Mullah Robertson speaks again

[catsrback76]

I never said anything about the literal teachings of Jesus Christ. In my mind, nothing Jesus ever said in the Bible squares at all with any of the crap that guys like Robertson stand for. If self-proclaimed "Christian" leaders such as Robertson and Falwell actually followed the Biblical teachings of Jesus Christ, I would have zero concern. They would do nothing but be nice to other people and talk a lot about how they weren't in a position to judge others. That would be great.

Robertson = radical Mullahs. I don't care about the underlying philosophies in the equation, because both of them bastardize the philosophies they claim to represent.

BTW, I think Robertson relies more on Old Testament clips to get his more fiery material. The New Testament just doesn't lend itself to hatred and radicalism in quite the same way.

I think you are right. They also both come from the same theological center of dispensationalism. It teaches the rise of the nation state of Israel and the rebuilding the Jewish temple and sacrifical system as the single greatest way to secure the second coming. Anything that threatens that concept they view as not only false teaching, but something that God Himself will intervene in. Hence the latest diatribe.

[hokeyfine]

heard a pretty good discussion about muslims, etc on npr, jihad is not meant to mean kill or purge other people, but to purge our own evils within ourselves. pat robertson, one of the many things wrong with the religious right.

[briannell]

Not a surprise. I think Pat still needs to learn agape, Jews need to learn forgiveness. Since Jews don't believe Christ is Son of God, what he spoke is rather mute. Stick to old testament Ideals, but forgiveness is in there. I think dialogue would be good at this point.



Israel Suspends Contact With Pat Robertson By BRIAN MURPHY, AP Religion Writer
2 hours, 27 minutes ago



JERUSALEM - Israel has suspended contact with evangelist Pat Robertson for suggesting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for withdrawing from the Gaza Strip.

The controversy has cast doubt on plans for a Christian tourism center that would showcase the growing flow of money and influence from U.S. church groups.

The decision, announced Wednesday by Israeli officials, does not affect other Christian groups that also consider it their spiritual duty to support Israel as fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Israeli leaders see the Christian allies as tireless lobbyists in Washington and elsewhere. The evangelicals also funnel millions of dollars each year to Jewish settlers in the West Bank and — before last year's pullout — the Gaza Strip.

Tourism Minister Abraham Hirchson said he gave instructions to "stop all contact" with groups associated with Robertson. Last week, Robertson implied Sharon's massive stroke was a blow for "dividing God's land" with the withdrawal from Gaza and four West Bank settlements.

But Hirchson said the order did not apply to "all the evangelical community, God forbid."

Robertson is leading a group of evangelicals who have pledged to raise $50 million to build the Christian Heritage Center in Israel's northern Galilee region, where tradition says Jesus lived and taught.

Under a tentative agreement, Robertson's group was to put up the funding, while Israel would provide land and infrastructure. Hirchson had predicted it would draw up to 1 million pilgrims a year, generate $1.5 billion in spending and support about 40,000 jobs.

But the fate of the project is now in question, said Ido Hartuv, spokesman for the tourism ministry.

"We will not do business with him, only with other evangelicals who don't back these comments," Hartuv said. "We will do business with other evangelical leaders, friends of Israel, but not with him."

A spokeswoman for Robertson's ministry declined to comment on Israel's decision.

"We have not talked to the Israelis on this topic," said spokeswoman Angell Watts. "We continue to maintain our long-standing commitment to the Jewish people and the state of Israel."

Robertson's comments on Sharon drew condemnation from other Christian leaders and President Bush.

"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.'"

The "Christian Zionist" movement began to take shape in the 19th century, but in recent decades it strengthened into a powerful force with deep pockets. Some estimates place the annual figure of evangelical aid to Israel at more than $25 million. The Gaza withdrawal has become a new and potent rallying point.

In October, a group of Gaza settlers received a standing ovation from more than 5,000 Christians at a conference in Jerusalem sponsored by the International Christian Embassy, a private agency that promotes Christian ties to Israel.

Robertson's Christian Heritage Center is planned for 35 acres of rolling Galilee hills near key Christian sites, including Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and Tabgha — on the shores of the Sea of Galilee — where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fish.

Israel was considering leasing the land to the Christians for free.

Hartuv left the door open for continuing the project, but only with people who don't back Robertson's statements.

"We want to see who in the group supports his (Robertson's) statements. Those who support the statements cannot do business with us. Those that publicly support Ariel Sharon's recovery ... are welcome to do business with us," Hartuv said.

