Editing Pat Robertson (section)

==Controversies==
{{Main|Pat Robertson controversies}}

As a commentator and minister, Robertson's statements frequently generated controversy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCammon |first=Sarah |date=8 Jun 2023 |title=Pat Robertson, televangelist and a leader of the religious right, dies at 93 |website=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/08/584849772/pat-robertson-dies-televangelist-and-a-leader-of-the-religious-right}}</ref>

Robertson's service as a minister included the belief in the [[Faith healing|healing power of God]].<ref>Randi, James (1989). ''The Faith Healers''. Prometheus Books. {{ISBN|0-87975-535-0}} pp. 197–206.</ref> He cautioned believers that some [[Protestant]] denominations may harbor the spirit of the [[Antichrist]];<ref>"'I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist': Right-wing TV evangelist and former Presidential candidate Pat Robertson is the man Bank of Scotland has chosen to spearhead its US subsidiary. Why?", by Greg Palast, Guardian Unlimited, May 23, 1999.</ref> denounced [[Hinduism]] as "demonic"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/july-1995/1995-07-using-tv-christian-pat-robertson-denounces-hinduism-as-demonic/|title=Using TV, Christian Pat Robertson Denounces Hinduism as "Demonic"|author=Valli Guruswamy Julie Rajan|publisher=[[Hinduism Today]]|access-date=2020-02-05|archive-date=2010-01-17|date=1995-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117164329/http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=3502|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Islam]] as "Satanic".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robertson says Islam isn't a faith of peace: Televangelist calls radicals 'demonic'"|author=Barisic, Sonja for [[Associated Press]]|date=2006-03-14|publisher=[[The Boston Globe]]|website=[[Boston.com]]|url=https://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/03/14/robertson_says_islam_isnt_a_faith_of_peace/|access-date=2023-06-09}}</ref>

Robertson denounced left-wing views of [[feminism]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Equal Rights Initiative in Iowa Attacked|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1992-08-23|author=Maralee Schwartz and Kenneth J. Cooper|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/08/23/equal-rights-initiative-in-iowa-attacked/f3e553a1-b768-449f-8d65-d096f9e318ee/}}</ref> activism regarding homosexuality,<ref>{{Cite web|title=California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Keeps Promise and Will Veto Abominable Homosexual 'Marriage' Bill Passed By Legislature Which Ignored Overwhelming Vote of California Voters in Proposition 22 Banning Homosexual 'Marriage'|publisher=[[Christian Coalition of America|Christian Coalition]]|date=2005-09-09|url=http://www.cc.org/content.cfm?id%3D253 |access-date=2007-03-31 |author=Combs, Roberta|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203021848/http://www.cc.org/content.cfm?id=253 |archive-date=2007-02-03}}</ref> [[abortion]],<ref>"Abortion to Die by 1,000 Cuts After Today's Supreme Court Ruling". Christian Coalition. 2007-01-18. {{cite web|url=http://www.cc.org/archives/abortion/index.html |title=Christian Coalition of America |access-date=2014-08-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012214126/http://cc.org/archives/abortion/index.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}. Retrieved 2007-03-31.</ref> and liberal college professors.<ref>"Right-Wing Watch", May 11, 2006, People for the American Way.</ref> Critics claim Robertson had business dealings in Africa with former president of Liberia and convicted war criminal [[Charles Taylor (Liberia)|Charles Taylor]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Charles Taylor war crimes convictions upheld |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-24279323 |website=BBC News |access-date=19 October 2020 |date=26 September 2013 |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920191252/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-24279323 |url-status=live }}</ref> and former [[Zaire]] president [[Mobutu Sese Seko]],<ref name="nationrobertson" /> both of whom had been globally denounced for claims of human rights violations. Robertson was criticized worldwide for his call for [[Hugo Chávez]]'s assassination,<ref name="nationrobertson"/> and for his remarks concerning [[Ariel Sharon]]'s ill health as an act of God.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/05/robertson.sharon/ "Robertson suggests God smote Sharon: Evangelist links Israeli leader's stroke to 'dividing God's land'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428024909/http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/05/robertson.sharon/ |date=April 28, 2006 }}, January 6, 2006, CNN.</ref>

