…Robertson, 82, stated on Monday that one should always pray over sweaters purchased from the local Goodwill in order to prevent demons from entering their house. It was a response to an email from a viewer named Carrie.
“I buy a lot of clothes and other items at Goodwill and other second-hand shops. Recently my mom told me that I need to pray over the items, bind familiar spirits and bless the items before I bring them into the house. Is my mother correct?” Carrie asked Robertson. “Can demons attach themselves to material items?”
Generally, one would respond to a question like that with a resounding “no.” But for Robertson, this was a perfect opportunity to discuss the way second-hand clothes promote the Devil’s bids for the souls of all good Christians.
After hearing Carrie’s question, Robertson responded with the story of a Filipina girl who had purchased a ring second-hand. Apparently, a witch had invoked demonic spirits into the ring, and the object began somehow tormenting the girl until she prayed over it…
While Robertson admits a demon-possessed Goodwill sweater might be unlikely, he closed the statement by saying that, “Hey, it ain’t going to hurt anything to rebuke any spirits that happened to have attached themselves to those clothes.”
Especially if you’ve never gotten beyond the cave-dweller level of superstition.
That’s not just an emotional reaction to this silliness, it’s a bit of an educated analysis of Robertson’s flavor of Christian fundamentalism. We’re getting pretty close to the lowest common denominator of animism when you have to concern yourself about evil spirits living in a $5 second-hand sweater.
demons in goodwill sweaters??… wouldnt that make them badwill sweaters???
maybe they refer to these types of sweaters
http://myuglychristmassweater.com/
See last Thursdays Colbert Report for an in depth analysis.
The sweater can also be washed in new anti-demon formula Woolite, which effectively removes the sulfur smell that demons often leave behind.
You know what “they” say about prayer…
“How to do NOTHING and still think you’re somehow helping.”
So in having a conversation with a so-so friend of mine about space, time and the various dimensions he finally let it out, without knowing I believe, that it relates somehow to angels, demons, humans with demons living in other dimensions, humans on earth, angels in light (heaven I assume). He was relating all of this to the Kuran; he’s muslim.
My mouth dropped and I didn’t say anything more in order to stop the discussion from a science discussion to a religious one. Theories is one thing but how one even relates that back to religious…oh wait, demons in sweather…I got you! Was a wee bit slow there.
You need to read White Light by Rudy Rucker. He’s a PhD Mathematician who writes world-class science fiction that combines religion, science, math, drugs, metaconsciousness, and the pre-post-apocolypse. You will laugh.
Or as doctor zorba used to say, “man, woman, birth, life, death, infinity.”
So what. It can’t hurt. You can never tell, you know.
Maybe should do at retail stores. No telling who tried the sweater on before you bought it.
The harm shouldn’t be blown out of proportion, but I think perpetuation of this idea CAN hurt to a certain extent. It reinforces the notion to true believers that these fictional entities exist, and harks back to the days when sufferers of mental illness were thought to be inhabited by demons whose rightful home was in the pit of hell. Research into the workings of the brain and treatments for its malfunctions can only be held back when some people still defend the idea that these problems have supernatural causes.
This reminds me somewhat of an earlier era of Christians who held back many areas of medical research when they asserted their interpretation of holy scriptures that the human body was a temple, and that autopsies and dissection of that temple went directly against God’s will. Fortunately, today’s Christians are much more progressive and many believe that God uses doctors as tools to perform his healings. While that may be equally ridiculous, at least it’s not an obstructive belief.
I’d agree but I haven’t seen anybody who’s figured out how to disprove religion. Excuse me, Religion, with a big RRrrrr.
Perhaps a line of clothing will soon follow, with the Rev Robertson having already prayed over them?
A follow up question. Can you pray over a shipping container of sweaters from Malaysia on the dock of Long Beach or does each sweater need to be prayed over individually?
My first reactive comment to the headline, was “Why the hell is that idiot still alive?’ But, rational thought prevailed, he is not an idiot, for idiots have standards, which Robertson surely does not measure up to.
