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Lets be fair and reasoned on Pat Robertson

Yes, he made what could be considered one of the dumbest, most poorly timed statements yet. But those are just words, honestly. What is Pat Robertson doing about Haiti's recent disaster:

"Dr. Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them. His humanitarian arm has been working to help thousands of people in Haiti over the last year, and they are currently launching a major relief and recovery effort to help the victims of this disaster. They have sent a shipment of millions of dollars worth of medications that is now in Haiti, and their disaster team leaders are expected to arrive tomorrow and begin operations to ease the suffering."

No doubt, Pat's statement was really stupid, and he still hasn't apologized for it, he holds to a really, really dumb belief system that regards "curses" as real, actual things.

That said, I am not personally sending "millions of dollars" worth of medications to Haiti. On top of that, his organization was helping the people there long before this disaster, and likely will continue long after it is no longer front page news.

I think as atheists its important to show we are reasoned, rational people, and do not stoop to "demonizing" without knowing and considering all the facts. The hallmark of a "bright" is rational, clear, and unbiased reasoning. Lets be sure to apply it here as well.

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Comment by ryan cameron on January 19, 2010 at 9:35pm: John D: I disagree, we want him to be loud, and keep spouting his idiotic opinions, because that takes credibility away from Evangelical Christianity and helps people realize how delusional and repulsive the bible is.

Jason: I agree we should raise a ruckus, but I think we should point out...perhaps loudly, that pat is merely living out what is clearly taught in the bible. Pat's living proof that the bible is repulsive.

Diana: Exactly why the Bible is repulsive, and pat, being a loyal follower of the bible, is living proof of how much of a delusional, unhealthy, anti humanist book the bible is!

Comment by Jason Spicer on January 19, 2010 at 6:25pm: Pat Robertson is cut from the same cloth as his followers, to be sure. We should absolutely call him out as the wacko he is, though, because it means his followers are too. Also note that I don't have a whole lot of ire for the tamer sects of Christianity. To the extent that Christians distance themselves from Robertson and his ilk, they move toward actual morality. As an exemplar, Robertson is a lightning rod for the criticism appropriate to his religion. If we don't raise a ruckus when he says outrageous crap, when would anybody have an opportunity to see what his religion is all about? He needs to be loudly condemned, and we should not stop with him. We should point out that his followers are enabling a monster, which means they're monsters too.

Comment by Prog Rock Girl on January 19, 2010 at 1:34pm: I wonder what effect his words have on his average followers. He may have given money to help Haiti, but his words might have made his followers just say "they made a deal with the devil, they deserved it".

Comment by ryan cameron on January 19, 2010 at 9:24am: Im not saying we let him off the hook personally, Im saying his entire world view and everyone who shares it is "on the hook", not just him. We cant let the christians isolate him as some old raving lunatic, his words were logical based on the belief system they hold...seriously. We Atheists need to use this opportunity to point out how ridiculous the delusional belief in christianity is, and that Pat is merely one of many examples. Do NOT let them get away with writing him off as some "isolated whacko" because he is NOT, he represents mainstream evangelicals!

Comment by Jason Spicer on January 18, 2010 at 7:05pm: Either Pat Robertson is evil or he's suffering from religion-induced psychosis. Or both. It's possible that he's "not guilty by reason of insanity", but somehow, I just don't want to let him off the hook so easily. That he believes what he is doing is right is no defense. He's had more than ample opportunity to come to grips with basic morality and to seek medical help for his delusions, and yet he not only blames helpless victims of natural disasters for their own suffering, he cons people on a daily basis. Please don't forget that his core business is fleecing people out of their Social Security money to line his own pockets. That he gives some percentage to actually relieve suffering in no way exculpates him. I'm sure Al Capone gave treats to the poor kids in the neighborhood. You have to draw a line somewhere, and Pat Robertson is clearly on the wrong side of the line. He belongs in prison, whether in the general population or the hospital ward. His crimes against humanity cannot be excused or balanced against his humanitarian gestures. Roughly the same arguments can be made against the Pope and any number of other super-evangelists. They hurt far more people than they help. And most of the people they help only benefit from the placebo effect.

Comment by Michelle on January 18, 2010 at 12:40pm: I think I see and concede your point. Perhaps instead of 'demonizing' him about a simple comment, the arguments should be about his actions and include the understanding that he is doing what he believes is right. Moreover, while his one comment was inappropriate and ill timed, it does not go against the majority of Christian ideology. For example, the anti-Harry Potter folks and some who even hate Scooby Doo because of a belief in the reality of the 'occult'.
This goes to the core of being able to understand someone without agreeing with them.
Does that more or less sum up where you were going?

Comment by Gecko, Seth...brother of Richie! on January 17, 2010 at 9:36pm: I dont have "unbiased" reasoning. My reasoning is colored "brightly" by my absolute disdain for Robertson and ALL of his followers. His "relief" efforts will in the long run fuel more problems within a nation already suffering from extreme superstition and mind poisoning.
I agree ...Pat Robertson is a good xtian, and I would guess most of his sheep are as well...and there in lies the problem.

Comment by ryan cameron on January 17, 2010 at 9:05pm: Pat is the logical conclusion of the Evangelical Christian worldview, which dictates that "curses" are real and exist in the case of Haiti. He is doing what he can to help them, but he honestly belives what he says, and so do millions of others. If you separate pat from the rest, you give creedence to the worldview by saying he is an anomaly, but the reality is, he is the norm if you follow what the bible teaches.

Comment by ryan cameron on January 17, 2010 at 8:56pm: but the bigger picture here is we shouldnt take his bait and rush like lemmings to "demonize" him because it only galvanizes the religious right into anti athiest frenzy as they cite the above message...my point really has little to do with Pat specifically, and more with our response as a group. The difference between rational people and religious people is one group carries pitchforks and torches, the other carries reason and open, honest debate. I'm probably beating a dead horse here so I should probably quit while im behind :)

Comment by mrs kelligurl on January 17, 2010 at 8:44pm: I firmly believe that his 'humanitarian' aide and his guilt-tripping attacks are nothing more than a marketing tactic. He needs to be called out on the carpet, plain and simple. Anyone of lesser means being public about the things he has said would be on terror watch lists and possibly in a well deserved straight jacket. I absolutely understand ration, reason, and clear objective thinking; I also understand con artist and manipulators of humanity.