears...:eek:

My favorite is quickly becoming the pattern in his speeches where he can't remember where he is. Last week, he called a hospital "this wonderful place" because he couldn't remember where he was. I also love it when The Late Late Show runs clips of his speeches slowed down and you can hear how slurry his speech really is.

Now I know the world is coming to an end soon when YOU are looking forward to what PAt Robertson says......:lol:

Only on the OUTSIDE.

Ok, on a serious note, you live there and see this stuff on a daily basis, what in your opinion will his incapacatation /death do to the peace process?

Yup, The Rapture is coming! ;)

Time to clear your pm's again dear. :)

Oops, all set.

Mr. Robertson says some interesting & unusual things from time to time.

He's a rascal!

a. sharon was about to easily win the forthcoming elections in march. it's almost certain that whomever wins instead, would be a bigger supporter of (what used to be) the peace efforts, but the downside is that there's no way that a new prime minister would be as politically-safe and as potent as sharon was in the last few years, so he/she would be more hesitant with this political nightmare.

b. at the moment no real bilateral progress can be achieved anyway, because there's no governing leadership on the opposite side.

c. either way, the fate of the middle east is no longer orchestrated in jerusalem but in washington, so as long as you guys f**k up with your electing, we're equally screwed here.

Please accept my sincere apologies. Sometimes we dont exactly know what were doing here...:laugh:

.
That one was on the daily show. Very Funny

Not "we", it's "they". I'm not remotely responsible for the disastrous outcomes of recent elections.

That's true. Same goes for me too. I have voted for Republicans in the past, but never our current president.