If memory serves...

Pat Robertson said the terrorist attacks of 2001 were God's punishment on this nation for tolerating gays, feminists, and non-believers who have sex outside of wedlock. Then, later, he says the United States should "take out" a duly elected president of another sovereign nation. Then he pronounces the "good citizens" of Dover, PA under God's wrath because they believe in a quaint notion called separation of church and state from an outdated document called The Constitution, and expressed that belief by voting out the religious right school board that believed religious dogma should be taught as science.

Now, in a statement that I must admit surprised me given how much air (hot air) the 700 Club has given to Israel's troubles over the last two decades, Rev. Pat says that Prime Minster Sharon is under God's judgement for "dividing God's land", whatever that means.

Now that Pat Robertson is a certified whack job, everyone pretty much gets. The pattern is clear for all to see. What I don't get is how it is that God, who is omnipresent needs to get territorial about any particular place.

I have mixed feelings whenever the media (including Salon) informs me of Robertson's latest insane utterance. On one hand, I agree with those who say bullies bask in the attention and so we should deprive them of it. On the other hand, I can't help thinking that the flaws of the religious fanatics MUST be exposed to help take some of the wind out of this movement that has done so much evil. However, whenever the latter thought crosses my mind, it's accompanied by a question: Assuming that they exist, why aren't the leaders among moderate and liberal Christians - the type who could get media attention - speaking out forcefully against Robertson and his ilk? We often hear conservatives calling for moderate Islam clerics to denounce the radicals among them. I think the same demand should apply to our own radical clerics, regardless of what so-called "faith" they wrap their fanaticism in.

In this day and age it is incomprehensible that anyone with more than a nursery school education and an IQ of greater than 40 would ever, EVER, take this man for anything other than a totally stupid individual. The fact that he can say the things he does and have them printed or placed on the air tells me how sick our society is

I always believe that we should be able to say anything, but if people listen to and believe in a man like Robertson they should be taken out back and thrashed.

Sharon's cerebral hemmorhage is a direct result of the anti-clot medication he was given. As so often happens the docs resolved a minor problem of clotting by creating a major one of brain bleeding.

But perhaps they can work in reverse to make amends -- resolve the major problem of Pat Robertson by creating a minor one: his own demise?

Shouldn't that be "radical cleric Pat Robertson"?

After reading Robertson's lastest death sentence on a non-Christian, something occurred to me. Bullies love it when they do or say mean things to others because it gives them all the attention they want or need. Most school children will avoid them, thus giving bullies the impression everyone is afraid of them or is weaker than they are. Maybe Robertson is showing his true colors by 'bullying' his way into the world's psyche and threatening with death anyone he perceives to question his power. Consider the city of New Orleans, Supreme Court justices, a Venezuelan leader and now Sharon as examples of this type of behavior. In other words, "Watch out or my god is going to get you!" I chose the lower case 'g' in the previous sentence because I do NOT believe Robertson's god is the one traditionally worshipped in the Judeo-Christian faith. His god is power and Robertson worships at that altar frequently! He whips himself into an ecstatic state with every threat and its subsequent broadcast to the world. With votive candles burning on either side of his television and with a missal stand holding his copy of 'The Prince', he settles back to watch his image repeatedly flicker across the screen. This man will not go away until we give him less attention than someone walking down the street with a sign that reads 'The End is Near'. In fact, narcissism may provoke him to do the same if he thought it worked!

When will it occur to Robertson and others that death, at least for persons of faith, leads to reunion with (and rewards from) their god?

Why are countless Christians quick to pronounce death as punishment? If they seek reunion with their god, there is but one way -- through the portal of death. If they are so confident that they will one day hear, "Mission accomplished; come home," then, "Next!" should be a glorious concept, even to Robertson.

Robertson sees death as the ultimate horror. He usurps the power of his god, apparently without fear of retribution. He pronounces judgment on behalf of his god as though his god cannot be trusted to get it right. He strong-arms to such extent that his god appears weak, puppet-like, and deeply confused.

Robertson and those like him feed on flashiness and boisterousness. They have no use for a contemplative god who could understand how things have fallen into disarray and who would want to extend mercy. How sadly desperate are those amongst us who pursue flimflam and find solace in threats and confusion.

Ariel Sharon and everyone dies because living has that effect on a body.

It's really astonishing how petty and vindictive Robertson's "God" is.

Remember this verse? Matthew 5:9--"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

Or are the Beatitudes too inconvenient to your "Christian" beliefs?

Pat Robertson and the other usual suspects make it too easy to be an unbeliever. We look at Pat, Jerry Falwell, Bill O'Reilly, and the other prominent media-beloved Christians, and say, "What a pile of pinheads." There are intelligent Christians in this country, but when the president is intellectually challenged and the media plays to the brain-dead crowd, those voices are ignored. Hey, Pat, Jerry, Bill, and crew, forget about the war on Christmas. The real war against Christianity is the media letting ignorant yahoos like you define Christianity. Why don't you shut up and let your betters do the talking?