Pat Robertson and Haiti - Where Do I Even Begin...

In the above clip Pat Robertson once again claims that the suffering of a people is a direct result of their sin.  In this case, he says the earthquake in Haiti, as well as its extreme poverty are the result of a "deal they made with the Devil" to be free of French rule. 

Where do I even begin with this one?

It would be easy to mock Pat or be snarky, but I'll try to resist that temptation.  Increasingly, I have come to believe there is little chance that those who hold to Robertson's cosmology and theology will ever come around.   They simply have too much invested in this "cause and effect" theodicy to ever give it up.  Additionally, such theology has a built in Catch-22 that ensures its perpetuation.  Merely questioning it causes its adherents to fear they will be next on God's hit list of earthquakes, hurricanes or terrorist attacks.

Likewise, there is little point in preaching to the choir on this one.  I like to think that across the board, most Evangelicals, Mainliners, Progressives, and Emergents all find Robertson's statement distasteful on some level.  So there's little point in mockery or satire.

Robertson's statement is more than just fodder for Jon Stewart.  Likewise, it cannot be excused by saying "Oh, theology is just too complicated for me.  Leave that to the intellectuals and let's just all love the Lord."  

The ugliness of Robertson's statement is that it is no different than saying that rape victim was asking for it.  Blaming the victim, in the case of natural disasters or poverty is simply ignorant.  It gives the accuser the false comfort of thinking such tragedies will never befall them.  While there is little we can do to prevent natural disasters, there is much we can do about poverty.  Unbridled greed and consumerism, along with apathy, cause poverty - not pacts with demonic beings.

To his credit, I am sure Robertson's ministries will do much to alleviate the suffering in Haiti.  But what he is giving with one hand he is tearing down with the other.  Like his previous statements, Robertson's statement does nothing to further the cause of the gospel in the world.  I believe that through Christ, God is reconciling the whole world to God's self, not inflicting natural disasters upon other cultures.

So Pat - pray for Haiti, send them aid, but for Christ's sake (and I mean that literally) please shut up.

Comments

[Gary Lee Parker]

Don,

I know that natural disasters just happen, but how much of the increase in intensity of natural disasters is caused by the sins of the United States and other wealthy nations that have been abusing God's creation rather than using it and caring for Creation the way God intended us to? In this and other natural disasters because of the increase in intensity of natural disasters to do more damage, these are a cause of sin, but the sin of the Wealthy nations that have abused creation by gaining wealth at the expense of other people. Maybe we should confess and repent of our sins and begin to change our lifestyles to decrease the abuse and pollution of the environment?

[Don Heatley]

Gary,
I think the approach you're advocating is one way forward in how to deal with biblical passages about sin and punishment. It is certainly much healthier and realistic than Robertson's interpretation. Unfortunately, it is a message one is unlikely to hear on religious TV. That is why, although we Christians must focus on helping the people of Haiti, we must also speak up against such potentially harmful views.
Peace,
Don

[Bob Scott]

Since Robertson basically represents folk religion, this response feels right on the mark:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/01/the_devil_writes_pat_robertson.html