People For the American Way Statement on Divisive Comments by Religious Right Leaders.

September 13, 2001 10:01 PM

People For the American Way Statement on Divisive Comments by Religious Right Leaders. "I am deeply saddened that in the wake of this week's devastating terrorist attacks, Religious Right political leaders Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have chosen the path of division rather than unity. At a time when political leaders of both parties are urging bipartisanship and national unity, it is truly unfortunate that Americans who watched today's edition of Pat Robertson's 700 Club television program received a far different message from Robertson and Falwell."
posted by tpoh.org (12 comments total)

As if anyone is surprised by the rhetoric.


Falwell and Robertson have spewed hate and intolerance for years. I consider them some of the most un-Christian Christians.

That said, I may not agree with what they say but I believe in their right to say it. It is up to us to disagree and counteract what they say. Free speech, regardless of content, is sacrosanct. Fight words with more words so that we need not fight with bullets.
posted by dewelch at 10:14 PM on September 13, 2001

Holy shit. That is truly what this is... supposedly holy men spewing shit. I am totally with dewelch, as a Catholic Christian myself I don't know what iota of this unsavory filth I can agree with at all. Talk about giving religion a bad name.
posted by jasonshellen at 10:42 PM on September 13, 2001

Aaron. . .what are you saying? You stand by the words of our own homegrown religious extremists?
posted by crasspastor at 10:55 PM on September 13, 2001

The truly disturbing thing is that these are not two people on the fringes of our society. They represent a significant, though alienated, portion of our society, and apparently have a large enough constituency to have a television show. I wonder what the TV audience thought of their idiocy.

Hmmm. This is reminscent of one of their remarks about how a hurricane struck Florida because of gays. But this remark is even more ignorant because this was not a random crash, but a deliberate, ideological attack against our post-Enlightenment, secular, tolerant civilization. It is interesting to think about who else believes these attacks were a divine judgement on our "modern excesses," such as increased freedom for women and tolerance for other religions.
posted by Charmian at 10:55 PM on September 13, 2001

Robertson and Falwell scored points against themselves.
posted by Loudmax at 1:23 AM on September 14, 2001

I live in Orlando, and Robertson said something along the lines of "Your city will feel the wrath of God" because the City Of Orlando let some rainbow flags be put up on lightposts for a gay parade/event downtown. I'm not sure. I don't even know why I posted.

It was a wussy little girl of a hurricane, though.
posted by noisemartyr at 3:21 AM on September 14, 2001

Okay.....I had not seen what these guys had said before now.....

As the token Christian on the board(or at least one of them) this is my take:


For years this nation has enjoyed a special protection from God.....the Christians in this nation have let their guard down, we have neglected to pray for our leaders as we have been commanded to do, we have been more interested at pointing the finger at everyone else and at each other than praying for people, caring for the"widows and orphans".... yes it is true that this is a very sinful nation, but the blame for that is laid at our feet, not yours.
I could go on....to make a long story short the Lord has allowed our special protection to be lifted....the question now is will we Christians get off our duffs, on our knees, seek His face, repent, and pray for this nation?

I am aware that many on this board will not understand what I have written...but do know that this tragedy originated in the mind of Satan, not the heart of God.
posted by bunnyfire at 3:52 AM on September 14, 2001

"Big shout out to God Almighty for helping me score that touchdown, I'm glad he's a bigger Giant's fan than a Jet's fan."

God cares nothing for politics, for boundaries, for religion, nor your ignorant thoughts.
posted by Mick at 7:49 AM on September 14, 2001

"The Christian mindset in America tends to be one where everything that happens in the world MUST have a spiritual explanation. Either God caused it, or he allowed it, or he allowed Satan to do it."

Exactly.

Check this out. Falwell has more to say:

'He said he did not believe God "had anything to do with the tragedy," but that God had permitted it. "He lifted the curtain of protection," Mr. Falwell said, "and I believe that if America does not repent and return to a genuine faith and dependence on him, we may expect more tragedies, unfortunately."'

Right on.

There are two evils here: the terrorists and the US. The terrorists committed the crime, and the US was not protected by God because we are sinful.

I grieve as you do for the awful deaths. I would encourage all of you at this horrible time to re-think what Christians have to say, for much much more death and destruction is to come.
posted by aaronshaf at 5:33 PM on September 14, 2001

"My invisible man can beat up your invisible man!"
posted by kindall at 5:38 PM on September 14, 2001