Going Abroad and The Continuingly Stupid Pat Robertson

Well, I'm sure all of my loyal readers (and that means both of you) have been waiting with baited breath for my return to the blog wars.

I have spent the last several days with my family in Germany. In short, Germany is a beautiful country with warm, highly accomplished, and talented people who are nevertheless shackled with a horrific past which still lingers over them like a heavy cloud cover. As the days unfold, I hope to post some reflections on our trip. Suffice it to say, we had a great time, visiting with my son, who I hadn't seen in nearly a year, and getting to see both old and new Germany.

On another front.

Pat Robertson is a mind-numbingly stupid man. He gives religion a bad name. One can only hope that god visits his wrath on him for being an example of the walking brain dead. It's simply beyond belief that someone so utterly out of touch with being human could have attained such prominence.

I am not a particular fan of Ariel Sharon, although I do applaud his efforts in attempting to end the ongoing slaughter between his people and the Palestinians. But. Robertson's suggestion that god has vented his wrath against Sharon for his concessions to the Palestinians in returning land to them in Gaza and the West Bank, is not only stupid, but presumptive and insulting. Robertson presumes to have an inside track to the mind of his god. Sadly, all too many people believe that to be true. Given the realm within which Robertson lives and works, suggesting that Sharon brought his condition on himself is the ultimate insult.

Considering Robertson's previous invocations, one can only conclude that he is a complete ass. Why so many people suffer this man's stupidity is beyond me.

Reading suggestion: Perhaps the best book I have read is also the most recent. Sam Harris' The End of Faith is the most insightful and realistic look into the devastating effect that religion has and continues to have on humanity. Mr. Harris has written what may be the most important book in years regarding the peril that religion places on our future. It is most harsh, and rightly so, on islam, but ultimately inclusive of all the world's religions. He also looks at the nature of consciousness and its relationship to a belief in god and its being the ultimate definer of humanity itself. That last is a bit difficult to follow, but well worth the trip.