Pat Robertson spoke out today about the Haitian earthquake. Plus two points from Pat and CBN for raising money for the people who have been hit by the tragedy. Minus I am not sure how many points for Pat Robertson saying that Haiti has been bit with this tragedy because of a 200 year old pact with the devil, which they supposedly made when slaves rose up to free themselves from French rule and cruel slavery.
The pact with the devil supposedly occurred in 1791, and followed 13 years of bloody revolution. At the end of the revolution the Haitians actually sent French soldiers who came to enforce slavery back their commanders instead of killing them in a historically noble act. For a fuller discussion of this supposed history follow this link to a Haitian minister's response to the supposed pact.
I have spent quite a few years busting nyths about the Neo-Pagan community here in Salem, MA and around the world. My reason for doing so is because I believe that in order to fully express God's love to people we must be speakers of truth - not just about God, but as importantly truth about them. If we believe lies about people, and people groups we become unwitting slanderers, and ruin our own reputation along with other people's reputations.
So, in this instance please give to help Haiti, but do not automatically be convinced of this "pact with Satan" story without fuller historical evidence. Shame on those leaders who tell these stories without having the evidence.
To give I suggest the Salvation Army. It is one of the biggest "bang for your buck" emergency relief providers around, and have my deepest respect. They are usually first in - last out, often before the Red Cross.
For more see my article at The Examiner
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Man, I can't believe Pat. Why in heavens name do we always have some kind of stupid reasons for why bad things happen. What does a five year old orphan has to do with a supposed pact that was made 200 years ago? This is not even good theology.
Pat also commented that the earthquake might be a blessing in disguise. Watch Bill Horan's face and response as he tries to tone that terminology down! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5TE99sAbwM
Prayer is always on the money Keith.
And your money would help.
People say the demandest things.
WGBH is airing a program tonight at 10pm on channel 2: Egalité for All: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution.
It’s already on the schedule - uncanny that they had this on their schedule due to recent events.
The salvation army have threatened to remove their soup kitchens and other supports from regions that legalize gay marriage. Obviously bigotry is more important to them than charity--shows where their priorities really lie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myyKs_WV7Bo
Screw the salvation army. I recommend giving to the Red Cross instead.
Xiao,
Thanks for your input. The Salvation Army is refusing to take state money if they are required to offer benefits to gay partners of employees. This is different that just leaving all areas legalizing gay marriage. It is actually a church/state issue. I will still support the Salvation Army.
The Gospel is for everyone - we are called to Love - and surely not waste precious time passing judgement! That in my view, also means loving misguided and/or stupid Christians continuing to waste precious time over irrelevant issues likely to prejudice genuine help getting to the desperate. We work around obstacles, not add to them. Lets all focus on the real need here - God is faithful and surely will guide individual members of the Salvation Army and any other secular and/or religious organization and/or individual who hears the call; to do the right thing in conveying your support to the people of Haiti. When a ship goes down - the crew puts out the lifeboats, not waste time dwelling on arguments over an Officer's inappropriate remarks and/or the sexual preferences/objections with respect to a few passengers and certain members of the crew.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faErDWCk8YE
:D
BB
Mike
Thanks Mike. (Cern)
The truth is that they did make a pact with the devil.
Now the significance you put on that pact I guess has to do with whether you believe the devil is real or not.
But it is one of Haiti's founding myths.
http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/small_axe/v009/9.2laroche.html
According to Haitian national history, the revolutionary war was launched on the eve of a religious ceremony at a place in the north called Bwa Kayiman (Bois Caiman, in French). At that ceremony on August 14, 1791, an African slave named Boukman sacrificed a pig, and both Kongo and Creole spirits descended to possess the bodies of the participants, encouraging them and fortifying them for the upcoming revolutionary war. Despite deep ambivalence on the part of intellectuals, Catholics, and the moneyed classes, Vodou has always been linked with militarism and the war of independence and, through it, the pride of national sovereignty.
So, yeah if there is a devil, Haiti made a pact with it. Might explain why even though Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the same island, the Dominican Republic has been far more successful.
Wow, "Anonymous," just wow.
First of all, how can you confirm any of the events you just described? They're from the testimony of the French, which we would expect to be biased. And I sincerely doubt you personally witnessed Haitian events in the 18th century.
As for why Haiti is less successful, gee, maybe it has something to do with formerly being colonized? Look at Thailand (prosperous, developed, high literacy, long life expectancy) vs. the other nations of Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam, Burma.) The major distinction in their history is that the others were colonized by European nations, whereas Thailand maintained its sovereignty. So Haiti's poverty is due to exploitation, not some "pact with the devil."
And by the way, Satanists don't chant voodoo rituals or sacrifice animals.
While healthy debate is an important freedom within any liberal democracy and/or indeed across the whole world - there will be more that enough time for this discussion later. For want of repetition, please let us for this particular moment in time FOCUS on the plight of the surviving Haitian people and do what you can to HELP them. Nothing alleged within the complexities of contentious history justifies what these people have already suffered and are suffering now. PLEASE DO SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW and GIVE GENEROUSLY AS YOU ARE INDEED, ABLE through these following links:
Red Cross
Salvation Army
UK Disaster Emergency Committee
unicef
You can even GOOGLE it.
Sounds like a good call there Stephen. :)
BB
Mike
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