During the week of [[September 11th attacks|September 11, 2001]], Robertson interviewed [[Jerry Falwell]], who expressed his own opinion that "the [[American Civil Liberties Union|ACLU]] has to take a lot of blame for this" in addition to "the [[pagan]]s, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays, and the [[lesbian]]s [who have] helped [the terror attacks of September 11th] happen." Robertson replied, "I totally concur".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://home.comcast.net/~joe.grabko/falwell.mp3 |title=Falwell speaks about WTC disaster, Christian Broadcasting Network |format=mp3 |access-date=March 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019023622/https://home.comcast.net/~joe.grabko/falwell.mp3 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 }}</ref> Both evangelists were seriously criticized by President [[George W. Bush]] for their comments,<ref>David John Marley, ''Pat Robertson: an American life'' (2007) p. 273</ref> for which Falwell later issued an apology.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/09/14/Falwell.apology/ |title=Falwell apologizes to gays, feminists, lesbians |publisher=CNN |date=October 14, 2009 |access-date=2010-09-07 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412224306/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/09/14/Falwell.apology/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Less than two weeks after [[Hurricane Katrina]] killed 1,836 people, Robertson implied on the September 12, 2005, broadcast of ''The 700 Club'' that the storm was God's punishment in response to America's abortion policy. He suggested that the September 11 attacks and the disaster in New Orleans "could{{nbsp}}[...] be connected in some way".<ref>First Read, NBC: [http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2010/01/13/4436174-robertson-on-haiti-pact-to-the-devil?lite Robertson on Haiti: 'Pact to the devil'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811144555/http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2010/01/13/4436174-robertson-on-haiti-pact-to-the-devil?lite |date=August 11, 2013 }}.  January 13, 2010.</ref>

In 2006, Robertson claimed to have [[Leg press|leg pressed]] 2,000 lbs three years earlier at the age of 73. Strength training experts reacted with skepticism. CBN attributed Robertson's energy and vitality to his "age-defying protein shake."<ref>{{cite news | title=How Pat Robertson Leg Pressed 2,000 Pounds | access-date=January 24, 2005 | url=http://www.cbn.com/communitypublic/legpress_explanation.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526030629/http://www.cbn.com/communitypublic/legpress_explanation.asp | archive-date=May 26, 2006 | url-status=live | work=cbn.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Pat Robertson's Age-Defying Shake | access-date=January 24, 2025 | url=https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/pat-robertsons-age-defying-shake | work=cbn.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=ClayNation: Pat Robertson's magical protein shake | date=May 22, 2006 | url=http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/9454343 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060612200352/http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/9454343 | archive-date=June 12, 2006 | url-status=dead | work=sportsline.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Robertson's 2,000-pound lift raises eyebrows | date=May 29, 2009 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13027545 | work=nbcnews.com }}</ref>