I am uncomfortable being a devil’s advocate but Pat fills a real need in society. Fear and superstition still play a big part in popular psyche.
But don’t we already have the TSA and other government agencies for that?
true dat
Norovirus, as an example, can live in fabric for several days. Is norovirus a demon? Intoning medieval incantations over used garments probably isn’t very helpful. CHBL. Can’t help but laugh.
And, lo, Ishmael sayeth unto him, “Go forth ye now to the Valley of the Jereboam and smiteth them with the legbone of a gerbil.”
— Fred 7:11
Seriously, man, these people are smoking some BAD shit!
The New Testament would suggest that if you have put on the full armor of God that sort of crap isn’t needed. On the other hand if you are merely superstitious it might be a good idea if only so you can feel better.
If you are an anti-theist you most likely think the entire topic suggests the everyone having anything to do with this topic is suffering from dementia.
We make fun of Pat Robertson and his ilk because they are harmless in our context relative to the other Dogmas of our day.
Everywhere I look I see dogma as ridiculous as Robertson’s but believed in by 30% or more of the populous as if they were as ignorant and faith driven as any other flock.
170 Million lost jobs?///Obama’s Fault.
Just two of them.
Ha, ha. Stoopid Hoomans. Creatures of Belief.
There is a large percentage of the population that believes in the supernatural.
There are some who believe a magical being created the universe and planned everything in advance, so everything that happens is part of a plan that was initiated by the magical being and we mortals do not have any influence on the outcome of our lives. That sort of belief is called predestination. Obviously, prayer to the magical being would have no effect because everything that happens is part of an overall plan, and we cannot expect the magical being to alter the plans to accommodate one silly hooman.
There are others that believe a magical being created the universe and is in control of everything that happens in the universe, and this magical being can be influenced to wave a magic wand and change the course of history if enough people band together and beg or “pray” for the magical being to change something in the universe that does not please them.
This group of “believers” have a habit of talking to the magical being on a regular basis and think of themselves as favored individuals because the magical being is believed to answer their begging or “prayers,” although the magical being may have a different outcome in mind.
Then there is Pat Robertson. He apparently believes that demons roam the planet and cause trouble for people and have a habit of attaching themselves to clothing, and begging the magical being will cause the demons to go elsewhere and bother someone else.
There is one thing that Pat Robertson does very well. He persuades people to give him money.
There is one thing that Pat Robertson does very well. He persuades people to give him money.
Maybe we should persuade him to be in charge of the GAO. I bet he could fill the gummint coffers like magic, by using his persuasion skills.
That is a stroke of genius. Well done!
Pat Robertson should go on television and persuade people to send money to the government to pay off the national debt. A generous gift from his television “ministry” would kick off the campaign, and his rabid followers would follow suit and the national debt would be retired in a matter of months.
I cannot think of a better way to do the work of God.
Good thinking. Damn good thinking.
I will gladly pay Pat $$ to exorcize the hideous sweater my wife gave me for Christmas. It’s not just the sequence Christmas trees and reindeer but the discordant color scheme of red and green. Holy shit this thing must have been made by Beelzebub himself.
Imagine all the ties that are possessed by demons.
There must be millions.
Let’s not forget that Goodwill competes with Pat Robertson for donations.
There may be an ulterior motive to his statements.
Here is an interesting Bible verse for Pat Robertson:
From the book of Matthew:
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Is casting out devils a sign of a true Christian?
Yes, it is a sign of a true believer.
These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils.
— Mark 16:17
No, some who don’t follow Jesus can cast out devils too.
John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
— Mark 9:38
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
— Luke 9:49
There is one thing that Pat Robertson does very well. He persuades people to give him money. /// Hmmmm. Does he do that well? Claiming that Goodwill Sweaters have demons in them? Does that sound like an argument made very well?=====OR====are there just that many ignorant MF’er out there that will give money in response to that dog whistle?
You know what a dog whistle is …. right?
Some feather nesting self centered hypocrite says what YOU happen to like, and YOU sign right up.
Was Charlie Manson doing very well when he found his 8 idiot to follow him?
