I am a Southern Baptist, and I strongly condemn Pat Robertson's comments.

[NaturalHigh]

I know that a lot (if not the majority) of DUers don't really like Southern Baptists, but the vast majority of us are perfectly capable of seeing that Pat Robertson's comments on Haiti are batshit insane and reprehensible. I personally do not know of a single Southern Baptist who would agree with what he said.

The disaster in Haiti is a human tragedy of almost unimaginable proportions. The Jesus that I worship and admire loves these poor people and would abhor what Pat Robertson said this morning.

[GMA]

1. Mormons, too.

I don't understand the man at all...

[gateley]

8. I'm a 'nothing', but I am honestly perplexed how my fellow human beings could

find no compassion in their hearts, just judgment.

I think many of us know Robertson has pretty much jumped the shark.

[roguevalley]

45. a deist with spiritualist overtones and a huge, HUGE affection

for paganism, I am aghast. No one should blame anyone in a religion for this. This is what you get when you pretend to have one. There are many of them out there and he is responsible for perverting the goodness and righteousness that religions promote.

[gateley]

2. I think you "get" your Jesus's message. So many others don't.

:hug:

[Mudoria]

3. I think the vast majority of us do..

The God Robertson worships certainly doesn't seem to be the one I do.

[Texasgal]

4. Both of my parents are Southern Baptists

and I can guarantee you they would find Robertson's comments disgusting.

[Warpy]

5. Bill Moyers and President Carter came out of the Southern Baptist church

and that church gave both men a great sense of justice and injustice and a framework within which they have both spent much of their lives.

Oddly enough, I don't identify Robertson with the SBC. The man is a Dominionist of the very worst variety and a disciple of evil and completely unlike the many Baptists of good heart that I know in real life.

[AspenRose]

19. Welton Gaddy is Baptist too (host of AAR's "State of Belief")

I also doubt Tony Campolo would approve of these comments either

[FiveGoodMen]

26. ..and Jimmy left it because it had become so awful.

[lumpy]

46. It is my unerstanding that Jimmy Carter left his S.Baptist

church because of their reactionary policies.

[DontTreadOnMe]

6. So as a Southern Baptist...

What are you actually doing to remove Pat Robertson from representing Catholics.

I am tired of Catholics who let their leaders get away with reprehensible behavior.
Where is the accountability!

[shawcomm]

9. Huh? Representing Catholics?

When did he start doing that? He doesn't even represent Christians. He's only in it for himself, under the guise of Southern Baptist.

[Winterblues]

25. Are you saying Catholics and Christians are somehow different?

:shrug: Catholics are Christians you know....

[ProdigalJunkMail]

27. but not all Christians are Catholics...

or is that somehow confusing for you?

sP

[Winterblues]

41. Really.......

I would never have known that if you hadn't of informed me so tactfully.....Sounds like someone is really hung up on themself..:shrug:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

43. judging from your earlier post

it would be clear that you don't know how they are different...

sP

OnEdit : added word 'how'

[shawcomm]

31. Just wondering what Robertson has to do with representing Catholics...

Or any other Christian for that matter. Robertson is also an asshole, but I wouldn't demean all other assholes by linking them to Robertson.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

11. why would Pat Robertson represent Catholics?

or any Christian for that matter other than himself? The problem that most people don't realize is that most protestant denominations have little to no accountability above the level of local church pastor...I as a Presbyterian have no power for or against the pastor of another Presbyterian church let alone a Southern Baptist one.

The only way to get rid of idiots like Robertson is to stop giving him money...unfortunately there are a lot of people that agree with him and DO give him money...but don't let him speak for any Christians other than himself.

I can strongly condemn what he says (and I do on frequent occasion as the man is an asshat) but I am just me...

sP

[NaturalHigh]

13. Sorry, but I don't understand your comment.

Pat Robertson is not a Catholic and is not affiliated with the Catholic Church or any Catholic organization as far as I know.

[lpbk2713]

28. WTF??

:crazy:


Could you possibly mean Christians?


Other than that I have no idea.

[lumpy]

47. Robertson is no Catholic. He doesn't consider Catholics

to be Christians. He is representative of dogmatic Southern Baptists.

[Dorian Gray]

55. What does Pat

Robertson have to do with Catholics?

