Pat Robertson says miracles are less likely to happen to those who believe in evolution, and that “simple” foreigners are more likely to benefit from miraculous events.
Appearing on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club , the controversial televangelist was asked by one viewer to explain why miracles such as “people raised from the dead, blind eyes open, lame people walking happen with great frequency in Africa, and not here in the United States?”
Robertson instantly pinned the blame on evolution, replying:
“Those people overseas didn’t go to Ivy League schools. We’re so sophisticated. We think we’ve got everything figured out. We know about evolution, we know about Darwin, we know about all these things that says God isn’t real. We know about all this stuff. In the more advanced schools, we’ve been inundated with skepticism and secularism.
“But overseas they’re simple, humble. You tell them God loves them, and they say, ‘Okay, he loves me.’ You say, ‘God’ll do miracles’ and they say, ‘Okay, we believe him.’ That’s what God’s looking for. That’s why they have miracles.”
Pat Robertson’s miracles theory was quickly rubbished by Scientific American ‘s Katherine Harmon, who pointed out that evolution is taught around the world, even appearing in the textbooks of most high school students in Muslim countries. European member states are also required to “promote scientific knowledge and the teaching of evolution and to oppose firmly any attempts at teaching creationism as a scientific discipline.”
Robertson has long been a critic of the US education system, which he accuses of attempting to indoctrinate young people and guide them away from what their parents believe. His 1988 presidential bid was founded on policies such as reforming the education system and eliminating the Department of Education and the Department of Energy.
In 2010, the 83-year-old caused an outcry when he offensively suggested the massive Haiti earthquake was “a blessing in disguise.” He also claimed the people of Haiti were to blame for their plight because they made a pact with Satan to free themselves from French rule.
He has also commented on, er, demonic, possessed sweaters .
You can watch Pat Robertson’s miracles comment below. Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments!