I asked my churches today to pray for Pat Robertson.

[RevCheesehead]

That got quite a few puzzled looks, until I explained Pat's unfortunate remarks this week. I told them that he really needed to understand how his off-the-cuff remarks were causing harm, and damaging relationships. In one church, I even asked them if they would maybe consider asking that he would just keep his mouth shut.

Just thought you'd want to know. O8)

[DanCa]

1. were standing up to the right I like it.

Hugs. your a very special lady you know that?

[RevCheesehead]

2. Thanks, Danny!

You're pretty special, yourself! :hug:

Like I said, things don't change, unless you're willing to take a stand. (it certainly helps that my church is filled with liberals, too!)

[gmoney]

3. What did Pat say this week?

I've been otherwise occupied... did he blame those pesky coal mining families for "getting their hopes up" ?

[AntiCoup2K4]

4. No, he blamed Ariel Sharon's stroke on God!

Pat seems to think God got really pissed off when Sharon pulled the settlements out of Gaza. Pat also claimed that God assassinated Prime Minister Rabin in 1994 for daring to negotiate with Arafat.

[Giant Robot]

5. Thank you Rev!

I am feeling the same way about him and the rest of Christiandom as I am about suicide bombers and Islamic clerics. Somebody needs to stand up and say this is not what the religion is about and get these unfortunate few who take it down this path some help!

But I digress. Pat needs some help. Really. If its meds, therapy, or some religious counseling from his peers, he needs help. And I applaud your efforts for taking that stand. And I am equally disappointed that reps for Billy Graham et al had no comment on this matter.

[RevCheesehead]

10. I did comment about it more in my smaller church

(they're more informal there) I told them I was worried about his comments that seemed to be made without regard for how others might interpret what he says, and wondered if maybe he was in the early stages of losing it (alzheimer's, or something similar).

I really don't believe that Pat is deliberately trying to be an asshole. That honor goes to Dobson or Falwell.

[Giant Robot]

24. I don't know if this is deliberate on his part or not

But I think he has always had that kind of wackiness in him. Age or disease have only, in my opinion, loosened the chains he had on that beast, so to speak.

I guess what I am more upset by is how so few are standing up and saying he does not represent Christians/the clergy/the religion/etc. His words are dangerous and polarizing. I think he could quietly be exited from his ministry or whatever you want to call it if people would speak up. And I applaud you for doing so. To be honest I think you are probably braver than I am. Thanks!

[khashka]

6. He's doing himself no favours and hurting Chritianity

I've been told by several fundamentalists that they do not appreciate his remarks and that his views do not represent Christianity. I agree, I'm just surprised they said it.

His theology really is blasphemous - God as hit-man. And an incompetent one at that.

But he's vocal, he's famous and he's always on TV - people think he represents Christianity. Never mind the millions of Christians who live quiet lives of compassion and faith. It's time for real Christians to take their religion out of the hands of people like him.

Good to see your doing your part, Rev :)


Khash.

[RevCheesehead]

12. Thanks, Khash.

Keith covered some of this on his show last week (thurs or fri?). He had the head of the National Council of Churches on, and he commented that he really wish Pat would learn to keep quiet, and stop claiming to represent God falsely.

Hey - the new avatar looks good on ya! :)

[khashka]

20. Thanks!

It does look good, doesn't it? Wesley did it for me - he's very talented :)

Khash.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Good for you, my dear Rev.....

I truly believe that it takes a person with a big heart to take such action.....

Whenever I contemplate Pat Roberts, I feel hostile....It's hard for me to feel charitable towards him...

You set a fine example, my dear......Blessings on you!

:dilemma:

[RevCheesehead]

13. I have to work hard to rid myself of hostility.

Poor guy can't keep himself from mixing politics and religion. He just doesn't see that God loves the whole world, and not just Pat's little corner of it. :(

[salin]

19. IMO, you are far, far too generous to Pat.

Read up on the early "organizing" efforts of the Christian Coalition - many ministers were uncomfortable with mixing politics and religion ... so the goal was to target one or two "influencers" in the congregation and sign them up, then give them a set of pressure tactic speeches to go to the minister to convince him the benign nature of just allowing the distribution of "voter guides"... then identify receptive members based on that effort, organize them through local Christian Coalition meetings, etc. All this planned just after ole Pat, after losing the nomination run declares he is getting out of politics.

Then his very suspect dealings with corrupt African leaders, that correspond with gold and mining interests, whose countries suddenly get targeted by Pat, on his TV show, as the focus for needing FUND, sent to Pat, for missionary work. But there are alot of questions surrounding the amount of $$s going to actual missionary work, and simultaneously Pat gets involved in some... investments.

Pat has a long history of chasing material wealth (at the expense of the faithful), and political power. He was Dobson, before Dobson became even more successful at it.

[salin]

8. How was the message received?

[RevCheesehead]

15. Overall, very well.

I think at first, some people were surprised that I mentioned it. But once they understood why, they were OK with it.

They're used to it though - because I dared to tell them that we need to pray for Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, as well. Jesus didn't say "love only people you like." He also didn't say "go out and kill your enemies." He said "love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."

Radical, Outrageous Christianity. O8)

[salin]

22. Very thought provoking stuff RevC

glad you are sharing it with your congregants.

[xmas74]

9. Why can't you live near me?

I would have stood up and applauded(or wet myself from laughing so hard at the other members' gaping mouths).
Good on you! No Christian worth their salt should ever make comments like Robertson did.

[RevCheesehead]

16. Silly Xmas -

Everyone knows that good cheese comes from Wisconsin! :D

Thanks for your encouragement. :hug:

[xmas74]

25. It's the only cheese I buy.

Those early years in Wisconsin taught me something. They taught me that I can only eat REAL Wisconsin Cheese and that it is the only thing allowed in my home.

And you are more than welcome for the encouragement. I hope you had a receptive crowd.

[skygazer]

11. What a great way of de-fanging that viper!

Kill 'em with kindness. Well done. :applause:

[RevCheesehead]

17. Just following the words of my Lord.

Sometimes, taking the upper hand has better results... and, of course, is more representative of what Christianity is all about.

[undeterred]

14. I was thinking of starting an online petition to him

asking him to take a vow of silence until the rapture. :evilgrin:

[RevCheesehead]

18. I love it!

Dear Pat,
God knows what to do. He requests that you sit back and let him manage the universe, OK?

:rofl:

[UrbScotty]

21. Good for you! BTW, Happy Epiphany!

;-)

[RevCheesehead]

23. Happy Epiphany to you, too!

May God continue to reveal to us the true nature of Jesus (and not the neo-con's version).

:hug:

[bridgit]

26. oddly, it's not just robertson; orthodox jewish settlers are voicing...

similar thoughts, stipulations of his new party, which was keyed upon his personage, his being there to manage it; his 'say so' regarding any successor as a for instance, was to have been set in time just hours after sharon's stroke leaving many in israel proper to conclude a hand-of-god explanation :shrug:

i see the hand of the goddess in many things, but i say his malady is just as easily seen as a product of his age, over weight status, and world class stressors

[struggle4progress]

27. He should be deep-fried in holy oil. eom

[NMMNG]

28. rAmen

That is just what is needed--for more liberal, rational Christians to finally take a stand against the rabid reich-wingers. Those people have misrepresented your beliefs for too long, and have turned this country in to a fascist Theocracy as a result. It is only if you stand and refute their lies, hatred and evil schemes that the ball they have set rolling can be stopped.