[hamsterjill]

7. Amen!

"The Jesus that I worship and admire loves these poor people and would abhor what Pat Robertson said this morning."

Amen to that! And seconded!

Robertson is a dirt bag for saying things like this.

[butterfly77]

10. Southern Baptist ,Northern Baptist..

what's the difference aren't they all praying to the same God,or at least some think they do. I don't know who some of these evil bastards are praying to.

[Dappleganger]

12. christian here (no affiliation)

and I condemn that douchebag.

[Moosepoop]

63. Same here

and "Amen" to that!

[tabatha]

14. He needs to learn about plate tectonics to know

how utterly ridiculous he sounds.

Edited: thanks for correction - my mind was elsewhere.

[jberryhill]

15. tectonics

Plate tectonics:



Plate technology:

[Bluerthanblue]

16. I pity Robertson.

the god he worships is a hateful, cruel, fickle, evil, divisive and destructive force. Mr.Robertson has become a mirror for this distorted monster. I'd sooner burn in hell eternally than cozy up to the "higher power" Robertson champions.

The Jesus that I love and seek to follow is right there among the rubble of the "least of these" in Port Au Prince, and so many places throughout this sad old world of ours. He isn't wagging fingers or judging others suffering.

Thank you for pointing this out.

:grouphug:

[csziggy]

17. Do support the other tenets of the Southern Baptist Convention?

Or do you condemn their policies the way that Jimmy Carter has? If you support the concepts that the SBC preaches, how can you be a Democrat since their beliefs are so antithetical to Democratic ideals? Or do you follow a more moderate point of view the way Carter does?

Jimmy Carter Renounces Southern Baptist Convention
Source: UPI / BeliefNet
URL: http://beliefnet.com/story/47/story_4798_1.html

ATLANTA, Oct. 20 (UPI)--Former President Jimmy Carter, the son of a Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher, has disassociated himself from the nation's largest Protestant denomination and criticized its "increasingly rigid creed." "I have finally decided that, after 65 years, I can no longer be associated with the Southern Baptist Convention," the 76-year-old former president said in a letter mailed to 75,000 Baptists nationwide on Thursday by a group of moderate Texas Baptists.

Carter said the Southern Baptist Convention, which has almost 16 million members, has adopted policies "that violate the basic premises of my Christian faith," including a denominational statement that prohibits women from being pastors and tells wives to be submissive to their husbands.

He said the "most disturbing" reason he and his wife decided to disassociate themselves from the Southern Baptist Convention was the elimination of language in June that identifies Jesus Christ as "the criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted."

More: http://www.adherents.com/largecom/baptist_SBC_Carter.html

[NaturalHigh]

30. Even though it's a little off subject, I feel that I should respond to your question.

I used to say that I was one of the fortunate people who agreed with absolutely every tenet of my church. As I've grown older, there are some things that I'm not so sure about. I still agree with almost everything that my church teaches, and many of my religious beliefs would not be popular here at DU. However, I believe and know without any doubt that Jesus loves me and everyone despite our failings (and believe me, I have many).

The Jesus I've read about and believe in sided with the downtrodden and rebuked the money changers at the temple. Since I believe that Jesus is eternal and never-changing, I know that he wants us to help the people of Haiti (and the poor everywhere) rather than judge or chastise them.

[csziggy]

37. While the philosophy claimed for Jesus may be good, few "Christians" live by them

I have a real problem with what organized religions have done with their interpretations of his teachings. At this point in time, I think the Southern Baptist Convention has strayed very far from those teachings and do not understand how any caring person can still support the SBC.

[salguine]

39. I think Gandhi put it best when, while in Britain, he was asked by a Western reporter

what he thought of Christianity. He replied: "I like your Christ. I like your Christ very much. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

[csziggy]

40. +10000

[lumpy]

48. I was a church member for 40 years, born and raised in the

Episcopal Church (which is considered to be of a more liberal bent). Well I am now 81years old and it took me almost half of my life to finally grow up and cast off the religious shackles I was attached to since childhood. What a relief it has been to realize I am not bound by certain tenets considered to be truths without benefit of logic or reason. Hallelujah!

[Moosepoop]

61. +1000!

[randr]

18. Where did the Christian leadership go?

During the Civil Rights Movement and the Viet Nam protests leaders of every faith stood on the front lines.
Has the loonie toon fringe taken over the Christian Faith as well as the Republican Party?

