Pat Robertson has declared that Islam is not a religion but a “violent political system.” For many, such statements are nothing new from Robertson. However, it was a bit more surprising yesterday to learn that Virginia Governor Elect Bob McDonnell has refused to disavow that view. McDonnell was opposed during the recent campaign for having extreme religious views and close ties to evangelical leaders like Robertson.
McDonnell attended law school at CBN University (now Regent University), founded by Robertson, and appeared on his show, “The 700 Club.” While at the Republican Governors Association in Austin, McDonnell refused demands from Muslims that he disavow such views. He merely stated “I think people are entitled under the First Amendment to express whatever opinions that they may have, but I can only say that as governor of Virginia, I intend to have an inclusive administration where we bring people across the political and religious system to help us govern.”
One wonders what his reaction would have been to an imam saying that Christianity is a cult or non-religion. McDonnell did say that he does not personally view Islam as a “violent political system.”
On his television show, Robertson said “Islam is a violent, I was going to say religion, but it’s not a religion. It’s a political system. It’s a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination. That is the ultimate aim.”
Of course, Robertson’s statements seem to ignore parts of the Bible that promise such things as
“You . . . will also be slaughtered by my sword.” (Zephaniah 2:12-15)
“They shall be apportioned for foxes.” (Psalm 63: 11)
“The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it, killing all its people and setting the city on fire.” (Judges 1:1-8)
During the crusades, the Muslims did not exactly view the Christian faith as a peaceful religious movement.
For the full story, click here.
To be off topic of my off topic topic:
The liquor store I work in has a policy that we check everybody’s ID. To make sure this happens our POS (Point of Sale, not the other POS) software requires a birthday be entered. Now for some reason the birthday prints on the bottom of the receipt. I had a guy yell at me for 10 min. about how that was an invasion of his privacy. I just can’t figure out how it’s an invasion of his privacy to hand him a slip of paper that has his birthday on it. Am I missing something?
BTW, if you’ve got a problem with a store’s policy: yell at the owners or managers, not the cashiers. Cashier’s don’t get paid enough to listen to you, and have usually have no ability to do anything about it.
Buddha,
I think in the end theocracy is doomed by its’ own rigidity.
Mussolini’s BRAIN
Pardon, having cat issues.
Uh, thanks Mike. I was probably still laughing too hard about the irony of selling Mussolini’s name. Or as Bill Murray said in “Stripes”, “Speed? Not speed. It must be all the cough syrup I drank this morning.”
This is the correct link to see why theocracy is doomed to cause trouble.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8345705.stm
Buddha,
Wrong link I think.
I do so hate to steer the conversation away from beer, especially since if anyone around this blog has earned a good beer it’s Vince. However this is germane to the thread topic, well written, and a fine example of why theocracy is a non-viable governance mechanism. The cherry on top is that it also shows our ol’ buddies the RCC in action being deliberate provocateurs.
Witness: Malaysia – Theocratic Meltdown Waiting To Happen
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8371171.stm
This is making me thirsty.
I could use a beer right about now.
Gyges:
I am not worthy, I am not worthy. I submit to the sensei of superior spontaneous repartee.
Bows
Even better, my boss is a big benevolent bearer of beer buttressing beer budgets for bare budgets bearers.
“benevolent buttress of bare budgets to bear beer?”
Now that’s a tongue twister
Gyges:
so your employer is a benevolent buttress of bare budgets to bear beer?
Byron,
To be honest, I take my beer seriously. The job at the liquor store just helps enable my bare budget to bear my beer.
Jill: “lottakatz, Your wrote: “I think that the bible talks about…” So you don’t really KNOW what the good book says? You are not one of us.”
—
No I ‘spose not. I tried to read it (as a history) a few times but it just bored me. I did make it through revelations but my association of the biblical end times with the statement regarding no trees standing as a precursor is as likely wrong as correct. It seems to me I got that from the source document but I’m sure not going to wade through the bible to try to find it. Just call me a lazy heathen.
I had forgotten about Rev. Robertson’s amazing vitamin fueled leg pressing prowess! It makes me wonder … is Pat Robertson actually…. Chuck Norris in disguise!?!?!? (dum dum DUUUUMMMM!)
Gyges:
“I take my job as cashier at a liquor store very seriously.”
Actually that level of service is appreciated by the consumer. Your boss is a lucky man to have you working for him. I would hazard a guess that you are the reason many people come to your store.
Robertson’s words illustrate a laughable ignorance of the Emperor Constantine’s actions that eventually resulted in the politicizing of Christianity as a state religion in order to fulfill a questionable vision of military victory in battle.
Robertson is a pot calling the kettle black.
Bryon and Buelah,
OT:
A note about Maredsous Triple (or Maredsous 10 depending on who’s doing the marketing), Maredsous is actually brewed by Duvel under contract for the monks of Maredsous abbey. Unlike the more famous beer producing abbeys in Belgium (Westmalle, Chimey, etc.) Maredsous is not a Trappist community.
I had a costumer who wanted to know why the coat of arms on the bottles of Maredsous we sell was different then the one on Orvell (one of the Trappist Abbeys), even though the bottle said “brewed for Maredsous abbey” and so did a little research. I take my job as cashier at a liquor store very seriously.