In 2009, Robertson said that [[Islam]] is "a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination". He went on to elaborate that "you're dealing with not a religion, you're dealing with a political system, and I think we should treat it as such, and treat its adherents as such as we would members of the [[communist party]], members of some [[fascist]] group".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hamby |first=Peter |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/18/mcdonnell-won%E2%80%99t-disavow-robertson%E2%80%99s-islam-remarks/ |title=McDonnell won't disavow Robertson's Islam remarks |publisher=CNN |date=November 18, 2009 |access-date=2010-09-07 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224031801/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/18/mcdonnell-won%E2%80%99t-disavow-robertson%E2%80%99s-islam-remarks/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Robertson's response to the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]] also sparked worldwide condemnation.<ref name="assistnews.net">Urban Legend Expert Debunks Haitian 'Pact with the Devil' {{cite web|url=http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10010104.htm |title=Urban Legend Expert Debunks Haitian 'Pact with the Devil' |access-date=2013-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121151214/http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10010104.htm |archive-date=January 21, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lauerman |first=Kerry |url=http://www.salon.com/news/haiti/index.html?story=/news/2010/01/13/haiti_robertson |title=Robertson: Haiti had "pact with devil" |work=Salon |date=January 13, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160520/http://www.salon.com/news/haiti/index.html?story=%2Fnews%2F2010%2F01%2F13%2Fhaiti_robertson |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref> Robertson claimed that [[Haiti]]'s founders had sworn a "pact to [[the Devil]]" in order to liberate themselves from the [[France|French]] [[slave]] owners and indirectly attributed the earthquake to the consequences of the Haitian people being "cursed" for doing so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017511878|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117040729/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017511878|url-status=dead |title=Televangelist Pat Robertson Says Earthquake Result Of "Cursed" Haiti's Satanic Pact|archivedate=January 17, 2010}}</ref><ref name="rfienglish.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100113-us-evangelist-says-quake-hit-haiti-made-devil-pact |title=US evangelist says quake-hit Haiti made 'devil' pact |publisher=[[France 24]] |date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116124145/http://www.france24.com/en/20100113-us-evangelist-says-quake-hit-haiti-made-devil-pact |archive-date=January 16, 2010 }}</ref> CBN later issued a statement saying that Robertson's comments "were based on the widely-discussed [[1791 slave rebellion]] led by [[Dutty Boukman]] at [[Bois Caïman]], where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbn.com/about/pressrelease_patrobertson_haiti.aspx |title=Statement Regarding Pat Robertson's Comments on Haiti |publisher=Cbn.com |access-date=2010-01-15 |archive-date=January 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117041858/http://www.cbn.com/about/pressrelease_patrobertson_haiti.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Thylefors, Markel (March 2009). [http://www.lai.su.se/gallery/bilagor/SRoLAS_No4_6.%20%E2%80%9DOur%20Government%20is%20in.pdf "'Our Government is in Bwa Kayiman:' a Vodou Ceremony in 1791 and its Contemporary Signifcations"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722160838/http://www.lai.su.se/gallery/bilagor/SRoLAS_No4_6.%20%E2%80%9DOur%20Government%20is%20in.pdf |date=July 22, 2012 }} Stockholm Review of Latin American Studies, Issue No. 4</ref> Various figures in [[mainline Christianity|mainline]] and [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]]<ref>[http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/01/pat-robertson-on-disasters-consistently-wrong/ "Pat Robertson on Disasters: Consistently Wrong"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118092405/http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/01/pat-robertson-on-disasters-consistently-wrong/ |date=January 18, 2010 }} Thursday, January 14, 2010, 1:01 pm by John Mark Reynolds</ref> [[Christianity]] have on occasion disavowed some of Robertson's remarks.<ref name="assistnews.net"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/faith/2010/01/guest_post_a_message_for_pat_r.html |title=In Good Faith: Guest post: A message for Pat Robertson – A blog for news and discussion on matters of faith |date=May 17, 2009 |publisher=Weblogs.baltimoresun.com |access-date=2010-01-15 |archive-date=May 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531110855/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/faith/2010/01/guest_post_a_message_for_pat_r.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2015, Robertson compared [[Buddhism]] to a disease on ''The 700 Club''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Samuel |title=Pat Robertson Urges Christian Woman to Quit Her Job So She Doesn't Get 'Infected' by Buddhist Co-Workers |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/pat-robertson-urges-christian-woman-to-quit-her-job-so-she-doesnt-get-infected-by-buddhist-co-workers-135504/ |access-date=22 January 2019 |newspaper=The Christian Post |date=March 11, 2015 |archive-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123010752/https://www.christianpost.com/news/pat-robertson-urges-christian-woman-to-quit-her-job-so-she-doesnt-get-infected-by-buddhist-co-workers-135504/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[American Center for Law and Justice]] (ACLJ), a conservative Christian watchdog group Robertson founded to promote Christian prayer in public schools, called for a multi-pronged attack on [[mindfulness]] programs because "they appear to be similar to Buddhist religious practices. Proponents of secular mindfulness say mindfulness is not a Buddhist practice; it is a contemplative practice used in religious traditions around the world by many different names."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Littlefair |first1=Sam |title=Conservative Christian group launches campaign against "Buddhist meditation" in public schools |url=https://www.lionsroar.com/conservative-christian-group-launches-campaign-against-buddhist-meditation-in-public-schools/ |access-date=22 January 2019 |publisher=Lion's Roar |date=December 19, 2018 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203182238/https://www.lionsroar.com/conservative-christian-group-launches-campaign-against-buddhist-meditation-in-public-schools/ |url-status=live }}</ref>