[AspenRose]

20. "....leaders of every faith"

So perhaps you should check the websites of "every faith" (that would be denomination) and see what they're doing. Because unless they're right-wing you won't see it on the mainstream media, and odds are they're too busy actually WORKING to help Haitians, to respond to an idiot like Robertson.

[FiveGoodMen]

29. With regard to the SBC, "It was achieved by the systematic election, beginning in 1979..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Baptist_Convention_conservative_resurgence

[csziggy]

38. The Southern Baptist Convention was not a supporting organization for civil rights

The most racist comments I ever heard came from my uncle who was a minister ordained by them. He was also spiteful and hate filled about any other group that did not meet his narrow range of acceptable people, including people whose religious beliefs did not follow his standards. He sincerely thought that his sister, my mother, was destined to go to hell because she left the Baptist Church and became a <gasp> Presbyterian!

I was fortunate to be left out of his yearly tirades under the auspices of Christmas newsletters - he felt that since Mr. csziggy and I were never really "married" when we had no church ceremony. Frankly, I never missed his unpleasant comments.

[AspenRose]

21. I will give you a K&R but be warned...some see blood in the water.

Just sayin'. As long as you've been here, you know the score.

[NaturalHigh]

24. Yes, I know.

I'm aware that many of my religious beliefs are not popular here at DU, but I would hope that all Christians could agree that Jesus was (and is) on the side of the downtrodden.

[Bluenorthwest]

35. Your church is opposed to my being, to my family and to

treating us as equals. So I supposed even you might understand why they are not popular. But we forgive you, so don't sweat it.

[fascisthunter]

67. wow... that was an awesome reply

[Manifestor_of_Light]

42. Your church does not think women should run their own lives.

As a female, I find that quite insulting.

The morals of a bunch of illiterate goat herders are not adequate for the 21st century.

No, actually Jesus was in favor of the cruelty of the Old Testament:

Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets. He hasn't the slightest objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament. matthew 5:17

"For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." Isn't this from the Republican Party platform?
Matthew 13:12

Jesus will give to those who already have and take from those who have nothing. He must've been a republican. Matthew 25:29

"Be content with your wages" -- no matter how unjust they may be. Luke 3:14

Jesus condemns the whole world, saying "Woe unto the world because of offenses." Matthew 18:7

Jesus advises his followers to mutilate themselves by cutting off their hands and plucking out their eyes. He says it's better to be "maimed" than to suffer "everlasting fire." Matthew 18:8-9

In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the king threatens to enslave a man and his entire family to pay for a debt. This practice, which was common at the time, seems not to have bothered Jesus very much. Matthew 18:25


If you think Jesus was in favor of the downtrodden, you better do some serious cherry-picking. Jesus was not always a nice guy. I would have more respect for Christians if they only read The Sermon on the Mount and "Judge not lest ye be judged" and "As you did it unto the least of them, so also you did it unto me.".

However, many of them take everything in the bible as literally true, which is logically impossible.

:shrug:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

44. boy talk about cherry picking and fucking up by totally missing the context

let's just look at the very first scripture you reference...Jesus was not talking about possessions there...you could not be more wrong if you made a concerted effort...maybe that is what this is...

[Liquorice]

49. I agree that it's horrible the way women are treated in organized religion, but

those quotes from the Bible are parables, and not to be taken literally. I know there is deep meaning and interesting spiritual truths behind those things you quoted, and I don't even consider myself part of organized Christianity. Many people (fundamentalists and the like) have trouble understanding that the Bible contains spiritually esoteric knowledge for those who recognize that it isn't to be read literally.

[AspenRose]

59. True. I follow Jesus, not Pat Robertson.

Know them by their fruits, and all that.

[humblebum]

22. He needs to retire - yesterday nt

[Vinca]

23. I seldom wish people ill, but a well placed bolt of lightning wouldn't be a bad thing.

[tonysam]

32. Robertson talked about Haiti being under the rule of Napoleon III,

but Robertson evidently has been under the rule of Napoleon XIV.

[NaturalHigh]

34. I pointed out the "Napoleon III" thing to my wife.

Napoleon III was the French ruler in the 1860s. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was the French ruler when Haiti was under French rule

[mulsh]

33. tv personality,con man, grifter, sure but is he also a minster?