Who do you follow and why?
Heh, heh. Yes…. the Siren’s Song, appealing to our own ego’s.
…….yea, verily. You figure out the …….
Pat Robertson is all about business.
From Wikipedia:
Business interests
Robertson is the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Inc., and founder of International Family Entertainment Inc., Regent University, Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, American Center for Law and Justice, The Flying Hospital, Inc. and several other organizations and broadcast entities. Robertson was the founder and co-chairman of International Family Entertainment Inc. (IFE).
Formed in 1990, IFE produced and distributed family entertainment and information programming worldwide. IFE’s principal business was The Family Channel, a satellite delivered cable-television network with 63 million U.S. subscribers. IFE, a publicly held company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, was sold in 1997 to Fox Kids Worldwide, Inc. for $1.9 billion, whereupon it was renamed Fox Family Channel. Disney acquired FFC in 2001 and its name was changed again, to ABC Family.
Robertson is a global businessman with media holdings in Asia, the United Kingdom, and Africa. He struck a deal with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based General Nutrition Center to produce and market a weight-loss shake he created and promoted on The 700 Club.
In 1999, Robertson entered into a joint venture with the Bank of Scotland to provide financial services in the United States. However, the move was met with criticism in the UK due to Robertson’s views on homosexuality. Robertson commented that “In Europe, the big word is tolerance. You tolerate everything. Homosexuals are riding high in the media … And in Scotland, you can’t believe how strong the homosexuals are.” Shortly afterward, the Bank of Scotland canceled the venture.[18][19]
Robertson’s extensive business interests have earned him a net worth estimated between $200 million and $1 billion.[20]
A fan of Thoroughbred horse racing, Robertson paid $520,000 for a colt he named Mr. Pat. Trained by John Kimmel, Mr. Pat was not a successful runner. He was nominated for, but did not run in, the 2000 Kentucky Derby.[21][22]
According to a June 2, 1999, article in The Virginian-Pilot,[23] Robertson had extensive business dealings with Liberian president Charles Taylor. According to the article, Taylor gave Robertson the rights to mine for diamonds in Liberia’s mineral-rich countryside.
According to two Operation Blessing pilots who reported this incident to the state of Virginia for investigation in 1994, Robertson used his Operation Blessing planes to haul diamond-mining equipment to Robertson’s mines in Liberia, despite the fact that Robertson was telling his 700 Club viewers that the planes were sending relief supplies to the victims of the genocide in Rwanda.
In response to Taylor’s alleged crimes against humanity, the United States Congress passed a bill In November 2003 that offered two million dollars for his capture.
Robertson accused President George W. Bush of “undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels to take over the country.” At the time Taylor was harboring Al Qaeda operatives who were funding their operations through the illegal diamond trade.[24]
On February 4, 2010, at his war crimes trial in the Hague, Taylor testified that Robertson was his main political ally in the U.S., and that he had volunteered to make Liberia’s case before U.S. administration officials in exchange for concessions to Robertson’s Freedom Gold, Ltd., to which Taylor gave a contract to mine gold in southeast Liberia.[25]
In 2010, a spokesman for Robertson said that the company’s arrangements — in which the Liberian government got a 10 percent equity interest in the company and Liberians could purchase at least 15 percent of the shares after the exploration period — were similar to many American companies doing business in Africa at the time.[26]
Taking care of God’s business is very lucrative.
Well Orchi…. you amuse me. Can you name the point of contest?
“Does Robertson do very well at making people give up their money?”>>>>>>>or is he doing something else?
You make a very common error in our society, one that Robertson, and other hucksters, even takes advantage of===> the notion that if you are rich, you mush be……XYZ.
I will allow you to fill in xyz because you can use just about every superlative there is. In this case…that one is clever and can craft good arguments and appeals??????
BUT I CHALLENGE YOU—how good an argument is “Goodwill Sweaters are infected with Demons?” How good an argument is that Orchi?
If you think that is a “good argument” then YOU have Shit for Brains.
