# Is Pat Robertson a complete fraud? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 8, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769 "2008-01-08T20:57:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/1 "2008-01-08T20:57:29Z")
I had always assumed, perhaps naively, that Pat Robertson was sincere in his convictions, or at the very least, believed in God. But, there’s this little problem of his year-end predictions, which he claims come straight from God. The problem is that they’re always wrong. Watching [Pat Condell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXdwcIWIB_o)’s latest video kind of brought this to the surface for me. Robertson’s big prediction for 2007 was that there would be a major terrorist attack against the United States. So, what happened? I can only come up with four possibilities: **God tried his best but was flat out wrong**. Since He is defined as being omnipresent, omniscient, and infallible, this would seem like the least likely of the four. **God is Jerking Pat Robertson around** for His own amusement. Since this would involve God violating one of His own commandments, it seems rather unlikely. **Pat Robertson is delusional or mentally ill**. Maybe? My understanding of schizophrenia is that hearing voices is only one symptom, and without medication, coping day to day is just about impossible. **Pat Robertson is flat out lying** about talking to God. This would be a blatant violation of one of the Ten Commandments and opens the door to him being a complete shyster and fraud. Are there any other possibilities? Was I naive to assume that Robertson actually believed what he was saying? (I’m now envisioning a poster quoting my previous question and responding with a one word answer). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/2 "2008-01-08T21:00:18Z")
God works in mysterious ways. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/3 "2008-01-08T21:02:04Z")
Well, to be fair, he could have _misunderstood_ or _misheard_ God. That is, he’s not crazy or lying, he’s just terribly mistaken. I think that’s the most likely explanation. But I find PR more pitiable than evil. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/4 "2008-01-08T21:12:59Z")
“Delusional” covers a lot of ground, from clinical schizophrenia to mere cluelessness. I would guess that Pat is somewhere in the more functional end of that continuum, and has convinced himself that what his wretched little id would _like to see_ befall the abortionistgaylesbianfeministliberalheathenatheists is what God has decreed. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/5 "2008-01-08T21:28:31Z")
You missed Pat’s own explanation: > [@](#): > > “All I can think is that somehow the people of God prayed and God in his mercy spared us,” Robertson said. [http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/03/robertson.ap/](http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/03/robertson.ap/) ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/6 "2008-01-08T21:32:07Z")
Ah, that’s one explanation that I didn’t consider. God meant it when he said it, but later changed his mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/7 "2008-01-08T21:33:14Z")
[QUOTE=Steve MB] “Delusional” covers a lot of ground, from clinical schizophrenia to mere cluelessness. I would guess that Pat is somewhere in the more functional end of that continuum, and has convinced himself that what his wretched little id would _like to see_ befall the abortionistgaylesbianfeministliberalheathenatheists is what God has decreed. [/QUOTE] This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” – Anne Lamott, writer ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/8 "2008-01-08T21:44:28Z")
I’ve had this argument with my ex-SO. He says Pat’s just flat out shearing the sheep, he’s lying for the money (and power). I say yeah he is but SO underestimates the capasity for human self delusion. He wants it both ways. Wants the money but wants to believe he’s a good person who god loves. Why not have all that money, hang out with evil dictator etc, and still feel good about yourself and plain on going to heaven? As for the predictions, he probably forgets them like when we were at war with Eurasia. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/9 "2008-01-08T21:53:31Z")
[QUOTE=Baraqiyal] **God tried his best but was flat out wrong**. Since He is defined as being omnipresent, omniscient, and infallible, this would seem like the least likely of the four. [/QUOTE] Who defined him/her as being “omnipresent, omniscient, and infallible?” Some people believe that, but a lot of the evidence seems to run counter. > [@](#): > > **God is Jerking Pat Robertson around** for His own amusement. Since this would involve God violating one of His own commandments, it seems rather unlikely. Which commandment is that? The “Bearing false witness one?” Completely different than pranking a pompus wind bag - no commandment against that. Look what God did to Job and he wasn’t anywhere close to as big of a pompus wind bag as Robertson. > [@](#): > > **Pat Robertson is delusional or mentally ill**. Maybe? My understanding of schizophrenia is that hearing voices is only one symptom, and without medication, coping day to day is just about impossible. A lot of delusional and mentally ill people are out there functioning quite well - Brittany is the exception, not the norm. > [@](#): > > **Pat Robertson is flat out lying** about talking to God. This would be a blatant violation of one of the Ten Commandments and opens the door to him being a complete shyster and fraud. Now this could break that “Bearing false witness” thing – unless he was instructed by God to lie to help with the pranking of mankind. Still lying, but with extenuating circumstances. or it could have been that Robertson got the message about the really bad terrorist attack on a really bad cell phone connection (makes you wonder just what carrier God would use, doesn’t it?) and the “not” part was dropped so Robertson missunderstood. Or the connection was bad and what God said was 2008 or 2009 and Robetson heard 2007. Or maybe God hasn’t switched over to the Gregorian Calendar yet, or… ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/10 "2008-01-08T21:58:30Z")
[QUOTE=Baraqiyal] **God is Jerking Pat Robertson around** for His own amusement. Since this would involve God violating one of His own commandments, it seems rather unlikely. [/QUOTE] Don’t be a jerk is an SDMB rule, I don’t recall it being one of Gods. Perhaps a mod should issue God a warning. ---
**Author:** ![Dunawake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dunawake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunawake)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/11 "2008-01-08T22:28:27Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Don’t be a jerk is an SDMB rule, I don’t recall it being one of Gods. Perhaps a mod should issue God a warning. [/QUOTE] Can God issue Himself a ban that He can’t circumvent? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/12 "2008-01-08T23:23:34Z")
A complete fraud? I don’t believe he is. Most likely, he’s telling the truth about a few things. So, he’s an incomplete fraud. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/13 "2008-01-08T23:36:10Z")
**Is Pat Robertson a complete fraud?** Yes. Next question? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/14 "2008-01-08T23:39:31Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] **Is Pat Robertson a complete fraud?** Yes. Next question? [/QUOTE] Since you handled that one so easily… What is the meaning of life? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/15 "2008-01-08T23:40:38Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Since you handled that one so easily… What is the meaning of life? [/QUOTE] 1. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/16 "2008-01-08T23:42:08Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] 42. [/QUOTE] Ok… what do women want? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/17 "2008-01-08T23:43:43Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Ok… what do women want? [/QUOTE] A little song. A little dance. A little seltzer in your pants…oh, wait! That’s what clowns want. I’m gay. What do I know about what women want?! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/18 "2008-01-08T23:44:35Z")
[QUOTE=Baraqiyal] Ah, that’s one explanation that I didn’t consider. God meant it when he said it, but later changed his mind. [/QUOTE] **Hypothesis Five: God is Ralph Kramden** “One of these days, humanity, BAM! ZOOM! TO THE MOON!” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/19 "2008-01-08T23:46:33Z")
Isn’t “bearing false witness” giving false testimony or deliberately smearing someone’s reputation, rather that simply lying? As often as the folks in the OT (God included) lied, I thought the false witness thing was easy to dodge. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769/20 "2008-01-08T23:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] I’m gay. What do I know about what women want?! [/QUOTE] Well, he didn’t ask what they want from straight men. For us the answer is easy, someone to talk to, shop with, have drinks with and so on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-robertson-a-complete-fraud/432769.md?page=2)