Posted on 01/05/2006 4:18:52 PM PST by laney
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.
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."
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."
Does this being America make it morally acceptable for you to slander out of proud ignorance, and trot out canards that children with even minimal Biblical training can refute?
The fool is wiser in their own eyes than seven wise men.
>"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24)<
Probably make the same point that was implied in the statement being discussed.God sets the standards we don't and all things are possible with God even when man sees it as impossible.
I will treat you with respect and I expect you to do the same.
Disagreement does not equal slander. Slander is defined as a "false or malicious statement or report about someone." I have not made any statements, malicious or even complementary, about any person in this thread.
There are many beliefs in this forum and in this country. Ours may not agree, but the expression of mine is allowed. Even if the doctrine of my religion is diametrically opposed to yours, I still have a right to it. And you have the right to yours. G*d bless. That I think we can agree on.
You do not treat me, or others with respect when you ponitificate out of ignorance, and impugn the veracity of Scriptures with mindless cliches.
You do slander when you give your dissent the status of "disagreement" rather than intransigence. It is an attempt to bring the knowledgeable down to your level.
Um, slander is a statement about a PERSON. Now, if I say you wear ladies undies to bed, that's slander. (Unless you are a lady, then I'll have to come up with something better.) Making a statement of personal religious belief is not slander.
Since when is expressing my OPINION disrespectful or pontificating? I have never and will never tell anyone that their religious beliefs are wrong or offensive on this forum. (Wait a sec, you don't worship squirrels, do you? Then I might reconsider.) You believe that your truth is the only truth. That is fine. Read my lips: I do not intend to try to make you change your beliefs.
Kind of hard to be intransigent (def: "stubbornly refusing to compromise"--hmm, who does that sound like?) when I stated my position one time and only one time. Not exactly digging in, huh?
If you have more knowledge of this subject than me, great! Why not share it politely instead of attacking? It's great to read new information--isn't that why we are at FR?
I did attempt to bring anyone "down to my level" (thanks for that one, a kind word really makes my day) with my statement. I stated my opinion about biblical translation, coming from religious, linguistic and historical education and belief. If you don't agree, either ignore it or tell me why. Why attack?
Perhaps the only Word they will ever hear is from other FReepers.
Don't argue, just share the Word with them.
Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed
in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have
not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?Romans 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is
written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” [Isaiah 52:7]
b'shem Y'shua
Cause I'm on graveyard, and I'm not a nice person on graveyard!
Seriously pa mom, I'm sorry. This was really uncalled for. I let all the empty headed chattering going on on several different threads frustrate me and I vented at you. Remember what it felt like when all the liberals were crowing about Dan Quayle's spelling?
I really am sorry, and I hope you'll accept my apology. I'm actually not a bad guy when I'm not being a bad guy.
I bet you don't wear ladies' undies, either! ;)
That's hard, I know (not the undies, part)--thanks. And this mom says get some sleep!
Unfortunately quoting Bible verses only works if the person you're quoting them to already accepts the authority of the Bible.
Well, it does work pretty good when someone claims "the Bible doesn't say that," or "who is he to speak for God."
Gotcha.
150 posted on 01/06/2006 12:02:05 PM MST by Zionist Conspirator
Only the Ruach haKodesh
can remove the scales from their eyes
and warm their heart to the Holy Word of G-d.
b'shem Y'shua
The first post of reason comes in at post #42. Why do people, even so called believers, think that God is sleeping? God punished Moses & other leaders in the Bible, why would He suddenly stop? God is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow. God does warn in His word those who would divide up His land. Is that what happened here? Only God knows for sure but one has the right to wonder.
Pat Robertson is crazy. Crazy like a fox . . .
Could be, but that little stretch of land and small population is surronded by millions of idolators who hate them. Not a very tenable situation and I don't think Pat does them any favor by giving them/us false hope. I think they ought to buy Baha and move there lock, stock, and barrel. It would make a great vacation spot after they modernized it. IMO.
1. Pat is not his birth name....it is Marion Gordon Robinson.
2. In 1996, Robertson "claimed that the portion of the U.S. Constitution that pertains to the separation of church and state was not in the original Constitution and was forged onto it by a Communist spy sent to Washington, DC by the Russians in the late 1920s. According to Robertson, the original framers of the Constitution were told by God that the United States was to be governed by a coalition of ministers, businessmen, and property owners and that the words 'democracy' and 'republic are nowhere to be found in the original U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights."
3. Robertson was "involved in a scandal in which he used donations from Operation Blessing to fund his diamond mine in Zaire. Each of the pilots of Operation Blessing have attested to this."
More wonderful stuff from the moron TRAITOR who said that the USA deserved 911.
Pat Robertson is a jackass. He proves the point that the best thing about freedom of speech is it makes the idiots easy to spot.
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