I genuinely wonder if Pat Robertson has gone mad. I heard his comments on my car radio that the Haitian earthquake was a result of a deal with Satan and almost drove off the road.
Suggesting that a 200 year old pact with the devil is the cause of the earthquake in Haiti is just bizarre.
Leave aside ignoring of the basic premise of Christianity -- a personal faith in and relationship with a saviour -- why would a vengeful god (note my use of lower case) wait 200 years to indicate displeasure?
Cicero noted, when a credulous scribe suggested snow was a sign from the gods, that the all powerful and immortal gods probably had better means of communication than snowflakes. How much more so the Almighty Triune God -- that God doesn't need to use signs.
The earthquake is an 'Act of God' in an insurance law sense but beyond that it is a tragedy of nature that people of faith can only try to explain through theodicy.
Anyway here's the story from cbs.com:
As Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said "well over" 100,000 people may have died in the natural disaster, Robertson took to the airwaves Wednesday on his show and said that the country has been "cursed by one thing after another" since they "swore a pact to the devil."
"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about," Robertson said Tuesday.
"They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.' True story. And so the devil said, 'Ok it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got something themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another," Robertson said.
Suggesting that a 200 year old pact with the devil is the cause of the earthquake in Haiti is just bizarre.
Leave aside ignoring of the basic premise of Christianity -- a personal faith in and relationship with a saviour -- why would a vengeful god (note my use of lower case) wait 200 years to indicate displeasure?
Cicero noted, when a credulous scribe suggested snow was a sign from the gods, that the all powerful and immortal gods probably had better means of communication than snowflakes. How much more so the Almighty Triune God -- that God doesn't need to use signs.
The earthquake is an 'Act of God' in an insurance law sense but beyond that it is a tragedy of nature that people of faith can only try to explain through theodicy.
Anyway here's the story from cbs.com:
As Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said "well over" 100,000 people may have died in the natural disaster, Robertson took to the airwaves Wednesday on his show and said that the country has been "cursed by one thing after another" since they "swore a pact to the devil."
"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about," Robertson said Tuesday.
"They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.' True story. And so the devil said, 'Ok it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got something themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another," Robertson said.
Here's a link to the video:
9 comments:
Pat Robertson revealed quite a lot about himself and the Christian Right today. To these people, black slaves freeing themselves from white masters is a sign of Satan's influence in the world.
Cliff,
I hadn't thought of that but you have a good point.
james
Your're both ignoring the fact that Haiti has been cursed from the beginning. PR may be saying something unpopular but he has a good point. He is not afraid to state facts. He is wrong that Haiti is cursed because of an old deal with Satan. But voodoo is all over the country and that will bring down the vengence of the Lord. PR cannot see the full truth but he is partway there.
He is an embarrisment
http://blogs.ajc.com/cynthia-tucker/2010/01/14/pat-robertson-harms-image-of-christians/?cxntfid=blogs_cynthia_tucker
I agree with Anon and disagree with Noble -- I strongly disagree with Noble. And I am sure most Muslims would also disagree with Noble.
The issue of natural disasters is a difficult one for theodicy -- but it is not dealt best with by bringing a Manichaean view of an "evil Other" -- and yes I know that is an oversimplification of Manichaean theology but my point is the same.
Blaming Satan is just silly.
The earth is a living mass and it's about time these so called educators of God, learned that fact.
"It rains on the just AND the unjust". LK Taylor (no relation)
A vengeful God is one who subjects us to dealing with the likes of Pat Robertson. Where have we gone wrong?
Mark -- I love that post!!!
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