Of all the inane comments made about Islam and Muslims following the Ft. Hood incident, Reverend Pat Robertson may take the prize. He claimed on The 700 Club, a popular Christian television show, that Islam is not a religion.
If we don’t stop covering up what Islam is. Islam is a violent…I was going to say religion but it’s not a religion…it’s political system; it’s a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination.
In response to this dangerous stupidity, on November 16 Mark Pelavin, Director of the Commission on Interreligious Affairs of Reform Judaism and Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, sent a letter to Reverend Pat Robertson, asking him to retract his comments. The letter states:
"Dear Rev. Robertson,
"On behalf of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, representing the largest stream of American Jewry in North America, I write to express our outrage at the remarks pertaining to Islam that you made on “The 700 Club” on November 9, 2009.
"When speaking about this month’s tragic shooting at Ft. Hood, you referred to the alleged shooter’s religion, saying, “Islam … [is not] a religion, it’s a political system, a violent political system, bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination, that is the ultimate aim…and I think we should treat it as such and treat its adherents as such as we would members of the communist party or members of some Fascist group.”
"We understand and share your concern about Muslim extremists. Too often, they have blasphemed their own faith, just as extremist Jews and extremist Christians have done. The danger posed by those who resort to violence in the name of religion is real, and it does seem to have been a significant part of the story at Fort Hood. But, of course, that is not what you said.
"Rather you made the outrageous and bigoted claim that Islam itself is the problem – and, in doing so, you denigrated the faith of some 1.5 billion people.
"How disappointing to see a religious leader stoop to this level, attempting to delegitimize one of the world’s great faiths based on the actions of someone who perverts its teachings. Do you not have any Muslim friends? Have you no Muslim colleagues? Have you never met a peaceful Muslim, someone with whom you might find common ground? If not, how sad. If so, how do you reconcile their life with your claim that Islam is “a violent political system” and “not a religion”?
"One of the advantages of having your own television program is the opportunity to revisit statements you have made. I sincerely hope you will do so in this case. "
How can anyone take Reverend Pat Robertson seriously?
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Comments
Very good article. Keep up the good work
Great article! Very well said. It's such a shame that people such as Robertson choose to ignore the thousands of Muslims serving America with honor. Keep up the good work sister.
I enjoy telling people that I walked out on the last major church I attended when the pastor stated that Islam is the root of all evil.
I fully agree with Pat Robertson.
Islam is the enemy within, within our country, within our government and within our army.
I do not believe that an individual can be a Muslim and loyal to any of the above.
Islam is not a religion but a system to oppress the people and to take the world over.
Like for many other such "religions" (read lds) those who adhere to this organizations do not really understand what they believe and what they approve of.
How many who daily pray to Allah in Arabic truly understand what they say? Very very few.
As Americans we need to keep ourselves against Islam, right here and not so much overseas.
"In response to this dangerous stupidity,..."
Pat R's comment was accurate - just read the Koran & the history of Islam. It's the examiner that's stupid here - does it think the the once Christian lands of the middle East became Islamic because Muslims held seminars?
This is a great article. If only more people had the courage this sister has to speak up. I also agree with jdenos because I would not attend a mosque if its imam said Christianity or Judaism were the root of evil. That would contradict the Quran. Thank God the very first mosque I attended upon converting to Islam has a very intelligent and knowledgeable imam.
Dear jdenos,
That took a lot of courage. May God bless you for your efforts.
Dear Canto,
I think you need to read more history. Islam was not spread through the sword as many people think. In the Qur'an it states that there is no compulsion to religion. Most people converted because of the Muslims whom they had met and the good example that they set. To the extent any Muslims forced anyone else to convert, they were not following their own religion.
Dear Bert,
I'm not sure where you get your information but it couldn't be more off base. And isn't slightly presumptuous to state that people who practice a religion do not know what they are following? That may be true for some, but certainly not for everyone. I pray that your heart and mind are set free from your strongly held but erroneous beliefs.
Salaams Jay,
JAK for your kind comments. It's great that the masjid where you converted has a good imam. May Allaah (swt) give you the good of this world and that of the Hereafter and unite you with the righteous.
I am certainly not surprised by Pat's comment and am appalled that a person who calls himself a man of God and claims to adhere to the peaceful teachings of Jesus(pbuh)would advocate for the treatment of all Muslims as communist or fascists. I am also left wondering what that treatment would be; torture, execution, imprisonment, what? I have let him known how I feel by dropping him a line at his show's website. I invite you to visit CBN dot com and let Pat know how you feel.
Bert, I invite you to learn about Islam.
Millions convert to Islam, without the lure of Robertson's dirty dollars. After years of listening to him tell lies about Islam, I've come to the conclusion that he is jealous, resentful, and angry for all the dollars he and his ilk spend and waste proselytizing.
I don't know any rational person who takes the man seriously any more. Kudos to Mr. Pelavin and his organization for sticking up for Islam and the Muslims of the world.
Instead of paying attention to Pat Robertson, let's see what Islamic scholars say about Islam. In his "A complete code of life" Dr. Muhammad al Alkhuli says: "Islam is a religion, but not in the western meaning of religion. The western connotation of the term "religion" is something between the believer and God. Islam as a religion organizes all aspects of life on both the individual and national levels." Surely, this is what Robertson meant. Islam is much more than a religion in our sense of the term. Islam is a detailed plan for organizing all of society and then imposing that plan on the rest of the world whether they like it or not. In his "Jihad in Islam", Sayyeed Abdul A'la Maududi, one of the most prolific and most widely read Islamic writers of the 20th Century, says:“The goal of Islam is to rule the entire world and submit all of mankind to the faith of Islam. Any nation or power that gets in the way of that goal, Islam will fight and destroy.”
Hi Abdulameer,
I don’t know anyone who follows the writings of Sayed Abdul A'la Maududi. I have never heard an imam here or read any other scholar who supports the position that you claim he preaches. He represents a minority view. I bet most Muslims in the US have never read his writings, nor support his views. The Qur'an states that there is no compulsion to religion. The Qur'an and hadith make it abundantly clear that there will be people of different faiths until the end of time. The Qur’an instructs us to get to know one another.
Islam is referred to as a "deen" in Arabic, which is roughly, but inadequately, translated as "religion" in English. While Muslims consider Islam a way of life, that is a positive, not negative, thing. Bringing virtue and noble character into everyday dealings is beneficial to everyone. I doubt Rev. Robertson understands the distinction nor does he care. I believe he meant exactly what he said and he meant it in a derogatory fashion.
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