Robertson's Insane Comments May Have Killed Christian Theme Park In Israel

Christian evangelical wingnut, Pat Roberston may have just blathered his launching pad for the rapture right out of existence.

From MSNBC:

Avi Hartuv, spokesman for Israel's tourism minister, said officials are furious with Robertson's suggestion that the stroke was retribution for Sharon's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last summer. "We can't accept this kind of statement," Hartuv said.

He's nuts. You should see what he says about schools who teach actual science.

Robertson is leading a group of evangelicals who have pledged to raise $50 million to build the Christian Heritage Center in Israel's northern Galilee region, where tradition says Jesus lived and taught.

As opposed to raising $50 million to do something frivolous - like feed, house, clothe and educate the poor - in any country.

"We will not do business with him, only with other evangelicals who don't back these comments," Hartuv said. "We will do business with other evangelical leaders, friends of Israel, but not with him."

Does that mean this is personal?

A day after Sharon's stroke on Jan. 4, Robertson suggested the prime minister was being punished for "dividing God's land," a reference to the August pullout from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.
"God considers this land to be his," Robertson said on his TV program "The 700 Club." "You read the Bible and he says 'This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No, this is mine."'

You Israelis really need to learn that you are only there for one purpose. You are to secure the place for the rapture. Is it so hard to understand? Quit messing with the territorial boundaries. They belong to... well, not you. Robertson needs that land. He makes a lot of money conning people about its purpose.

The Christian Theme Park, occasionally known as the Christian Heritage Center by Robertson and others of his persuasion, was to be built on 35 acres on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The Israelis were going to provide the land for free as a partnership in what they viewed as a highly lucrative tourist attraction. The area was intended to be near the biblical town of Capernaum which is supposedly where Jesus lived, worked and performed miracles. However, the local population, both arab and jewish were less than pleased with having a fundamentalist christian attraction of that magnitude anywhere near them.

The Israeli tourism ministry is now approaching the whole idea with renewed caution.

Hartuv left the door open to continuing the project, but only with people who don't back Robertson's statements.
"We want to see who in the group supports his (Robertson's) statements. Those who support the statements cannot do business with us. Those that publicly support Ariel Sharon's recovery ... are welcome to do business with us," Hartuv said. "We have to check this very, very carefully."

Hmmm. This should be interesting. Make them snivel! Let's watch Dobson, Falwell and Haggard grovel and whimper for a change.

I guess we might have to wait a little while longer for the roller coaster to heaven.