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[SonomaCat]

Nah ... I think Israel telling Pat to go to hell is more than appropriate. I don't recall Pat asking for forgiveness or even acting the least bit sorry. I doubt the Jews in Israel are proactively forgiving the PM or Iran for his comments, so it stands to reason that Robertson would similarly not receive a whole lot of undeserved foregiveness.

And we as a "Christian nation" don't seem too eager to grant Christ-like forgiveness to anyone (Osama) who attacked us (nor should we), so apparently the whole forgiveness motif doesn't play well in the international political scene.

[briannell]

well, Isreal will do what it wants - actually I'd like ol Pat to be thrown in a pit like Daniel and see if God protects him, or lets him be eaten. You know since God will always redeem those that repent, i think pat is to arrogant to do that.

[briannell]

oh by the way this Picture of dozer is just great! He's my love muffin had to make it my avatar

[SonomaCat]

well, Isreal will do what it wants - actually I'd like ol Pat to be thrown in a pit like Daniel and see if God protects him, or lets him be eaten. You know since God will always redeem those that repent, i think pat is to arrogant to do that.

I like that idea ... a lot. It would really test his assertion that he's the mouthpiece of God, wouldn't it?

[briannell]

good to see. as your worth to society is shown how you love. men are valued by financial and political standing, man outside of love is a failure to God. Thank my pastor for showing this so well to me.


By BRIAN MURPHY, AP Religion Writer
48 minutes ago



TEL AVIV, Israel - Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson has sent a letter apologizing for suggesting that Ariel Sharon's massive stroke was divine punishment for pulling Israel out of the Gaza Strip.

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Robertson's comments drew widespread condemnation from other Christian leaders, President Bush and Israeli officials, who canceled plans to include the American evangelist in the construction of a Christian tourist center in northern Israel.

In a letter dated Wednesday and marked for hand delivery to Sharon's son Omri, Robertson called the Israeli prime minister a "kind, gracious and gentle man" who was "carrying an almost insurmountable burden of making decisions for his nation."

"My concern for the future safety of your nation led me to make remarks which I can now view in retrospect as inappropriate and insensitive in light of a national grief experienced because of your father's illness," the letter said.

"I ask your forgiveness and the forgiveness of the people of Israel," Robertson wrote.

The 77-year-old prime minister suffered a devastating stroke Jan. 4 and remained hospitalized Thursday in critical but stable condition.

The day after Sharon's stroke, Robertson suggested he was being punished for pulling Israel out of the Gaza Strip last summer. The pullout was seen by many evangelical groups as a retreat from biblical prophecy of Jewish sovereignty over the area.

"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.'"

Despite the apology, it was doubtful Robertson would be brought back into the fold of the proposed Christian Heritage Center in the northern Galilee region, where tradition says Jesus lived and taught.

The exclusion carries a special irony for a preacher who helped define television ministries: The planned complex is to include studios and satellite links for live broadcasts from the Holy Land.

Rami Levi, director of marketing for Israel's tourism ministry, told The Associated Press that the government remains "outraged" by Robertson's remarks.

Israel's tourism minister, Abraham Hirchson, said Wednesday that Robertson's help was no longer welcome for the proposed center.

"But, of course, we continue full engines ahead to construct it because the Christian community around the world — the evangelical community — are friends," said Levi, who is responsible for coordinating tourism contacts between Israeli groups and other faiths around the world.

Christian groups, particularly evangelical congregations from the United States, have become an important source of revenue and political influence.

Evangelicals funnel millions of dollars each year to Jewish settlers in the West Bank and provide aid for those evicted from Gaza. They also represent an essential component of the estimated $4 billion in tourist revenue expected this year.

Levi said groundbreaking on the center could come early this year and the first buildings could be finished within two years. The complex will include an amphitheater and broadcast facilities near key Christian sites, including Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and Tabgha on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fish.

Hirchson had predicted it would draw up to 1 million pilgrims a year, generate $1.5 billion in spending and support about 40,000 jobs. Robertson was leading a group of evangelicals who have pledged to raise the $50 million needed to build the site.

But Levi said there was "more than enough outreach" to other Christian groups to meet the funding.

"The government does not rely on one person in constructing such a site, which is important to the Christians around the world," said Levi.

Levi suggested that an apology from Robertson would not get him back on the project, but he said that Hirchson did not exclude cooperation with Robertson on other fronts.

"We love to do joint projects with people. But we are also human beings and we have feelings and we think our partners should consider that at times — especially times like this — that statements like this hurt," said Levi.

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