If, as I think more likely, you recognize that is a retarded argument to make and yet Robertson, and other hucksters of his ilk, do rake in the money…then some other mechanism is at play.
I say that mechanism is that there are enough idiots on earth to turn over the amount of money he gets. Many 1000’s for Robertson, only 8 to 12 for Charlie Manson. Do you see the dynamic?
Then move on to similar idiot culling: politics. Name any popular rallying point of the moment—at least 30% of idiots agree. You see that on this forum with every issue posted.
Orchi—use your brain for something other than copy and pasting some screed with a few of the same words matching up. Use your brain. Look behind the screen.
Its right there…… Just Look.
snake oil salesman
The Christian’s Bible is a drug store. Its contents remain the same; but the medical practice changes…The world has corrected the Bible. The church never corrects it; and also never fails to drop in at the tail of the procession- and take the credit of the correction.
During many ages there were witches. The Bible said so. The Bible commanded that they should not be allowed to live.
Therefore the Church, after eight hundred years, gathered up its halters, thumb-screws, and firebrands, and set about its holy work in earnest. She worked hard at it night and day during nine centuries and imprisoned, tortured, hanged, and burned whole hordes and armies of witches, and washed the Christian world clean with their foul blood.
Then it was discovered that there was no such thing as witches, and never had been. One does not know whether to laugh or to cry ….. There are no witches. The witch text remains; only the practice has changed. Hell fire is gone, but the text remains.
Infant damnation is gone, but the text remains. More than two hundred death penalties are gone from the law books, but the texts that authorized them remain.
— “Bible Teaching and Religious Practice,” Europe and Elsewhere
— Mark Twain
Ha, ha. Being raised in ignorance, I did not know the bible counseled anything regarding witches. So I googled (bible witches) and see the term does not arise. But …. OK…. sorceress or fortune teller is close enough.
I have to say, every bible passage I read made good sense to me.
You find someone practicing witchcraft—-avoid them.
Who doesn’t?
Orch—once you find google hits that have a few words that have caught your interest, do you ever think about what is actually being said?
Just look……
HEY!!!!!!
Its only 900AM here, but I’m on my 6th Beer and about ready to lay my head down. I reread Eideard comments to the OP.
Well Done Eideard: “That’s not just an emotional reaction to this silliness, it’s a bit of an educated analysis of Robertson’s flavor of Christian fundamentalism. We’re getting pretty close to the lowest common denominator of animism when you have to concern yourself about evil spirits living in a $5 second-hand sweater.” /// And yet people want to give it any positive accolades at all. THAT being a whole different issue.
Well done Eideard. I can pass out peacefully knowing that Knights of Reason have the Realm under constant observation and report.
And I did get this life affirming quote from this Forum: “If religion could be reasoned with, it wouldn’t exist.”
Purely sublime.
Evil spirits, witches, demons, whatever you wish to call them, are the products of human imagination.
Beer is also a demon. You have been incapacitated by demon beer.
I will beg the magical being to banish the demon beer and clear your clouded mind.
There. Now you will start to make sense.
Well Orchi—at least you are being responsive to what I post, and that is a good thing.
Dare to be great.
Koskot Cosmetics
Not true.
There are people who call themselves “witches” and practice “witch crafts” of various sorts. So they, witches, are not “products of human imagination”.
That said, what the bible says about such things, and what some “religious leaders” say about such things, are often quite different.
History has shown that a large percentage of religions and religious leaders use cherry-picked twisted scriptures in order to control their congregation, often through fear or shame.
Even Jesus spoke of this regarding the religious leaders of his day.
Without Pat, how the hell are we supposed to know what god means and where to send the money?
This guy is no different then the recent retired Pedo Pope Nazi.
Same Guy different methods.
I think Pat likes adult women though.
as long as they have dollar bills attached.
Pat didn’t go far enough.
A witch working in the factory could insert a demon into a NEW sweater.
Then there’s furniture. And groceries – binding demons from each item before you put them in your car.
Pat Robertson is actually a mason, so he worships the devil and is an agent of chaos to make Christians look stupid. Thats why he says such goofy things.