Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 1:01am
Pat Robertson and the demonic powers
Column: All Paths
I am sure by now that several of my colleagues on this page have discussed Pat Robertson's answer to a viewer who asked, "Why do Christians tell non-Christians that Jesus is the only way to heaven? Those who are Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, etc., already know and have a relationship with God. Why is this? It seems disrespectful."
In his reply Robertson said, "It's not at all disrespectful, because all other religions really just worship demonic powers."
Needless to say, I was astonished when I heard this statement. "Astonished" is too mild a representation of how I really felt. Let's say that I was downright angry. I was angry because if you look across this great globe of ours, you will find war and strife in just about every region of the world. Most if not all of these conflicts are rooted in religious intolerance. And statements like this only spawn more religious hatred, strife and violence.
There is no doubt that Robertson feels that he uses the teachings of Christ as the foundation for living his life and interacting with others. Then I would like to ask him where is the Christ-like love, compassion and understanding in this statement? I think if Christ wanted his followers to look upon people from different traditions and beliefs in such a scornful and condemning manner, he would have communicated that in at least one of his many sermons and teachings. So, Pat, can you please direct me to the verse in the Bible or text that you used as a basis for this statement?
As an interfaith minister, I have decided to carry forth the good news that there is a seamless thread running through every religion that links us directly to the divine presence of one God. And I firmly believe that if there is a Balm in Gilead to heal the hardened, intolerant souls of this world, it can be found in an interfaith approach, where we can learn to accept and honor the traditions and beliefs of others.
My interfaith approach allows me to glean through the various religious traditions and find beliefs that help me better my relationship with and understanding of God. I am proud to say that even though I was raised as a Christian, I have found words and rituals that comfort and bring me closer to God in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Native American spirituality, etc. It is through this exposure that I am able to see God in all people, and feel comfortable that regardless of what tradition and beliefs others may have, they have a right to express them as long as they are not injurious to me. Hell, I even believe that someone can be so wrong that it is their God-given right to go to hell, if they so choose. And you know what, that's all right with me! So when Pat Robertson calls the adherents of all religions other than Christianity demon worshipers, he has really gone too far.
You know, I agree with Pat on one point (wow, that's amazing!). He said in this same statement that "There are many demons in the world." He is absolutely right about this. Most of these demons are born of the hatred and intolerance that is within our own hearts and are outwardly manifested in the world in the form of divisiveness, strife and war. This is anti-Christ behavior.
Finally, I would like to close with a quote for Pat to read. It is by Martin Luther King, who applied an interfaith approach to fighting segregation in America. Dr. King so eloquently stated in one of his lesser-known speeches, "The World House," which was based on his Nobel Prize lecture delivered in Oslo in 1966:
"A widely separated family inherits a house in which they have to live together. This is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a large house, a great world house in which we have to live together - black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Moslem and Hindu — a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace."
Did you hear him, Pat?
— — —
Rev. Jay Speights is an interfaith minister and main United Nations representative for The New Seminary in New York. He has a master's degree in public policy. You can learn more about his work at the United Nations at The New Seminary website His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Jay Speights
In his reply Robertson said, "It's not at all disrespectful, because all other religions really just worship demonic powers."
Needless to say, I was astonished when I heard this statement. "Astonished" is too mild a representation of how I really felt. Let's say that I was downright angry. I was angry because if you look across this great globe of ours, you will find war and strife in just about every region of the world. Most if not all of these conflicts are rooted in religious intolerance. And statements like this only spawn more religious hatred, strife and violence.
There is no doubt that Robertson feels that he uses the teachings of Christ as the foundation for living his life and interacting with others. Then I would like to ask him where is the Christ-like love, compassion and understanding in this statement? I think if Christ wanted his followers to look upon people from different traditions and beliefs in such a scornful and condemning manner, he would have communicated that in at least one of his many sermons and teachings. So, Pat, can you please direct me to the verse in the Bible or text that you used as a basis for this statement?
As an interfaith minister, I have decided to carry forth the good news that there is a seamless thread running through every religion that links us directly to the divine presence of one God. And I firmly believe that if there is a Balm in Gilead to heal the hardened, intolerant souls of this world, it can be found in an interfaith approach, where we can learn to accept and honor the traditions and beliefs of others.
My interfaith approach allows me to glean through the various religious traditions and find beliefs that help me better my relationship with and understanding of God. I am proud to say that even though I was raised as a Christian, I have found words and rituals that comfort and bring me closer to God in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Native American spirituality, etc. It is through this exposure that I am able to see God in all people, and feel comfortable that regardless of what tradition and beliefs others may have, they have a right to express them as long as they are not injurious to me. Hell, I even believe that someone can be so wrong that it is their God-given right to go to hell, if they so choose. And you know what, that's all right with me! So when Pat Robertson calls the adherents of all religions other than Christianity demon worshipers, he has really gone too far.
You know, I agree with Pat on one point (wow, that's amazing!). He said in this same statement that "There are many demons in the world." He is absolutely right about this. Most of these demons are born of the hatred and intolerance that is within our own hearts and are outwardly manifested in the world in the form of divisiveness, strife and war. This is anti-Christ behavior.
Finally, I would like to close with a quote for Pat to read. It is by Martin Luther King, who applied an interfaith approach to fighting segregation in America. Dr. King so eloquently stated in one of his lesser-known speeches, "The World House," which was based on his Nobel Prize lecture delivered in Oslo in 1966:
"A widely separated family inherits a house in which they have to live together. This is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a large house, a great world house in which we have to live together - black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Moslem and Hindu — a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace."
Did you hear him, Pat?
— — —
Rev. Jay Speights is an interfaith minister and main United Nations representative for The New Seminary in New York. He has a master's degree in public policy. You can learn more about his work at the United Nations at The New Seminary website His email address is {email jayspeights@newseminary.org}jayspeights@newseminary.org{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Jay Speights