I spend a minute or so at his web site, didn't find any info about him being anything other than a con man, huckster,businessman and of course hard core white trash. lots of bs about JC but anyone can spread that bs.

Very few of us can actually emulate JC, which is probably why christians call it "practicing a religion"

I, too, know a fair amount of Southern Baptists, even here in CA and none of them are anything like P.R. And most of them are pretty good at emulating Jesus teachings. ( I hope that last line demonstrates my respect and admiration for sincerely religious folk.)

[salguine]

36. I think religion is like alcohol. Some people can handle it responsibly and some

people are driven completely insane by it.

[Blue_Tires]

50. ttt

[panzerfaust]

51. All Knowing, all Powerful God

aware of the fall of a single sparrow ... or not.

You can't have it both ways.

The mighty God of Abraham exists and allowed/wished this to happen, or He could not prevent it from happening, or, more probably, "He" does not exist and the event was caused, as all events are, by the natural workings of the universe.

If the Christian God of Abraham did exist, other than in the imagination, then, basically by definition, the world can ONLY be as He Wills it to be. Islam: Submission to the Will of Allah (and Allah is also that self-same God of Abraham) accepting the bad along with the good.

In 1755 Lisbon was devastated by a similar earthquake. The theologians of the day - both Catholic and Protestant - were united in their judgment that the destruction was a deliberate act of your Christian God to punish the city for Sin. They could accept both the good and the bad that comes from being subject to an Omniscience and Omnipotent God, one who created the world, and who is manifest in it.

Why pray, if you think God powerless?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

52. Pat Robertson Is A Fool

~

[Mimosa]

53. Robertson is clearly senile

The old man is suffering from senile dementia and shouldn't be on TV. I don't know why DUers are getting so worked up over the blather of a senile old man. I wish people would refrain from giving his words any attention.

He's not important. What is important is helping the Haitian people who are suffering after the earthquake.

[FiveGoodMen]

64. "He's not important"

He has millions of viewers.

Who give him millions of dollars.

So he can reach millions more.

Who vote the way he tells them to.

[Mimosa]

65. He lost his influence long ago.

Even rightwingers on Lucianne are putting down the old geezer.

[Dorian Gray]

54. Hi comments are rubbish, and

I would suspect that 98% of Southern Baptists would agree. I am Catholic, and I, too, condemn his comments. He's a jackass who speaks from his behind instead of thinking with his brain.

[pecwae]

56. Recced

for your post and for your bravery to state your religious affiliation on DU.

[madokie]

57. I was raised Southern Baptist

The church my dad built back in '52 still has services but I am a born again non-religious happy man knowing full well there is no such person who comes back from the dead and damn sure isn't going to be bringing the believers with him as he ascends to the heavens. Its all a bunch of hooooey. All I have to say on the resurrection, is have fun while waiting. When you die you're going the same place the rest of us do. Some like me will be burned and become ashes others with become worm dirt, nothing more or nothing less. IMHO

peace

[IsItJustMe]

58. I have a different take on it. To me, Pat Robertson is the symptom of what passes for Christianity

in this country, and not the problem.

The moment you say that my god is true and yours is false, you are feeding into intolerance and one of the oldest egoic traits of humanity, superiority.

And hey, when you are superior to everyone else, you can do all sorts of cruel and mean things to your fellow human being and feel justified in doing it, because after all, you know the truth and other person is ignorant.

The roots of all the major suffering and pain that is in the world today is this mistaken notion.

I am for tolerant religions that recogniz the fact that all rivers lead to the ocean, and one does not have to follow a certain dogma or doctrin (That is man made to begin with) to get there.

Nope, Pat Robertson's statements are symptons of what much of Christianity has come to represent.

[Democrats_win]

60. Pat Robertson: What would Hitler do. Follow Hitler's example.

This guy is no "christian." In fact this is the darkest day for american "christianity."

[Kalyke]

62. My father's side of the family is Southern Baptist.

I went to their churches quite a bit and never saw the hate-spewing, politic-trash-talking that goes on now.

I know a lot of Southern Baptists who think Robertson's an evil man.

[fascisthunter]

66. nah... not this atheist... good is good

I don't care whether one is religious or not. The Jesus you learned about is the same Jesus I grew up learning about.